Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

Transcription

1 QAR Questions for Lew Wallace s Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ Book Fourth: Chapters What is QAR? QAR (Question-Answer-Relationship) is a method of questioning that engages a reader s thinking at all levels. There are four levels of questions, dividing into two sections based on the location of the answers. IN THE BOOK QUESTIONS These questions require answers that can be found directly in the text. Right There In Right There questions, the answer will be found in one place, on one page, in one paragraph, perhaps even in one sentence. The reader can point to the answer right there. 1. What service did Ilderim give to the three wise men? Ilderim hid the three wise men for a year to protect them from the wrath of Herod. 2. Why does Esther want her father to send for Ben-Hur immediately? Esther wants her father to send for Ben-Hur that very night in order to tell him not to race in the Circus. 3. Who is declared to be the master of the feast of Bacchus? Messala is chosen to be master of the feast.

2 4. Why does Ben-Hur visit Ilderim in his tents? Ben-Hur wants Ilderim to outfit him with horses for the chariot race. 5. What does Ben-Hur promise Ilderim if he lets him have horses for the race? Ben-Hur promises Ilderim that he can have the money and the crown should Ben- Hur win. All Ben-Hur wants is revenge. Think and Search In Think and Search questions, the answer will still be in the text, but the details necessary to answer the questions may be in more than one location. To answer the question effectively, the reader will have to think and search throughout the text. 6. What gives Simonides a new purpose in life? Simonides lives in hope of the coming Messiah. The story of the birth in Bethlehem that he has heard from Balthasar convinces him that the time is soon, since it is twenty-seven years since that event. 7. According to Messala, who is it that is the best of the best of Rome? The best of the best of Rome is the man who has added the perfection of the East to the perfection of the West. 8. Why is Ilderim reluctant to let Ben-Hur have the horses? Ilderim does not know Ben-Hur well enough to let him have the horses that are more important to him than his own children.

3 IN YOUR HEAD QUESTIONS These questions require a higher level of thinking. While details from the text may or may not be used, the primary source of the answer will involve the reader s own thinking in relation to the text, the author s meaning, and the application of the theme outside the text. Author and You In Author and You questions, the reader is required to analyze some aspect of the text to derive meaning. This may be the theme, tone, mood, etc. 9. What irony is the author insinuating when he has Messala state that the best of the best of Rome is the man who joins the perfection of the East with the perfection of the West? Messala s comment is meant to be applied to himself, yet is an even better description of Ben-Hur. Drusus relates that Ben-Hur is both a Roman and a Jew, the best of the west and the east. Therefore, in attempting to describe himself, Messala has instead described his enemy. 10. What is ironic in Ben-Hur s off to give up the victor s crown that he would receive should he win the chariot race? Ben-Hur is a prince of Israel, yet when he was forced into slavery, that title (and metaphorical crown ) was taken from him by force. Since he has now made himself a slave to revenge, he willingly gives up the crown that would be rightfully his. He is still a slave, yet has only changed masters.

4 On Your Own In On Your Own questions, the reader reflects on the meaning of some aspect derived from the text but is not tied to the text directly. This question can be answered without even reading the text. The text serves merely as a springboard for a discussion of a much broader significance. 11. Ben-Hur has devoted himself totally to revenge. How effective is revenge in dealing with betrayal? What larger consequences are involved? Discuss the result of a life whose sole end is revenge. Student answers will vary.

5 Name Date Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ Book Fourth: Chapters Lew Wallace I. RIGHT THERE 1. What service did Ilderim give to the three wise men? 2. Why does Esther want her father to send for Ben-Hur immediately? 3. Who is declared to the master of the feast of Bacchus? 4. Why does Ben-Hur visit Ilderim in his tents?

6 5. What does Ben-Hur promise Ilderim if he lets him have horses for the race? II. THINK AND SEARCH 6. What gives Simonides a new purpose in life? _ 7. According to Messala, who is it that is the best of the best of Rome?

7 _ 8. Why is Ilderim reluctant to let Ben-Hur have the horses? III. AUTHOR AND YOU 9. What irony is the author insinuating when he has Messala state that the best of the best of Rome in the man who joins the perfection of the East with the perfection of the West?

8 10. What is ironic in Ben-Hur s offer to give up the victor s crown that he would receive should he win the chariot race?

9 IV. ON YOUR OWN 11. Ben-Hur has devoted himself totally to revenge. How effective is revenge in dealing with betrayal? What larger consequences are involved? Discuss the result of a life whose sole end is revenge.

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