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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. How is Vevers described?

2. How does Ginzburg describe Stalin?

3. Who is Lyama Shepel?

4. Who summons Ginzburg?

5. What might happen if Ginzburg makes any stops along the way to present herself for the arrest warrant?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ira ask Tsarevsky to do as she and others are being transferred and what does his willingness to do so portend?

2. Where is Ginzburg taken and what does she remember after seeing the place?

3. Who are some of Ginzburg's cellmates at Krasin Street Prison?

4. What is the "Conveyor Belt" interrogation method and how is it used on Ginzburg?

5. What is mentioned about the Red Tatary and why does Ginzburg threaten one prisoner in French?

6. Who is Zinaida Abramova and how is she treated at the prison?

7. What does Ginzburg discover about the charges against her as she is traveling back to Moscow?

8. Who is Ginzburg's first cellmate at Black Lake?

9. Where is Ginzburg being transferred and what is significant about the watch returned to her?

10. Describe the situation that occurs concerning Carola Heintschke.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as Journey Into the Whirlwind help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading Journey Into the Whirlwind? Why or why not?

3. Choose one specific incident in Journey Into the Whirlwind to discuss and compare one of the characters' response to how you think you would respond.

Essay Topic 2

Ginzburg's frustration over failing to prove her innocence increases to anger over the hypocrisy and corrupt nature of the hearings. The charges multiply against her. Suspicions, rumors, and false accusations are rippling throughout Soviet Russia, and as a result, no charges are being taken lightly. Ginzburg's charges now carry the weight of criminal offense.

1. Discuss how frustration might turn to anger in almost any situation. Use examples from Journey Into the Whirlwind and your own life to support your response.

2. What do you think the corruption of the hearings says about the government at the time? Use examples from Journey Into the Whirlwind and your own life to support your response.

3. Discuss the effects that suspicions, rumors, and false accusations might have on a society. Use examples from Journey Into the Whirlwind and your own life to support your response.

Essay Topic 3

Journey Into the Whirlwind belongs to the memoir genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the memoir genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a memoir and a historical novel?

(see the answer keys)

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