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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. Esther ("Etty") Hillesum began writing a dairy in early __________ of 1941.

2. Hillesum is ___________; someone who is actively involved in examining the world and her perceptions thereof from the inside out rather than the other way around.

3. The diary begins as a way for Etty to do what?

4. What becomes Etty Hillesum's main focus?

5. It is at this point that Etty Hillesum identifies her loneliness as a deep well that can only be filled by ______________.

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Etty's faith continue to grow?

2. How is Etty's eating disorder symbolic?

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

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

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

6. What does Etty say about evil?

7. What is happening to the Jews by June of 1941?

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

9. What foreshadowing of Etty's future occurs? How does it seem she is preparing herself for this future?

10. Describe the men for whom Etty has feelings.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Etty's parents and brother arrive at Westerbork.

Part 1) Why do they end up at Westerbork? How is Etty affected by this? How does Etty try to help them? Is she successful? Why or why not?

Part 2) What is the fate of this family? Could this have been prevented? Why or why not? What does their fate reveal about the lives of the Jews who were placed in concentration camps during the war?

Part 3) How might you feel if you were in Etty's situation? How would you react if your family joined in your entrapment and suffering?

Essay Topic 2

Etty and her family are transported to Auschwitz.

Part 1) What leads to them being transported to this concentration camp? How is this foreshadowed earlier in the book? How did Etty feel when her family joined her in Westerbork and then in Auschwitz? Why did she feel this way?

Part 2) Why might they have all been sent to Auschwitz? Is there anything that could have been done to prevent this? How does this lead to the end of the story? How does this affect you as the reader?

Part 3) How does Etty's attitude throughout this book help Etty prepare for this tragedy? What can we learn from Etty and her attitude throughout this book?

Essay Topic 3

The German occupation becomes more of a presence.

Part 1) Describe the German occupation. How does it slowly begin to affect Etty's life? Does she change at all because of this control over her life? Why or why not?

Part 2) How does this presence of German hatred influence Etty? How does this effect compare to the effects on others? Why? What does this reveal about Etty?

Part 3) How has the German occupation and take-over of much of Europe affected our world today? What can we learn from this?

(see the answer keys)

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