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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. To whom does Ginzburg write?

2. What do most of the women receive for sentences?

3. What are Ginzburg and the other prisoners no longer permitted to do?

4. What does Ginzburg learn at the end of June?

5. Why does Ginzburg consider herself lucky as far as her sentence?

Short Essay Questions

1. What new rule is forced upon the prisoners and how do they react to the restriction?

2. How does Ginzburg compare Kostik to Keyzin?

3. What solution do Julia and Ginzburg find to reading in low light?

4. What does Ginzburg learn about her father and how does this seem to cause unwarranted punishment?

5. What range of sentences are the women whom Ginzburg meets given, and why does Ginzburg consider herself lucky?

6. About what do the female prisoners disagree during their discussions on the train ride?

7. Why does Vasily Petukhov decide to help Ginzburg survive?

8. What happens when the Prison Governor comes to visit Ginzburg?

9. What routine do Julia and Ginzburg maintain?

10. What is it like for Ginzburg in her cell at the prison?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in Journey Into the Whirlwind. Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Ginzburg chooses the symbols he does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the memoir. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Ginzburg chooses the metaphors she does?

3. Discuss Ginzburg's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, clifthangers, deux ex machina, etc.), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Ginzburg use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme).

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Readers learn that Kirov's assassin was a Communist. This fills Ginzburg with a sense of foreboding. It also demonstrates that the government does not have complete control over its citizens, because the assassin is a Communist. It a Communist assassinates another Communist, it further implies that there is no such thing as a loyal Communist any longer. Since a Communist has assassinated another Communist, the government is now weeding through Party members to determine loyalty.

1. Discuss the idea that if a communist kills a communist official that means that there could be other communists who are not loyal to the government. Use examples from Journey Into the Whirlwind and your own life to support your response.

2. Discuss what you think about the way Stalin responded to Kirov's death. Use examples from Journey Into the Whirlwind and your own life to support your response.

3. Discuss why the statement: it further implies that there is no such thing as a loyal Communist any longer, is an example of black and white, absolute type thinking. Use examples from Journey Into the Whirlwind and your own life to support your response.

(see the answer keys)

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