Novel Insights Guide To

The Oath

by Frank Peretti


The Oath Guide Cover The Oath CD

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TABLE OF CONTENTS


Author Biography ..................................... 1
Chapter 01 - 02 ..................................... 2
Chapter 03 - 04 ..................................... 8
Chapter 05 - 06 ................................... 14
Chapter 07 - 08 ................................... 22
Chapter 09 - 11 ................................... 31
Chapter 12 - 13 ................................... 39
Chapter 14 - 15 ................................... 46
Chapter 16 - 17 ................................... 55
Chapter 18 ................................... 64
Chapter 19 - 20 ................................... 70
Chapter 21 ................................... 78
Chapter 22 - Epilogue ................................... 83
Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God ................................... 89
Vocabulary Tests ................................... 91
Test Questions .................................. 109
Vocabulary Crossword Puzzle .................................. 114
Selected Bibliography .................................. 125


Chapters 01 - 02

Evelyn Benson is crashing through the forest, madly running away from a scene of unspeakable horror, covered with blood and holding a broken hunting knife in her hand. At the same time, Harold Bly throws his wife Maggie out of his house, telling her he will kill her if she comes back. Terrified, Maggie goes from door to door in the small town, searching for anyone who will take her in, but no one is willing to take that risk. A trucker rounds a bend, coming upon Evelyn Benson's crumpled body lying on the ground in front of his truck. When he tries to help her, she attacks his truck with her knife, then almost slices his ear off when he tries to pull her off the truck. Vic Moore, one of the inhabitants of Hyde River, is concerned by a rash he sees growing over his heart. As he is examining the discoloration, Maggie Bly shows up at his door, asking to be admitted. He sends her away, lies to his wife about who was at the door, and goes to bed. Maggie finally comes to Levi Cobb's garage, determined that someone will take her in.

Steve Benson, Evelyn's brother-in-law, arrives from Colorado to check on Evelyn and find out what has happened to his brother Cliff. Much to his chagrin, he is met by a young and apparently inexperienced female deputy, Tracy Ellis. Tracy tells him that Cliff is dead, apparently from a bear attack. Evelyn was found in shock and incoherent by a trucker. The Department of Fish and Game has been called in to take care of the bear. Steve asks if it is Marcus DrFresne, saying it will take both of them. Steve is a professor from Colorado State University who specializes in grizzly and black bear behavior. When Steve sees Evelyn, he realizes she has been through a terrible ordeal, but she cannot remember the attack at all.

Vic Moore has taken off his job early, and is examining the mark over his heart. It is worsening, despite his efforts to scrub it away. He has heard that the thing always happens at night, so he is carrying a gun. He decides he needs to go to Charlie's Tavern. Steve has asked Tracy to take him to the site of Cliff's death. She drives him through the town, giving him a tour as they go. The town is economically depressed, with the Hyde Mining Company the main employer, even though it is in decline. When Steve and Tracy reach the site of the attack, Steve asks her if she can give him a scenario from the body. She tells him they only found half of Cliff's body.

Levi Cobb receives a visit from Jerry Fisk, a sheriff's deputy who is passing out flyers about the attack and asking Levi not to talk to anyone else, but to call the sheriff if anyone talks to him.

Marcus DuFresne calls Steve and tells him about Bear 318, affectionately known as "Herman," the most likely suspect to attack a human. Marcus and Steve set out bait, and wait for Herman to show up. As they are waiting, Levi is trying to make the connection between Cliff Benson and Hyde River. Levi has a habit of talking to the equipment he is working on, and assures the current equipment he will ask Maggie what she knows about Cliff when Ebo Denning shows up outside. Ebo is leaving town with his family. He had owned the mercantile, but has been forced out of business. As soon as Ebo leaves, Charlie Mack, owner of Charlie's Tavern and Denning's Mercantile, shows up, wanting to know if Levi has been keeping Maggie at his place. Levi tells him he has nothing to say. Charlie hints that there might have been something between Cliff and Maggie, and Levi asks if Charlie is scared, then tells him to worry about what is in his heart, not what is out there. At dusk, Herman shows up, and Steve shoots the bear.


Suggested Activities - Chapters 01 - 02

  1. The device of journal entries is used throughout the book to bring in background information. Have students keep a journal throughout their study of the novel, recording their impressions of the characters, events and spiritual impact.
  2. Assign students a map that can be added to throughout the course of the book, showing the main places covered.
  3. Research the historical period represented by Benjamin Hyde's life - the latter half of the 1800s. Particularly concentrate on the gold and silver mining on the Pacific coast.

Review Questions - Chapters 01 - 02

  1. When Evelyn was found, what did she have in her hand?
  2. From what little is revealed about Evelyn, what might you consider her spiritual condition to be? Why?
  3. What kind of person is Harold Bly?
  4. What was the age difference between Harold Bly and his wife?
  5. Of what is Maggie Bly afraid? How do the people of the town react to her?
  6. Who finds Evelyn? How does she react?
  7. What is happening to Vic Moore?
  8. Where does Maggie Bly come last?
  9. Who is Steve Benson? What is his occupation?
  10. How does Steve feel about the deputy when he first sees her?
  11. What did Steve find odd about the story concerning Evelyn and the truck driver?
  12. What is bothering Vic Moore?
  13. When Steve and Tracy go to the site of the attack, what animal signs does Steve find? What does he not find?
  14. What was Cliff's occupation?
  15. What does Tracy tell Steve about his brother's body?
  16. What does Levi say about an outsider being eaten like that? Who does he think might know something about it?
  17. Who is Ebo Denning? Why is he leaving town?
  18. What does Charlie Mack want to know?
  19. What does Levi tell him?
  20. With what does Levi usually carry on conversations?

Review Question Answers - Chapters 01 - 02

  1. a broken hunting knife
  2. Evelyn is probably a Christian, based on her calling on Jesus for help in her current situation. Although even unbelievers call on Him for help when things are this bad, there does seem to be a certain familiarity in the way in which she is crying out, calling to One on whom she normally depends for help.
  3. Harold Bly is ruthless, pompous, uncaring and domineering.
  4. 20 years.
  5. She is afraid to be out in the open. No one will let her into their house; everyone is afraid.
  6. A trucker finds Evelyn. She attacks his truck, then turns on him when he tries to pull her off the truck.
  7. Vic Moore has some kind of rash on his chest.
  8. She comes to Levi Cobb's garage.
  9. Steve Benson is Evelyn's brother-in-law, her husband's brother. He is a wildlife biologist, a professor at Colorado State University.
  10. He feels that she must be too young and inexperienced, and has been assigned to his brother's case because it is not considered to be important enough.
  11. Evelyn is normally very calm, and is experienced in the outdoors, even to the point of having dressed out a bear before.
  12. The rash over his heart is getting worse, and night is approaching - whatever it is that happens, "they" say it always happens at night.
  13. He finds elk and deer tracks, but no signs of bear tracks.
  14. wildlife photographer
  15. Only half of Cliff's body was found
  16. Levi says, "You have to earn something like that, which means you can't be no stranger." He thinks Maggie might know something about it.
  17. Ebo Denning is a Black businessman who had owned the mercantile. He has been squeezed out of business.
  18. Charlie Mack wants to know if Levi is harboring Maggie Bly.
  19. Levi tells him he should be more concerned with what's in his heart than with a critter in the mountains.
  20. Levi talks to his tools and the equipment he is working on.