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 watches the narrator while his mother is working?

2. What is Germany full of at the moment?

3. What teacher asks his students to remain after school in his class?

4. What does the narrator ask of Mr. Schneider?

5. What does the narrator do with his candy?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do you think Friedrich says "Heil, Hitler" outside the department store?

2. Summarize what the teacher says about Jewish history.

3. Describe the grandfather's visit to the narrator's household.

4. What may be foreshadowing a future of terror and death for Jews?

5. Do you think Herr Schneider should have listened to the narrator's father about leaving Germany?

6. How does the narrator describe the Jewish Sabbath dinner at Friedrich's home? What does this indicate to the reader?

7. Explain the situation with Frau Penk and why she gives up her position with Mrs. Schneider.

8. How does Friedrich's relationship with his mother contrast to that of the narrator's relationship with his mother?

9. Describe how the window is broken. Do you think the narrator shows courage in taking responsibility for breaking the window or is lying never acceptable?

10. Describe the proceedings in the court and their implications.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The chapter titled "The Movie" is very significant in understanding how the German people came to be active Jew persecutors or at the very least placidly compliant in the slaughter and persecution of Jews. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Research the movie Sweet Jew and do a critical analysis of the content.

2. Research the history of the German film industry from its internationally acclaimed status in the early part of the 20th century to its decline in quality when it began being used by the Nazi party for the dissemination of propaganda. Write an essay chronicling the changes.

3. How are movies still used to support and promote certain political or social agendas? Write an essay discussing this topic.

Essay Topic 2

In the chapter titled "The Swimming Pool," Friedrich returns to the pool, offering to tell the police about the thief, but is rebuffed. Answer the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. What happens to Friedrich while he is checking out from a day at the pool? What do you think is the reason for the attendant's vitriolic response to learning Friedrich is a Jew?

2. Why do you think Friedrich would be so careless about his claim check given the things that are going on around him and the fact that his id clearly shows he is Jewish?

3. Why do you think Friedrich returns to try to help the boy whose bike is stolen?

4. Would you have returned to try to help the police and boy recover the bike? If it were your bike, would you want useful information even if it were from someone you disliked?

Essay Topic 3

In the chapter "Friday Evening," the narrator shares the Sabbath dinner with Friedrich's family. Choose one of the following questions in a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. The Friday evening Sabbath service is a rite or ceremony within the Jewish faith. Many other religions have rites and ceremonies also. Identify several rites/ceremonies either religious or secular and explain the reason for each.

2. What is the purpose of rites or ceremonies? Are they necessary for human culture? For individuals?

3. Some say that part of the reason the modern culture is declining is a lack of tradition, which would include rites and ceremonies. Take a stand either to affirm or refute this idea using specific examples.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,608 words (approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample