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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. Edwards' claim, the the Doctrine section of his sermon, that "Unconverted men walk over the pit of hell on a rotten covering" (408), is what type of argument?

2. What is the Doctrine that Edwards derives from his chosen Biblical text?

3. The expression "The arrows of death fly unseen at noonday" (408), which Edwards uses in the Doctrine section of his sermon, could properly be called an example of which literary technique?

4. What is Edwards' fifth argument for the truth of his statement of doctrine?

5. According to Edwards, God's enemies are "chaff before the whirlwind" (406). What is he comparing them to?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Edwards say, in the Doctrine section of the sermon, that those who think that they are protecting themselves from hell are fooling themselves?

2. According to the Doctrine section of Edwards' sermon, what different promises has God made to the converted and the unconverted?

3. In the Doctrine section of his sermon, Edwards compares God's power to the power of a human to crush a worm. Explain the meaning and significance of this analogy.

4. What reasons does Edwards give, in the Doctrine section of his sermon, for divine justice not stopping God from casting sinners into hell?

5. Why, in the Doctrine section of his sermon, does Edwards say that sinners should not be comforted by the fact that there is no "visible means of death at hand" (408)?

6. When, in the Doctrine section of his sermon, Edwards says of sinners that "The glittering sword is whet, and held over them, and the pit hath opened her mouth under them," (407), what does he mean, and what analogy found elsewhere in the sermon is he making reference to?

7. According to the Doctrine section of Edwards' sermon, what is God's attitude toward the sinners who are not yet in hell?

8. Explain why, in the Doctrine section of his sermon, Edwards says that God is not like an earthly prince.

9. When, in the Doctrine section of his speech, Edwards says that "The Scripture represents them as his 'goods'" (407), to whom does he refer when he says "them" and "his," and what point is he making about these people?

10. Explain what Edwards is saying, in the Doctrine section of the sermon, about the nature of the souls of sinners when he says "There are in the souls of wicked men those hellish principles reigning, that would presently kindle and flame out into hell fire, if it were not for God's restraints" (408).

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the effect of repetition in "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God."

Essay Topic 2

Explain how Edwards uses metaphor to make abstract ideas more concrete for his listener.

Essay Topic 3

Edwards' sermon contains a large number of metaphors. In your opinion, does this add to the effectiveness of the sermon, or would it be more effective if it chose and developed a single conceit? Explain your reasoning.

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