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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. Hillesum lives in a house owned by a widower named _________________.

2. Hillesum writes that she tried to do what in the house?

3. Etty feels a certain amount of ___________ toward Spier.

4. Putting everything on paper satisfied ________ of Etty's most innermost desires.

5. Even before reaching Westerbork, Etty Hillesum's ___________ emerges as something independent and infinitely more powerful than her physical self.

Short Essay Questions

1. Over what does Etty want to gain control? What does she resolve to do every day?

2. What does Etty reveal about Spier? How does Etty, at this point, feel about Spier?

3. How does Etty's feelings towards her family begin to change?

4. What does Etty do to become closer to God?

5. Of what does Etty admit she is guilty? How does this then lead to a spiritual discussion?

6. Describe the men for whom Etty has feelings.

7. How is Etty's eating disorder symbolic?

8. What does Etty say about the topic of hatred?

9. How does Etty begin to change significantly and radically?

10. How does Etty feel about men? How does she explain this?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Etty's motivations become increasingly altruistic.

Part 1) How do Etty's motivations become increasingly altruistic? Why do they grow more altruistic? What does this reveal about her?

Part 2) What external motivation does Etty receive for being altruistic? How does this compare to her internal motivation? Which are more important? Why?

Part 3) When have you acted altruistically? Why did you act this way? How did this affect you?

Essay Topic 2

Etty begins this diary for two reasons.

Part 1) What are these two reasons? What do these two reasons reveal about her? How do these two reasons prepare the reader for her diary?

Part 2) How are these two reasons important throughout the diary? Are other purposes discovered as she creates this diary? Why or why not?

Part 3) If you were to write a diary, what would be your purpose? Why? How could keeping a diary be useful for you and others?

Essay Topic 3

Life and Westerbork is a transient one.

Part 1) Describe this life at Westerbork. Why is it such a transient one? How does this work in the German's favor?

Part 2) How does this lifestyle affect the Jews who live here? How is Etty, in particular, affected? How is her fate foreshadowed at this time?

Part 3) Describe your own life. Has it ever been transient? Why or why not? What type of transient people live in the U.S. today? Why do they live this way? Might this be by choice? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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