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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 Schuster do?

2. What has a boy lost?

3. What does the narrator find himself doing without thinking?

4. About what does the narrator worry?

5. Why does the narrator's family not sleep the night the rabbi and Herr Schneider are taken?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the ending of the chapter then bring the readers right back into the horror of "real" life?

2. What happens when Friedrich tries to get into the shelter?

3. Do you think Resch is more motivated by patriotism or greed when he turns in the Schneiders?

4. Why are Friedrich and his father having uncharacteristic arguments, and why is there tension in the apartment when the narrator goes up to take the Schneiders some potatoes?

5. What is ironic about the way Resch treats his garden polycarp in contrast to how he treats Friedrich?

6. What is ironic about the prayer that Scholoime is reciting at his death?

7. What do you think Schneider was doing by saying, "You were right, Herr..."?

8. What does the narrator do with the mob and why do you think he is capable of those acts when his best friend is Jewish?

9. How does Friedrich's family celebrate his Bar Mitzvah?

10. What is foreshadowed in the first part of this chapter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the chapter titled "The Cleaning Lady," Frau Penk apologetically responds that she had planned on coming to tell Frau Schneider that she can no longer work for her. Answer the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Why can Frau Penk no longer work for the Schneiders? Is this fair?

2. Do you think Frau Penk should ignore the law and do what she thinks is right? Why or why not?

3. Are there any alternatives to Frau Penk just quitting?

4. Frau Penk says her husband used to be a communist and therefore they have to be very careful. What do you think she means by this?

5. What would you do in Frau Penk's place?

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 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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