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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 is happening as Gimpel walks to Elka's house?

2. After hearing of Elka's infidelity, what does the Rabbi say Gimpel cannot do?

3. Because of Gimpel's thieving, what happens to Elka?

4. While Elka is in labor, what does she scream to Gimpel?

5. Even though Gimpel wanted to sleep at home, where does he stay instead?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Gimpel feel and do for the baby?

2. Describe the setting of Gimpel the Fool.

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

4. What expression is Elka wearing when she dies, and what does Gimpel think this means?

5. Why is Gimpel called a fool?

6. Paraphrase the advice given to Gimpel by the rabbi.

7. After claiming he has made a mistake about what he saw at home in Chapter 2, what must happen regarding the rabbi, and what is Gimpel allowed to do?

8. After months of separation, who does Gimpel confront the day after his return and what is said?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Explain and explore Gimpel's role as an outcast. Is he or is he not? Choose a side and argue for or against.

Essay Topic 3

Isaac Bashevis Singer is a world-renowned author.

Part 1) Describe Singer's place in history as a writer.

Part 2) Explain why he was and still is pivotal to contemporary literature.

(see the answer keys)

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