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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. What do the boys do next?

2. What does Schloime ask of God?

3. How does Friedrich meet Helga?

4. Who helps the rabbi thread a needle?

5. Why does the narrator's family not sleep the night the rabbi and Herr Schneider are taken?

Short Essay Questions

1. Do you think Resch is more motivated by patriotism or greed when he turns in the Schneiders?

2. What does Friedrich speak about and what does he ask of the narrator's family? What do you think is the reason for his request?

3. What do you think Schneider was doing by saying, "You were right, Herr..."?

4. What is ironic about the prayer that Scholoime is reciting at his death?

5. Tell the story of Solomon.

6. What demonstrates the fact that the narrator's family has not completely turned its backs on the Schneiders as so many other non-Jewish Germans have?

7. What is rather ironic in this chapter and why?

8. What happens when Friedrich tries to get into the shelter?

9. What about this chapter shows a different side of Friedrich's life?

10. What happens and what is the significance of it when Friedrich and the narrator are leaving the pool?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the chapter titled "The Festival," the rabbi reminds Friedrich, who is 13, that he alone is now responsible before God for his actions. Answer the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. What is a Bar Mitzvah?

2. Why do you think the Jews celebrate this ceremony? Is it still celebrated today?

3. Do you think a boy of 13 is ready to be solely responsible for his own actions and decisions? Why or why not?

4. The narrator is astonished by Friedrich's wisdom. Do you think this wisdom is gained partially through the fire of persecution?

Essay Topic 2

In the chapter titled, "The Hearing," the Judge tells Resch's attorney he sees no legal ground for evicting the Schneiders. the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Research pre-WWII Germany and learn about the legal, political and human resistance to Hitler's growing repression and control of Germany.

2. How much resistance is offered? Who offered the most--religious institutions? Social institutions? Political groups?

3. How do those groups oppose Hitler? Protests? Legal injunctions? Elections?

4. Why do you think those groups/individuals fail to halt Hitler's advance to power?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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