View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. The old woman tells that when the Nazis came all the men were lined up and told to do what or their family would die?

2. In "Letter Dated 26 January 1998," what does Alex do with the division Jonathan sent him?

3. When the old woman's father had the gun pointed at him and was told to do something or die, what did he do?

4. What does the woman give Jonathan?

5. According to Jonathan, what makes women fall in love with Safran?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Grandfather ask Alex for money and what does Alex say in return? Will Alex give him the money?

2. 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?

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

4. How does Alex feel about the truth in "Letter Dated 12 December 1997?"

5. Why does Alex send back the money that Jonathan sent him? Why is he angry?

6. 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?

7. Why do women fall in love with Safran?

8. What is the relationship between Safran in 1941, Brod in 1804, and the Dial.

9. 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?

10. Alex asks Jonathan to finish writing the chapter "An Overture to Illumination." Why? Does Jonathan do it? How can you tell?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Alex is always asking Jonathan for forgiveness for everything from trivial things to important, life-altering events. Why is Alex always concerned with forgiveness? Who else is concerned with forgiveness? What does this say about Alex's character? Is Alex someone who needs forgiveness? Defend your response with the text.

Essay Topic 2

Brod is never alone in the novel. She always has a man in her life. When one dies, she has another man to replace the previous almost instantaneously. What does this suggest about her? Describe her relationships with the the three most important men in her life. Did she love any of them? How do you know?

Essay Topic 3

Jonathan Safran Foer is both the writer of the novel and is a character in the novel, yet this is a work of fiction. He must include himself in the story for a reason. Research the author and show how his own life has influenced Everything is Illuminated. Make sure you find at least three different resources. Only one of your sources may be from the internet. Compare and contrast the real Jonathan with the fictitious Jonathan.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,738 words (approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample