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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. When does Spier die?

2. How is Etty at the time Spier dies?

3. Etty's reliance is completely on who?

4. Etty continues to insist that life is what?

5. Etty is cognizant of her _________________ as a Jew.

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What leads to Etty going to Westerbork?

3. What has happened to Etty's motivations? How does she support this?

4. What happens to Etty after Spier's death?

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

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

7. What does Etty say about suffering?

8. How does Etty's life and beliefs change due to the war?

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

10. What is clear by May of 1942?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Etty's trust in God grows.

Part 1) Describe Etty's feelings regarding God at the beginning of her diary. How do they evolve throughout the rest of the book? Why?

Part 2) How does this growth affect her attitude and actions throughout the book? How different might her actions and attitude have been if this trust had not grown?

Part 3) In what or whom do you trust? Why? How does this trust affect you? How does it affect those with which you come into contact?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Etty is drawn to self-denial and meditation.

Part 1) Describe these desires. How are these seen at the beginning of the book? How do they change? Why do they change?

Part 2) How does self-denial play a role in her actions? How did this self-denial affect others? Is this self-denial a positive thing? Why or why not?

Part 3) When have you denied yourself something? Why did you do this? How did this affect you? Have you ever meditated or spent time being contemplative? If so, how were you affected?

(see the answer keys)

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