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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 long did Schindler court Emilie before marrying her?

2. How does Poldek Pfefferberg get the Blauschein on his identity card?

3. In Chapter 13, where is violinist Henry Rosner working?

4. Where did Danka Dresner attempt to hide?

5. Where did the Rosner brothers go in their attempt to escape the actions of the Germans?

Short Essay Questions

1. Oskar bought some new machinery locally, some from the "homeland." What might be some reasons for that?

2. How does witnessing the activities in Krakusa Street affect Schindler?

3. Describe how the dinner party contrasts with the season Keneally describes in the book's Prologue.

4. Chapter 16 compares the ZOB's resistance style (blowing things up) against Oskar's style (protecting his Jewish workers). Describe which method you think is more effective, and why.

5. 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.

6. What did people like the Rosner brothers and Manci Rosner bring with them when they went to the countryside to "lose themselves among the peasants"?

7. In an ironic twist, Amon Goeth is arrested in Chapter 31, not for crimes against the prisoners, but for embezzlement. To some of the prisoners, though, like Helen Hirsch and Mietek Pemper, this was worse than a more serious charge. Why?

8. Explain why you think pharmacist Bachner returned from Prokocim to the Cracow ghetto, rather than trying to escape to freedom.

9. The funeral pyres described in Chapter 27 signal the beginning of the end for Plaszow, yet there is no description of any panic or worry on the part of the prisoners. Having read the descriptions of the prisoners to this point, explain why you think this is so.

10. 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?

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

In Chapter 11, Oskar is arrested for the first time. At the end of Chapter 11, Keneally says, "Oskar was convinced, as he thanked the man, that the acquittal was temporary." Why do you think Oskar might have believed that? He was, of course, arrested again. After the first arrest, why do you think Oskar Schindler didn't change what he was doing to avoid the future arrest? Write at least one page outlining your thoughts about Oskar's actions and motivations, and use at least one specific example from the book to back up your statement.

Essay Topic 3

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?

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