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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. Poldek Pfefferberg changes his profession from schoolteacher to what, in order to begin working for Schindler?

2. To what type of venue did Oskar Schindler invite a group of men around Christmas of 1939?

3. In Chapter 16, how many Jews does Keneally say were cleared from the ghetto in the latest Aktion?

4. What does Vernichtungslager mean?

5. In Chapter Two, Itzhak Stern tells Schindler the phrase that he thinks encouraged Schindler to save all those Jews later in the war. What was that phrase?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 1, Keneally says "For Oskar, the Thirties must have seemed a mere epilogue to his glorious mistake on the Altvater circuit in the summer of '28." What does he mean by that?

2. Henry Rosner recalls that, even after the war, Oskar was the "great discoverer of unprocurables." What did he obtain in Munich that seemingly no one else could obtain?

3. How did young Olek Rosner get some water when the train from Goleszow finally stopped?

4. What types of professions merited a blue sticker on the new identity cards, as described in Chapter 13?

5. In the Prologue, Keneally describes Schindler as "Sudenten German--Arkansas to their Manhattan, Liverpool to their Cambridge." What does he mean by this?

6. At the beginning of Chapter 14, Keneally says "Even in the summer of 1942 it was impossible to guess at the connections between such a man as this and those ovens of extraordinary cubic capacity." What does he mean by this?

7. At the beginning of Chapter 6, Keneally describes Oskar Schindler using "portable wealth--diamonds, gold, trade goods" as the desirable currency of the day. Describe some of the "trade goods" that you think might have been used as currency or barter since much of the Jewish wealth had been confiscated.

8. The beginning of Chapter 16 describes the fallout from the Aktion that cleared thousands from the ghetto. Then Keneally writes, "It was no use bringing such tidings to the Judenrat." If the Judenrat were supposed to help the Jews, why would that be the case?

9. Keneally writes that Schindler was "frightened" after his second arrest. What was different this time that made him unable to laugh off this arrest as he did the first?

10. Describe Oskar Schindler's physical appearance.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter 15, Keneally contrasts a scene of brutal killing against a scene of Red Genia's survival. Describe your thoughts not only on the scenes themselves, but why Keneally juxtaposed them together in this way.

Essay Topic 2

What message do you think Keneally is trying to convey in this novel? The author chose not to write this as a biography of Schindler, and most novels have an underlying theme or message. What did you come away with after reading this book? What do you think Keneally wanted to convey? Are those the same, or do you think you got something a little different out of the book than Keneally intended? If so, why?

Essay Topic 3

Oskar Schindler made huge sums of money during the war, yet he died penniless, supported by those he saved. He tried starting two different businesses in two different countries, both of which failed. What factors did you recognize from the book that may have contributed to his ability to succeed during the war, but inability to make money in business after the war?

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