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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 city does Jacob Kahn describe as a "gift"?

2. In Chapter 11, Asher describes Jacob Kahn's show as which type of "affair"?

3. What kind of hat does Asher wear?

4. While at Jacob Kahn's vacation home, what type of bird does Asher watch and paint frequently?

5. What biblical book does Asher read on the holiday of Tisha b'Av?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Asher draw for his enemy classmate? Describe the picture.

2. How do the strangers at the art show react to the Brooklyn Crucifixions?

3. Describe how Jacob Kahn looks in Chapter 14.

4. What types of paintings does Jacob Kahn emphasize in his trips with Asher to the Metropolitan Museum of Art? Why?

5. What does Asher do for the summer while Jacob Kahn campaigns for Kennedy?

6. How does the Rav Dorochoff react to Asher's calling him in the middle of the night?

7. Why does Asher begin carrying messages for the Rebbe?

8. What objects does Asher notice in his parents' bedroom?

9. Which four people from the Bible does the Pieta portray?

10. How does Jacob Kahn respond when Asher asks him if the artist he had just visited was happy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does Asher have to move to Paris after his community sees the Brooklyn Crucifixions? Do you think Asher was right to leave Brooklyn, or do you think he should have publicly defended his work? Why?

Essay Topic 2

World view is an important topic in this novel. For example, Jacob Kahn views the world as an artist, while Aryeh views the world as an observant Jew who obeys his rabbi. Choose a character and explain how his or her world view drives his or her actions and thoughts.

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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