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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 Julian worry about Hephzibah?

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

3. What is Julian excluded from doing?

4. Where does Sam go to say Kaddish?

5. Who does Blaise say is involved in an anti-Semitic incident?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Meyer Abramsky and what did he do?

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

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

4. Why do Hephzibah and Sam decide to say Kaddish for Libor, and why doesn't Julian do so as well?

5. What concerns Julian about Sam and Hephzibah?

6. What does Libor do in Beachy Head?

7. What worries Hephzibah about Julian?

8. What does Sam think is so beautiful about Kaddish?

9. Why does Libor and a woman walking her dog intervene with some children?

10. Where does Sam say Kaddish?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

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

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss The Finkler Question based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if The Finkler Question is a successful novel.

3. Do you think the criteria for a successful novel should be different if it is written for adults versus comics? Why or why not? Would most adults consider The Finkler Question a successful novel? What about young teens?

(see the answer keys)

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