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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 does Chesterton label as the second problem of modern intellectualism?
2. What problem, according to Chesterton, is the central issue in the book?
3. In the middle of Chapter One, why does Chesterton say this book is a joke on him?
4. Why does Chesterton say that someone might be entertained by reading the book Orthodoxy?
5. What does Chesterton say concerning the boundaries of the will?
Short Essay Questions
1. Materialism is a much narrower belief than Christianity, in fact, more than any religion. What reasons does Chesterton give for this? How does it relate to the discussion of madness and sanity?
2. According to Chesterton, the complete skeptic knows that he cannot think anything. How does this differ from the young skeptic? How does the complete skeptic show a true awareness of where he is?
3. Poetry is the only thing that keeps a man sane, while reason drives him insane. How does Chesterton support this argument, and is it plausible?
4. In Chapter I, Introduction in Defense of Everything Else, Chesterton states that he hates the defense of something that cannot be proved or disproved. How is this important for the rest of the book?
5. In Chapter III, The Suicide of Thought, what is Chesterton's opinion of the skeptic? Why does the skeptic not have the right to speak out against anything? Why, contrarily, is he always speaking out against things?
6. Humility is chiefly understood chiefly as a restraint on a man's arrogance and boasting. What is Chesterton's argument concerning humility? What example does he give to illustrate a humble view of the world?
7. In Chapter IV, The Ethics of Elfland, what does Chesterton give as the first two principles of democracy? How does he convey a sense of wonder even in these principles?
8. In the example of the explorer who only discovers his own land, Chesterton says that his first emotion might be foolishness. This should not be the sole emotion, though. Why does Chesterton name foolishness as the first emotion and how might this fit the religious explorer?
9. Chesterton explains that a madman's mind moves in a small, perfect circle. What does he mean with this picture? How does it relate to the movements of a sane man's mind?
10. Why does Chesterton say that the act of willing is a limiting act? Could it be freeing instead? What happens if you attempt to free something from the laws of its nature?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Chesterton contrasts pantheism and action - how do they differ? What is the ultimate result of pantheism? How is this distinction related to the differences between Buddhism and Christianity regarding God?
Essay Topic 2
What comfort does Chesterton find in the thought that God hides his mirth from man? How does that picture speak to God's greatness? How does it reinforce the idea that man is full of joy? Draw your arguments from Chesterton's statements about God's character which are given throughout Orthodoxy.
Essay Topic 3
Christianity is orderly so that good things can run wild. As Chesterton asserts, is this true? If so, how is it true? Give examples from the text to support your argument.
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This section contains 1,716 words (approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page) |
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