View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Julian think a year after being an adopted Jew?

2. Why does Sam drive to Oxford?

3. What does the young girl do who is left behind from a group of children?

4. What pain is Hephzibah feeling about Julian?

5. What is one thing in the box Sam finds in his closet that Tyler left to him?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Emmy say about Libor's attitude towards his fellow Jews?

2. What is the manuscript Tyler leaves for Sam and how does he respond to it?

3. Where does Libor invite Emmy and what concerns him about doing so?

4. Why is Hephzibah concerned about the opening to the museum?

5. How does Julian end up in the hospital?

6. How does Julian cause Libor to cry?

7. What does Libor tell Julian when Julian mentions his fears about Sam and Hephzibah?

8. What does Sam doing after losing a lot of money in online poker and who does he encounter?

9. What worries Hephzibah about Julian?

10. What concerns Julian about Sam and Hephzibah?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think The Finkler Question is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 2

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Howard Jacobson.

2. What in Jacobson's background may have helped him in writing The Finkler Question? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

Essay Topic 3

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think The Finkler Question is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,217 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample