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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. Who is R. J. Rushdoony?

2. What book does Robertson want Mel's help to write?

3. Who is Dr. Warren Jones?

4. What is offered to White by a church in Dallas?

5. Who is Reverend Michael Piazza?

Short Essay Questions

1. What group does Jerry Falwell form, and who influenced his founding of it?

2. Describe White's first meeting with Gary Nixon.

3. Who was Michael Piazza, and what did he offer White?

4. What was Mel White determined to do after the end of his relationship with Tom?

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

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

7. How does White's parents react to his telling them of his homosexuality?

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

9. What does White say about attempts by gays to become heterosexual?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful work of non-fiction/memoir?

2. Analyze and discuss Stranger at the Gate based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if Stranger at the Gate is a successful work of non-fiction/memoir.

3. Is Stranger at the Gate a book you would recommend to a friend? Why or why not? Explain.

4. Can a novel be successful and yet many readers not enjoy it? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 2

The topic of marriage is woven throughout Stranger at the Gate. Discuss the following:

1. Discuss the attitudes toward marriage that the following persons seem to take: Mel White, Lyla White, Jerry Falwell, Tom Montgomery, Pat Robertson and James Dobson.

2. How do you think the characters listed above are influenced by Christianity in their views of marriage? Discuss thoroughly using examples from the book.

3. Compare/contrast the Christian view of marriage with that of Mel White. How are their views similar? Different? Which views are more like your own?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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