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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. Who is the narrator of the story?

2. What does Gimpel do while Elka is in childbirth?

3. After Gimpel enters his house, what does he hear?

4. After wanting to go home mid-week, who does Gimpel go to for advice?

5. What happens four months after Gimpel and Elka get married?

Short Essay Questions

1. What occurs during Gimpel's wedding?

2. Who is the first person Gimpel dreams of after Elka's death, and what does this person say to do?

3. What expression is Elka wearing when she dies, and what does Gimpel think this means?

4. Describe a few pranks played on Gimpel.

5. Why doesn't Gimpel get angry in Chapter 2 when he returns home early from the bakery? What does Gimpel do instead?

6. At the end of the story, what is Gimpel ready to do and how does he feel about it?

7. Where are Gimpel and Elka married, and why?

8. Describe the messenger that Gimpel uses to send his family supplies during his separation from his family.

9. When Gimpel goes home after months of separation, what does he see?

10. What does Gimpel do to right his wrongful plot of revenge?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"Gimpel the Fool" questions the definition of truth. Compare and contrast what is true to the townspeople and what is true to Gimpel. Which version is actually true? Support your answer with examples from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Analyze and discuss the concept of judgment within the text.

Essay Topic 3

"Gimpel the Fool" can be classified under several genres. Pick three, and, with supporting evidence from the text, discuss how the story could be classified under each genre.

(see the answer keys)

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