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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Mary doing when Simeon visits?

2. What does Mary Magdalene dare Jesus to admit?

3. Why is Jesus's mother embarrassed when the cross is hoisted for the first execution in the novel?

4. Who visits Jesus in Chapter 1?

5. Why does Jesus think Magdalene prostitutes herself?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where does Jesus go in Chapter 6?

2. What is the subject of Joachim's last speech to the monks?

3. What unpleasant sensation does Jesus often experience?

4. What does Simeon advise Jesus to do, in Chapter 10, and how does Jesus respond?

5. Why does the mob chase Mary Magdalene to Capernaum?

6. Why doesn't Jesus propose to Mary Magdalene?

7. What occurs between Judas, Zebedee, and Philip when they meet in Capernaum during the storm?

8. In Chapter 11, what does Simeon say to Jesus about the possibility of Jesus being the Messiah?

9. What are Jesus's beliefs regarding the Messiah at the beginning of the novel?

10. What does the Zealot do immediately before and during his crucifixion?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Kazantzakis portrays Jesus as a man who is in a constant battle with God and wants to go against God's will. How is this depiction of Jesus different from the commonly-accepted Biblical account of Jesus? Why does Jesus constantly try to force God to leave him alone? What would happen to him without God's intervening in his life? Why? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 2

Jesus goes into the desert in an attempt to communicate directly with God. Abbot Joachim starves himself in a similar attempt. Who else performs extreme actions to gain the attention of God? Why do they find it necessary to go to such extreme measures to communicate with God? How effective are these methods? What is the final result of their attempts? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

Jerusalem has become a filthy place full of corruption and squalor; even those who make pilgrimages there are soon corrupted by it. What happened to the city of Jerusalem, which allowed it to fall into such disrepair? What is Jesus supposed to do to restore Jerusalem to its former glory? How is he supposed to take his place on the throne of Jerusalem? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

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