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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 the author do on his wedding night?

2. What does Mama Chia think Dan is strong enough to do?

3. What does the conscious self become?

4. How does Millman finally decide to contact the woman whom Socrates mentioned?

5. What lesson from Socrates does the author have difficulty following in this early part of the book?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Ruth respond to Dan's appearance at the party and what do you think this foreshadows?

2. Why is Dan depressed on his honeymoon?

3. Dan imagines all sorts of monsters floating beneath his surfboard; what might this metaphorically represent?

4. Dan tries to stay awake and conscious because he's afraid of what might happen if he falls asleep. Do you think this is symbolic of anything?

5. What is the irony of Dan's situation out on the vast Pacific Ocean?

6. What does Dan say about death and how do you think he will overcome his feelings about it?

7. Why do you think Mama Chia resumes her work as midwife and kahuna after receiving a letter from Socrates about Dan?

8. Dan falls asleep, which could be what is called in literary terms, a "narrative contrivance." What do you think that means in context of this story and Dan falling asleep?

9. Why does Dan decide to stop over in Hawaii and what do you think is the reason for his layover?

10. What does Dan realize he must do at this time in his life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

After a few days, Dan is washed up on the island of Molokai. Discuss the following:

What is a brief history of the island of Molokai?

What are possible symbolic interpretations of the fact that Dan lands on Molokai instead of any other of the Hawaiian Islands?

When Molokai first becomes established as a leper colony in the 1800's, there is no cure for leprosy, though there is today. What is Dan's "illness?" Do you think, based on the first few chapters, Dan will find a cure for his "illness" on Molokai?

Essay Topic 2

Mama Chia tells a story about Sachi, who goes up to her baby brother and asks, "'Baby, tell me what God feels like. I'm starting to forget.'" Discuss the following:

What do you think this story means?

Do you think traditional religions would have an explanation for this story?

Do you think infants and young children are closer to God than older children and adults? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Once Dan has found Ruth Johnson, she gives him a note with some instructions. Discuss the following:

Do you think Dan is wise to blindly follow the note which has him do something that is quite foolhardy?

Given that Dan later learns that he lost part of the note and he was supposed to take food, water and sunscreen, do you think if he had had the complete set of instructions from the beginning he would have been justified in following the path he chooses?

There is a aphorism, "no pain, no gain." Does this saying apply in Dan's experience with the surfboard?

(see the answer keys)

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