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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 two civilizations does Chesterton use for evidence against much of the belief in his time about cave men?

2. What does Chesterton say about epochs of nomadism or matriarchy in history and prehistory?

3. What reason does Chesterton give for acts of cannibalism?

4. What does Chesterton refer to as a cornerstone of humanity?

5. Despite the level of sincerity a myth might be understood, what does Chesterton say is still present?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Chesterton define the view of non-Christians who live in a Christian society?

2. Summarize Chesterton's explanation of the battle between Carthage and Rome.

3. Explain how Chesterton uses Egypt and Babylon to further his arguments.

4. Chesterton claims to see the concept of an all powerful God in many pagan religions. Explain his position.

5. What does Chesterton mean when he refers to the "demons"?

6. In the beginning of the introduction, Chesterton uses an analogy of a boy leaving his farmland home and looking back on his homeland as he does so. What is he trying to explain or make clear with this analogy?

7. Explain the example Chesterton uses of nomadic peoples to explain the classification of religions.

8. Who, according to Chesterton, are some of the greatest philosophers?

9. In the chapter titled "The War of the Gods and Demons", who are the Gods and who are the Demons? Why does Chesterton label them as such?

10. What simple truth about mankind does Chesterton deduce from his discussion of the cave drawings? What arguments does he make?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Chesterton thoroughly analyzes the meanings behind the nativity of Christ. Pick another scene from religion, life, or literature and do the same with it.

Part 1. Explain the scene and where it came from.

Part 2. What elements are full of meaning? What do they signify or mean?

Part 3. You must have chosen this scene because it has some particular impact or beauty. Why did you choose it? Why is it important to you?

Essay Topic 2

Chesterton argues that Confucianism and Buddhism are philosophies and not religions. Write an essay about what it means to be a religion.

Part 1. How are the words religious and religion defined by the dictionary or encyclopedia? What are some variations to the definitions?

Part 2. Is religion necessarily theistic? How does the presence of god in a religion change it?

Part 3. Analyze and compare Chesterton's arguments with your own set of definitions about religion.

Essay Topic 3

In the chapter "War of Gods and Demons" Chesterton depicts the Romans as a people standing against a powerful evil that they would rather die than live under. This theme is common to two authors who were contemporaries and colleagues of Chesterton's: C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Discuss this common theme.

Part 1. Explain the scene in which Chesterton describes the Romans and the emotion behind it.

Part 2. What is the core of this experience that Chesterton defends? Where else can it be found?

Part 3. Compare and contrast the scene from Chesterton's book to the work of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, or both.

Part 4. How did the other author or authors explore and vary this scene?

Part 5. Why does this subject have such an emotional impact that it creates such enduring stories?

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