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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. Etty's motivations have become unambiguously ______________.

2. Etty is hyper-alert, hyper-conscious of what?

3. Etty remains stalwart in what?

4. Etty writes, "Ultimately, what matters most is to __________________."

5. Etty's faith in God has grown exponentially. Is this off-putting to her?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Etty say about suffering?

2. What does Etty believe one should do to handle the increasingly difficult situation?

3. What is clear by May of 1942?

4. What does Etty admit to her friend Ru? How is this significant?

5. How do Etty's beliefs affect her actions regarding her safety?

6. Does Etty realize the threat to her way of life? Does this affect her positive attitude? Explain.

7. What does Etty come to accept, which affects her thoughts, feelings, and obligations?

8. What is known about Etty's faith at this time?

9. Does Etty believe that she should appear strong? Why or why not?

10. Why does Hillesum decide she would rather not marry Spier?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Etty works with women and children at Westerbork.

Part 1) Describe Etty's work with these women and children. How might she have received this role? How might she be a positive influence for them?

Part 2) How does Etty benefit from working with these women and children? How is this information important to this book?

Part 3) Could Etty have done more for these women and children? If so, how? If not, why not?

Essay Topic 2

Etty verbalizes her faith to her friend.

Part 1) Describe Etty's faith and how it changes over time. What causes these changes in her faith? How does this, in turn, affect her thoughts and actions?

Part 2) Why does she verbalize her faith to a friend? How does this affect her? How is this important?

Part 3) In what do you have faith? Why? How does this faith influence your thoughts and actions?

Essay Topic 3

Etty does not return hate for hate.

Part 1) Give an example from the book that illustrates this. How does this belief regarding others compare to the beliefs of other Jews? Explain.

Part 2) Why does Etty decide to not hate or act hateful? Does she benefit from this? Why or why not? How does this decision to love all life and have a positive attitude affect you as a reader?

Part 3) Who in our own history has acted peacefully in the face of hatred and fear? Why? How has this person affected and influenced our culture today?

(see the answer keys)

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