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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. Who does the landlord ask to witness his conversation with Mr. Schneider?

2. What causes Mr. Schneider to become sick at heart?

3. Who weeps in joy at the verdict?

4. Why are the narrator's parents uncomfortable at the amusement park?

5. With what does Friedrich greet a man outside the Meyer department store?

Short Essay Questions

1. Summarize what the teacher says about Jewish history.

2. Why do you think the narrator is so distracted?

3. What does this scene about the broken window portend?

4. What is the landlord's reason for telling the Schneiders they have to vacate and does the reason seem fair?

5. 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?

6. What is the date and setting and milieu at the opening of this novel and what major characters are introduced?

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

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

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

10. What first appears in this chapter and what is the context?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the chapter titled, "The Hearing," the Judge tells Resch's attorney he sees no legal ground for evicting the Schneiders. the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Research pre-WWII Germany and learn about the legal, political and human resistance to Hitler's growing repression and control of Germany.

2. How much resistance is offered? Who offered the most--religious institutions? Social institutions? Political groups?

3. How do those groups oppose Hitler? Protests? Legal injunctions? Elections?

4. Why do you think those groups/individuals fail to halt Hitler's advance to power?

Essay Topic 2

The first section determines the action takes place somewhere in Germany after World War I, when the victorious Allies are taking economic vengeance on the losers. Choose one of the following questions in a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. What is the situation like in Germany post WWI? Give examples of the economic and political conditions.

2. Many say Hitler's rise to power is a direct result of how Germany is treated in the war. Learn more about this and give your opinion.

3. How could the Allied powers have done things differently to help Germany recover in such a way that it does not set up an opening for the type of situation that Hitler creates?

Essay Topic 3

The chapter titled "The Pogrom" is probably a very difficult one for many readers, not only because it is the first instance of physical harm done to a character but also because of the narrator's seeming betrayal of his Jewish friends. 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 and explain the topic of mob psychology and how this applies to the narrator's participation in the destruction.

2. What is a pogrom? Research the history of pogroms and cite some of the most well-known ones. Have they always been against Jews? Why do you think otherwise sane and good people participate in a pogrom?

3. Could you ever imagine yourself participating in the kind of activities that take place in this chapter? Not necessarily against the Jews, but against some group of people with whom you feel uncomfortable or threatened. Write an essay about this topic.

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