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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. How did Mel view Jerry Falwell when Mel worked with the man?

2. What does Mel see as destroying his family?

3. What does Mel say David never misses?

4. Which of the evangelists agree to meet with White?

5. Who calls White and asks him to work on an important book when White is contemplating moving to be with Tom?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the religious right try to push through in Oregon, and what does White do about it?

2. What do Lyla and Mel finally do? How do the children respond?

3. What worries White about the religious right's rhetoric about homosexuality?

4. What did White plan to do while scuba diving in Hawaii? What changed his mind?

5. Describe White's experience with Tom Montgomery.

6. Where does White take his family in the summer of 1979, and how does he feel about the time spent there with Lyla?

7. Why does White write a letter to Falwell? What is Falwell's response?

8. Who does White help in the 1970s among the rising Christian political movement?

9. What does Mel say that the religious right increasingly claimed and what was one of those claims?

10. What is the Truth in Love campaign?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast Mel White at the beginning of the novel to him at the end of the novel. How are they alike? How are they different? Are they both sympathetic characters? Which "Mel White" would you most likely have as a friend? Why?

2. Compare/contrast Lyla at the beginning of the novel to Lyla at the end of the novel. . How are they alike? How are they different? Are they sympathetic characters? Who would you most likely have as a friend? Why?

3. Compare/contrast Mel White to Jerry Falwell. How are they alike? How are they different? Are they sympathetic characters? Who would you most likely have as a friend? Why? Is each one compassionate? Honorable? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 2

Most people are a mixture of admirable traits and character flaws, and both Mel White and Jerry Falwell are no exceptions.

1. Trace and analyze situations when White and Falwell each demonstrates his admirable traits. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis.

2. Trace and analyze both White and Falwell's character flaws, and explain how the flaws create the conflicts in the book. How do you think either man's character flaws make some situations more difficult for him?

3. After analyzing each man's strengths and weaknesses, decide if each man is an appropriate "hero" of the story. Is there anyone else who might be a more admirable "hero"?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Does non-fiction have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of Stranger at the Gate, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot because of Stranger at the Gate being non-fiction? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in Stranger at the Gate. (They may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Explain. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not?

4. Do you think having a plot in non-fiction is important? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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