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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 does Levi think of the theory of incommunicability?

2. What does Levi think it is his mission to do?

3. Which of the following was NOT a common justification that Nazis used when confessing?

4. Which subset of prisoners does Levi think make the best observers?

5. What does Levi think about power?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do people react to having limited communication?

2. Comment on Levi's experience with speaking/understanding German in the lager.

3. According to Levi, which memories seem to be universal?

4. Why do survivors simplify the past by using stark good vs. evil distinctions?

5. Why does Levi argue that survivors should not feel guilt?

6. Why do historians need to study the stories of survivors?

7. Why did Alberto change his mind about consoling oneself with illusions?

8. What does Levi consider to be the extreme case of collaboration?

9. What happeneds to people who become sonderkommandos?

10. Comment on how a prisoner's moral yardstick changed during his internment.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the main themes of the book is that those who did not experience the lagers cannot judge anyone for how they acted while they were there. Do you agree or disagree with this? Why? Give examples from the book and your own ideas to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the reasons why prisoners were not able to rebel and overthrow an entire lager. Consider living conditions as well as psychological reasons.

Essay Topic 3

Levi writes this book hoping to receive letters that help him answer the question of whether or not Germans can be understood. Do you think Levi gets his answer? Do you think Germans can be understood for their role in the Holocaust?

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