When Christian leaves the Valley of the Shadow of Death, he sees the caves of Pope and Pagan, both of which are dead or dying. The Pagan represents the European religions that predate Christianity while the Pope represents the Catholic religion, which Christian, as a Protestant Englishman, has rejected. This same idea is repeated when Christian and Faithful reach Vanity Fair.

1. Discuss how the various religions of the world have produced conflict over doctrine. How are these conflicts illustrated in The Pilgrim’s Progress?

2. What do you see as the difficulties in a religion which has many different beliefs, depending on the sect? How does the author explore these difficulties in the novel?

3. Catholics have persecuted Protestants, and Protestants, when in power, have persecuted Catholics. Discuss how the anger and violence of religious conflict relates to the ultimate message of a loving God which the Christian faith espouses. Use examples from Pilgrim’s Progress to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

The female pilgrims find the path changed from when Christian walked it. The first set of bad characters, Simple, Sloth, and Presumption, are not there to tempt the pilgrims. Instead, they have been punished and made into a warning. Again, the female pilgrims are guided and told of the clear wrongs of these characters.

1. Do you think women and men react to moral decisions differently? Why or why not? Use examples from the novel to support your answer.

2. Some of the punishments dealt out in The Pilgrim’s Progress are quite harsh. Discuss the differences in the legal systems of today versus in the 1600s. How have the forms of punishment changed?

3. Do you think if a person is always told exactly what to do that might hinder the person from developing a moral fortitude? Why or why not? How is this idea explored in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, considering whether or not they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not? Do you think that John Bunyan's beliefs and life are reflected in The Pilgrim's Process? If so, how?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as The Pilgrim’s Progress help a reader to know him/herself? In what ways do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading The Pilgrim’s Progress?

3. Choose one specific incident in The Pilgrim’s Progress and compare a character's response to how you think you would respond. Would you respond differently to the circumstances? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,261 words
(approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page)

View a FREE sample

More summaries and resources for teaching or studying The Pilgrim's Progress.

View all Lesson Plans available from BookRags.

Copyrights