View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who do the narrator and Webber think might have helped him?

2. What does the narrator occasionally hear?

3. What is about to collapse according to Joel?

4. Where is the narrator standing?

5. Who is the dreaming person?

Short Essay Questions

1. Wwho seems to lead the narrator into the valley, where does he go and what does he do?

2. What is the narrator doing when he encounters Maya again and what does she tell him? What do they do?

3. What do Wil and the narrator do with Williams and what do they learn about him?

4. What does Wil say might be the reason no one fully understands the Tenth Insight?

5. What kind of work does Webber do and what does he believe about that work?

6. What does the narrator do that injures him and why did he do it?

7. What does Joel say to the narrator about his beliefs?

8. What does Wil tell the narrator is the reason for him disappearing in Peru?

9. What happens in the narrator's initial encounter with Maya?

10. What does Long Eagle say about the valley in Chapter 1?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

It could be argued that the point of the book is not to create a great work of literature, but to create a work of spiritual guidance, which would suggest that the actual writing contained between the book's covers needs to be serviceable, no more - to create the circumstances for the more important spiritual explanation. On that level, the writing and storytelling function adequately. In terms of that spiritual guidance, the main point to consider here and throughout the narrative is its essential nature, and the manifestations/explanations of that nature.

1. Do you think that a work of spiritual guidance can be both well written and enlightening? Explain your reasoning.

2. Argue for or against the idea that the writing in this book is mediocre. Use examples from the text to support your position.

3. Explain in detail, with examples, how the author might have been able to write a better story and still convey his ideas.

Essay Topic 2

On the second (spiritual) level of analysis, Chapter 2 introduces the key concepts of the Group of Seven and the Fear, both of which define and motivate the action to follow. Of the two, the Fear is perhaps the more significant, in that as a concept, its influence (according to the book's spiritual perspective) reaches beyond the boundaries of the narrative and into the way the world functions. It is in many ways a spiritual antagonist, if not THE spiritual antagonist, to the enlightenment sought by the characters.

1. Why do you think the Fear could be called the spiritual antagonist to the enlightenment sought by the characters. Use examples from the text to support your answer.

2. Many religions and philosophies state emphatically that love is the key to the evolution, spiritual advancement or solution to the problems of humanity. There are also those who say fear is the opposite of love. In this context, explain the ways in which the Fear has impeded human evolution. Use examples from the text to support your answer.

3. Explain the key concepts of the Group of Seven and how you think these concepts would be able to overcome the Fear as it is defined by this book.

Essay Topic 3

It's becoming clearer with each passing chapter that, without actually coming out and saying so, perspective is anchored in the concept of destiny - that each individual comes into this existence with a pre-ordained place, purpose and plan. It's also becoming clearer that while the narrative clearly makes the point that that plan doesn't always come to fruition, it also implies that such failure is the result of inability (for whatever reason) to make the choices for the plan to be accomplished ... in other words, because of free will.

1. What do you think the definition of destiny is and why do you think the author is supporting that concept in this book? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

2. Assuming that destiny is true, and that having a vision of what one is to accomplish in life before being born is true but forgotten with birth, explain with examples, why often the purpose of an individual does not come to fruition.

3. Most religions espouse the idea of free will. Those who have no spiritual beliefs would probably agree. Explain the concept of free will, why it might be a law of life and how it seems to manifest in the real world. Use examples to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,211 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample