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

Short Answer Questions

1. When is the next time the prosecutor comes to visit Yakov?

2. Through what she sends to Yakov in prison, what does Marfa urge Yakov to do?

3. What happens as Yakov is pacing his cell after his new attorney departs?

4. When the deputy warden tries to punish Yakov for throwing the item at him, who sticks up for Yakov?

5. What does the person speaking to Yakov through his cell door offer to Yakov?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Clearly, anti-Semitism plays a central role in the development of the characters and the plot of the story.

a. Define anti-Semitism and describe what anti-Semitism is and what it is not.

b. How does the author use anti-Semitism to develop his characters and the story's plot?

c. Why does the author use anti-Semitism in the story? What does the author hope to gain?

d. How might the story have been impacted if the anti-Semitism piece had been completely left out? Would the story have been richer? More dramatic? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the warden with the deputy warden.

a. How are the two characters similar in terms of their professional lives? How are they different?

b. How are the two characters similar in their personality characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses? How are they different?

c. Only one of these characters survives the story. Is the deputy warden's death a result of his own doing or a result of dumb luck? Is the warden's survival a result of his own doing or a result of dumb luck? Support your reasoning for both.

d. Looking forward, how might Yakov's incarceration and subsequent trial have affected each of these men as they moved forward with their lives? Would they be similarly affected or not? Explain your answers and your reasoning.

Essay Topic 3

Yakov has a host of visitors to his prison cell. Identify three people that come to see Yakov in prison. Describe the character, the reason for the visit, the end result, and the emotional impact that the character's visit has on Yakov. For each of the visitors, determine if Yakov would have been better off not meeting with the character. Explain your reasoning.

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This section contains 409 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample