Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

Transcription

1 QAR Questions for Lew Wallace s Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ Book First: Chapters 1-5 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. From what country was the first wise man, who played host to the other two? The first wise man was from Egypt. 2. How does Gaspar, the Greek, first learn about the coming King of the Jews? Gaspar hears about the King of the Jews from a Jew who was shipwrecked near his cave.

2 3. Why was Melchior, the Hindoo (Hindu), viewed as a heretic? Melchior was viewed as a heretic because he questioned everything, including the supreme Hindu god Brahm. 4. What reception did Balthasar, the Egyptian, receive when he taught of the one Supreme God? Balthasar was laughed at as he preached in Alexandria. 5. What does Balthasar reveal is the true purpose of their mission? Balthasar reveals to Gaspar and Melchior that they are going to find the Christ, God come to earth in human form. 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 signs were evidence to the wise men that there was divine guidance and purpose in their meeting? The wise men felt divine protect, so they were unarmed. They were all led to the same spot, with the Egyptian arriving first as the host. When the three prayed, they all spoke in the same unknown yet understandable language. 7. According to Balthasar, why did the Egyptians have two separate religions, one public and one private? The public religion of the Egyptians was polytheistic, based on tradition. The private monotheistic faith of the priests was based on revelation at the time of Moses and the Exodus.

3 8. How did all of the three wise men receive their call to seek the Christ? The three wise men each saw a star rise up and heard a voice calling them to follow to find the answers to their questions. 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. How does the author create the mood of awe and holiness? Each of the three wise men is shown as called, yet outcast from their societies. The inner dissatisfaction sets the stage for contemplation of the nature of God. This leads to a miraculous revelation of God, who audibly calls each with a mission. They are set apart for a holy purpose, and they respond with wonder. 10. How is the setting of the desert symbolic of the lives of the wise men? The desert is a traditional setting for contemplation. Each of the wise men comes from a noble society, which they reject. In their loneliness, they go into isolation, a symbolic desert. Yet like the desert that blooms after the rain, they emerge from their isolation with a firm purpose and holy joy.

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. Faith, love, good works which is greatest? Discuss how one of these is most needed in the world today, and how it should be made manifest. Student answers will vary.

5 Name Date Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ Lew Wallace I. RIGHT THERE 1. From what country was the first wise man, who played host to the other two? 2. How does Gaspar, the Greek, first learn about the coming King of the Jews? 3. Why was Melchior, the Hindoo (Hindu) viewed as a heretic? 4. What reception did Balthasar, the Egyptian, receive when he taught of the one Supreme God?

6 5. What does Balthasar reveal is the true purpose of their mission? II. THINK AND SEARCH 6. What signs were evidence to the wise men that there was divine guidance and purpose in their meeting? 7. According to Balthasar, why did the Egyptians have two separate religions, one public and one private?

7 8. How did all of the three wise men receive their call to seek the Christ? III. AUTHOR AND YOU 9. How does the author create the mood of awe and holiness?

8 10. How is the setting of the desert symbolic of the lives of the wise men?

9 IV. ON YOUR OWN 11. Faith, love, good works which is the greatest? Discuss how one of these is the most needed in the world today, and how it should be made manifest.

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