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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. What is Yankel doing before he is told he will be a father?

2. What does Alex do with the money he makes?

3. What ailment does Grandfather claim to have?

4. What does Yankel do with the note that his wife left him?

5. What evidence does Yankel, Brod's "father," give that Brod's "mother" loved him?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe how Yankel's feels when he finds out that he is going to be a father.

2. What clues tell the reader that Brod is having a vision of the future in "Recurrent Secrets, 1791-1943"?

3. By the end of "The Very Rigid Search," Alex has yelled at Jonathan twice. Describe these incidents. What is significant about these outbursts?

4. What is the relationship between Grandfather and Jonathan?

5. Yankel lies to Brod. What does he lie about? Why does he lie? What do you think about his lies?

6. Name two things Alex claims to be, but that we might suspect he is exaggerating. Explain your response.

7. Why did Yankel change his name? Why did he choose "Yankel"?

8. What ailment does Grandfather claim to have and why? How do you know he is lying?

9. Alex compares his father's abuse to the search for Augustine. In what ways are they similar?

10. When Alex first meets Jonathan, he is "flabbergasted by his appearance" (31). Why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The title Everything is Illuminated, tells that all things come to light. In the story, many truths come to light and each have different effects. Are some truths better left unsaid or should truth always be sought out? Write a five paragraph essay discussing this concept. Reference the novel to support your assertions.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

In the novel, Foer suggests that everything that ends begins again. Remember that the theme of rebirth does not necessarily have to do with physical rebirth. Their can also be spiritual, emotional, and symbolic rebirth. Discuss this theory and how Foer supports it. What does it mean? What does it teach?

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