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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 story does Elka tell Gimpel in an attempt to convince him that the child is his?

2. After the feast celebrating the birth of their child, what does Elka ask Gimpel?

3. What is Gimpel's response to Elka's wedding night claims?

4. What falsehood do the townspeople tell Gimpel about Elka?

5. What is Gimpel's objection to Elka's premarital requirement?

Short Essay Questions

1. At the end of the story, what is Gimpel ready to do and how does he feel about it?

2. What is Gimpel's religion and how do we know this?

3. When Gimpel goes home after months of separation, what does he see?

4. What does the rabbi's daughter tell Gimpel to do and why is this important?

5. Why is Gimpel called a fool?

6. What happens when Gimpel returns from checking on the goat?

7. Briefly describe how Gimpel is talked into meeting Elka.

8. Who is the first person Gimpel dreams of after Elka's death, and what does this person say to do?

9. After the birth, who does Gimpel go to for advice and what is said?

10. How has Gimpel's career progressed over time?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Singer uses foreshadowing in the very beginning when Gimpel states that he does not consider himself a fool. Discuss foreshadowing as a literary tool and Singer's use of it within the text.

Essay Topic 2

Gimpel displays a great deal of compassion throughout the story while evoking the same emotions from the reader. Explore and discuss Singer's use of compassion to relay the story. How does the first person narrative aid in this?

Essay Topic 3

Define the word "martyr" and discuss why or why not Gimpel fits this description.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 840 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample