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| Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. What does the note that Yankel wrote say?
2. What would Alex name a town if given the chance?
3. What happens to Jonathan's documents?
4. What is The Book of Recurrent Dreams?
5. Who wins the second lottery?
Short Essay Questions
1. In "Falling in Love, 1791 -1796," we learn that Yankel's wife has left him. What are her motivations and what do you think of this?
2. Foer writes that Brod could "never be happy and honest at the same time" (79). What does this mean? Give examples from the text.
3. How did the town get its official name?
4. Is Sofiowka a reliable character? How do you know? Give details from the story.
5. Yankel lies to Brod. What does he lie about? Why does he lie? What do you think about his lies?
6. Why did Yankel change his name? Why did he choose "Yankel"?
7. Alex tells Jonathan that he "did not amputate Sammy Davis, Junior, Junior from the story" (55) despite Jonathan's request that he do so. Why would Jonathan not want SDJJ in the story? Why does Alex keep her?
8. By the end of "The Very Rigid Search," Alex has yelled at Jonathan twice. Describe these incidents. What is significant about these outbursts?
9. Describe the relationship between Alex and his father.
10. Why does Brod think she is the float queen in the Trachimday parade? What is the real reason?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Everything is Illuminated explores the idea of writing. Look at the characters in the novel who write. What genres do they use? Why do people write? What does it accomplish? Is it worth it? What is the author's purpose?
Essay Topic 2
In the beginning of the novel, Jonathan tells Alex not to change his mistakes because they make the story humorous. He says that it is "the only truthful way to tell a sad story" (53). Do you agree or disagree? Discuss the concept that being "humorous is the only truthful way to tell a sad story" (53). Use examples of how humor is used throughout the novel and explain how they lead to truth and how humor can help when telling a sad story.
Essay Topic 3
As a historical fiction, this novel is influenced by real events and ideas. Analyze how World War II or the Jewish culture have influenced this novel. For example, you may show how the violence of the war led to the violence in the family unit, or show how the Jewish culture has led to the use of themes like rebirth, suffering, sadness, justice, or forgiveness. Use examples from the novel to support your conclusions.
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This section contains 1,274 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) |
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