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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. Why is it easy to find work in the Rhone Valley in 1942?

2. What does Ernie smell as he gets out of the boxcar?

3. What was Ernie's assignment in the French army?

4. What unusual request does Ernie make of the gendarmes in Drancy?

5. What do the Jews of Proskurov do to save themselves from persecution?

Short Essay Questions

1. What details alert Ernie to the fact that the passengers will never leave this place?

2. What change does touching Melanie make in Ernie?

3. Why does Ernie decide he does not want to join the movements that are fighting back against the Nazis?

4. What causes the Levy family the first tinge of fear that life in France will be the equivalent of their lives in Germany?

5. What part does the music of the band play in the successful extermination of the Jews?

6. What causes Mordecai to take up a weapon against the Nazi perpetrators?

7. Why do the SS men torture Ernie for his request to enter the camp at Drancy?

8. Why does Judith tell the government offices from which she secures provisions that they should thank her?

9. Why does the French army captain think that Ernie should not be allowed to continue as a soldier?

10. Why do the children scream when the boxcar stops?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay exploring the character and personality of Ernie. What motivates him as a child? As an adult? What does he want to do? Does he believe himself to be a Just Man? The author talks of the first death of Ernie. Are there more than one? More than two? Use specific examples from the story.

Essay Topic 2

Authors write for many purposes such as to entertain, to inform, to persuade, or some combination of these. In your essay, explain which purpose you believe motivated Schwarz-Bart to write this story. Use specific examples from the book itself to substantiate your opinion.

Essay Topic 3

Six million Jews is a very large number of people. Had they determined that it was appropriate to fight their oppressors, they could possibly have overpowered them. Why didn't they fight back? Use examples of their thoughts and actions in the story to substantiate your opinion.

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This section contains 808 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample