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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. Where does Asher live?

2. Who takes care of the Lev family during Rivkeh's incapacitating depression?

3. Asher Lev introduces himself as being the painter of which great painting?

4. In Chapter 2, Aryeh is greatly disturbed at the brutal deaths of which group of people?

5. Yudel Krinsky begins to work in a store that sells what type of merchandise?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Asher's mythic ancestor.

2. In Chapter 6, Rivkeh takes Asher to the Parkway Museum (also called the Brooklyn Museum). Describe their experience there.

3. What happens to the Russian writers? How do the Levs react?

4. Whenever Aryeh leaves for a trip, Rivkeh says, "Have a safe journey, Aryeh." In Chapter 5, Asher begins to develop a sensitivity to Rivkeh's underlying emotions. Describe what Rivkeh is feeling when she says goodbye to Aryeh.

5. Why does Asher ask Yudel Krinsky questions about Russia?

6. Out of a deep longing to learn to use oil paints, Asher steals several tubes of oil paint and several brushes from Yudel Krinsky's store. What does he do with them? Why do you think he does this?

7. What happened to Yudel Krinsky in Russia? Describe some of his life before coming to the United States.

8. Explain the class's and the teacher's reactions to Asher's drawing in a Chumash. Why do you think they react in this way?

9. During Asher's struggles against going to Vienna, he asks why no one is listening to him. Rivkeh replies, "Everyone is listening. [...] There would be no problem if no one were listening to you, Asher." Explain what Rivkeh means by this statement.

10. When Aryeh returns to Brooklyn for the Pesach, how does he treat Asher?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In this novel, each major character strives to live out his or her purpose in life, especially as it relates to the Jewish community. Which character do you think accomplishes this the most effectively? Which character accomplishes this the least effectively?

Essay Topic 2

Aryeh Lev risks his health and at times his life to help bring Russian Jews to safety, even though Rivkeh and Asher worry about him intensely. Do you think Aryeh makes a wise decision to travel abroad for the Rebbe, or do you think he would have been wiser to stay in Brooklyn? Write your idea of what might have happened if Aryeh had stayed in Brooklyn during Asher's artistically formative years.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the novel, the question arises whether Asher's art is from the Ribbono shel olom, which is a name for God, or from the sitra achra, which is a name for the forces of evil. Asher himself wonders at various times what the source of his art is. Provide some reasons why Asher's art may possibly come from each source, and then explain whether you think Asher's art sides with good or with evil. If you think his art is completely neutral, explain why. Use specific examples from the novel.

(see the answer keys)

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