Imagine that Rosa and Stella both survived the concentration camps and are alive today. Pick one controversial social issue, such as abortion or welfare. Discuss the position you think each character would take on this issue and why.

Rosa stuffs the shawl into her mouth to keep herself from screaming when Magda is killed. Discuss the significance of this act.

"The Shawl" is written from the third-person omniscient point of view. Why do you think Ozick chose that point of view? Do you think that first-person narration might have worked better? Why or why not?

Read another contemporary Jewish tale, such as Isaac Bashevis Singer's "Gimpel the Fool," or Ozick's "The Pagan Rabbi." How are these stories influenced by Jewish religion, lore, tradition?