View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. "The Dial, 1941-1804-1941" goes back and forth between two stories. Who are the two stories about?
(a) Jonathan's grandfather and Brod.
(b) Alex and Little Igor.
(c) Yankel and Brod.
(d) Safran and Zosha.

2. What is the result of Kolker's injuries?
(a) Kolker has random violent emotional outbursts.
(b) Kolker is more attentive to his wife.
(c) Kolker is unable to work and becomes depressed.
(d) Kolker dies.

3. What do Jonathan, Alex, and Grandfather see when they finally reach Trachimbrod?
(a) Nothing.
(b) A ghost town.
(c) The foundations of where buildings used to be.
(d) Rubble.

4. Concerning Jonathan's novel, what does Alex ask Jonathan to do?
(a) He asks Jonathan to not write about his Grandfather's past.
(b) He asks Jonathan to write about his Grandfather's past.
(c) He asks Jonathan to delete Augustine from the story.
(d) He asks Jonathan to have Grandfather and Augustine converse.

5. What do Grandfather, Alex, and Jonathan have for dinner after they leave Lista?
(a) They eat sausage.
(b) They eat salad.
(c) They eat nothing.
(d) They eat peanuts.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "An Overture to Illumination," Jonathan, Alex, and Grandfather are returning from Trachimbrod. Why does Grandfather get mad at their waitress?

2. What is different about Safran when he is born?

3. Who is the old woman?

4. When Safran meets the Gypsy, what is the subject of the play they are watching?

5. How does Alex feel about Safran having sex with older women and women who are not his wife?

Short Essay Questions

1. After reading "What We Saw When We Saw Trachimbrod, or Falling in Love," the reader might suspect that Lista was a character in her own story. Who might she be? How do you know? Why do this?

2. The old woman tells that she must live near Trachimbrod as "punishment" (189). According to her, what is she being punished for? What does this mean to you?

3. What does Jonathan tell Alex about his grandmother while waiting for Grandfather and the old woman? What do Jonathan and his grandmother have in common?

4. Safran does not consummate his relationship until his wedding night. What does this suggest about his relationships with other women?

5. "Letter Dated 17 November 1997" revolves around the theme of forgiveness. Give at least one example of who needs to be granted forgiveness and the reason.

6. Why does Alex lie about his sex life?

7. Although the novel does not say it directly, based on what is written in the Book of Antecedents, what can we assume Brod asked the Kolker to do? Why would she ask this?

8. In "Letter Dated 12 December 1997," what does Alex think about Jonathan's writing about Safran? Is this hypocritical? What has Alex learned?

9. Does the old woman in "Falling in Love" know Jonathan's grandfather? What does she tell Jonathan?

10. Alex has changed throughout the novel. Identify how he has changed by the time he writes "Letter Dated 24 December 1997." What do you think brought about the change?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,484 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample