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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 Merton's parents foster his love for the monastic life?

2. What are the contents of the note Merton receives from his father?

3. What does Merton miss when he left France for England?

4. Why does Owen Merton travel so frequently?

5. Why does Merton go to class with the younger French children?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does looking at frescoes in Rome impact Merton?

2. After the death of his father, why does Merton consider himself to be a rebel in New York?

3. What experiences in England helped Thomas to be more content?

4. What is the significance of Bob Lax in the Epilogue?

5. What significant event in Merton's monastic life forms part of the Epilogue?

6. Does Merton follow the advice given to him by Van Doren in Part 3, Chapter 3?

7. Why does the Abbot accept Merton into Gethsemani?

8. What factors influenced Merton in pursuing a graduate degree in English?

9. What impact does World War II have on Merton in Part 2, Chapter 2?

10. What does Merton try to express in this first chapter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Merton becomes involved with the student publications at Columbia University. Discuss in detail how working on these publications affects Merton's writing career and his spiritual quest.

Essay Topic 2

Merton writes his story using a poetic style and language that is rich in images and connections. Discuss the way Merton's language and imagery supports his description of his book as an "autobiography of faith." Do you think that the way Merton uses images to describe his world is related in any way to the fact that his father and mother were artists? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Merton's university thesis was called "Nature and Art in William Blake."

1)How does his choice of thesis topic reflect his early childhood experiences?

2) What elements in Blake does Merton find relevant to his spiritual search?

3) How does writing this thesis prepare Merton for his life as a monk?

(see the answer keys)

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