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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 does Friedrich have for his outfit?

2. What does the judge tell the Reschs' attorney?

3. Where do Friedrich and the narrator go in the department store?

4. With what does Friedrich win over the narrator?

5. How does Mr. Schneider answer the narrator's father?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the narrator's father do that is equally as courageous as what his son does in the last chapter?

2. Describe how the window is broken. Do you think the narrator shows courage in taking responsibility for breaking the window or is lying never acceptable?

3. Describe Friedrich's preparations for his first visit to a meeting of the Jungvolk.

4. What is the first couple of indications in this book that this story will have something to do with the persecution of the Jewish people?

5. Do you think Herr Schneider should have listened to the narrator's father about leaving Germany?

6. How does the teacher demonstrate his sympathy for the Jews and for Friedrich in particular?

7. How does Friedrich's relationship with his mother contrast to that of the narrator's relationship with his mother?

8. Summarize what the teacher says about Jewish history.

9. What does the narrator say when Herr Schneider asks him about the Jungvolk and how does Herr Schneider respond to the narrator's reply?

10. Describe the grandfather's visit to the narrator's household.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the chapter "Friday Evening," the narrator shares the Sabbath dinner with Friedrich's family. Choose one of the following questions in a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. The Friday evening Sabbath service is a rite or ceremony within the Jewish faith. Many other religions have rites and ceremonies also. Identify several rites/ceremonies either religious or secular and explain the reason for each.

2. What is the purpose of rites or ceremonies? Are they necessary for human culture? For individuals?

3. Some say that part of the reason the modern culture is declining is a lack of tradition, which would include rites and ceremonies. Take a stand either to affirm or refute this idea using specific examples.

Essay Topic 2

The chapter titled "Jungvolk" is very significant in that if the young can be influenced and changed, significant social changes can take place in a country almost overnight. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Once Hitler has the young people "in his pocket," he is well on his way to controlling Germany. Write an essay either agreeing or disagreeing with this statement, giving specific reasons and examples.

2. Not too long ago in the United States, President Obama addressed the youth in the schools in the nation as a whole. Discuss this situation, why some people were opposed to President Obama doing so, and any similarities between the novel, Friedrich, and that situation.

3. Bob Dylan wrote and released a song around 1963 titled, "The Times They Are a-Changin'." How are the lyrics to this song applicable to what is happening in 1930s Germany?

Essay Topic 3

The chapter titled "The Movie" is very significant in understanding how the German people came to be active Jew persecutors or at the very least placidly compliant in the slaughter and persecution of Jews. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Research the movie Sweet Jew and do a critical analysis of the content.

2. Research the history of the German film industry from its internationally acclaimed status in the early part of the 20th century to its decline in quality when it began being used by the Nazi party for the dissemination of propaganda. Write an essay chronicling the changes.

3. How are movies still used to support and promote certain political or social agendas? Write an essay discussing this topic.

(see the answer keys)

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