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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. Where does Reuven go the day after the fair?

2. What does Michael burn?

3. Who is Danny?

4. Who is Rachel Gorden?

5. What happens to Michael while he is arguing?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the topic of Michael's long-winded monologue to Reuven?

2. Who does the narrator meet in Spring of 1950 that changes his view some about his religion?

3. How does Reuven work out a way to meet Professor Gordon?

4. How does the narrator's neighborhood change in the early 1950s?

5. What are the narrator's plans for his schooling and what were the influences on his choice?

6. What does Kalman discuss with Reuven after class concerning Professor Gordon?

7. Where do Michael and Reuven go the day after the fair, and what does Reuven teach Michael?

8. Describe Reuven and Michael's phone conversation.

9. How does Danny become involved with the Gordon family?

10. Describe Rav Kalman.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter 4, the narrator says that Danny is raised by his father with a barrier of silence - they only spoke when they studied Talmud. This was to teach Danny suffering. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think Rebbe Saunders' method of raising Danny helped him to learn about suffering?

2. What else do you think it may have taught Danny?

3. Why do you think Rebbe Saunders thinks Danny needs to learn suffering?

4. Do you think Danny's mother had any say in the way Danny is raised in silence?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Define irony in literary terms. Discuss the irony of the situation whereby Professor Gordon is at a conservative seminary and David Malter is at a liberal seminary . Find two other incidences of irony in The Promise and discuss them.

2. Define symbolism in literary terms. Discuss the use of and meaning of five symbols found in The Promise.

3. Discuss the use of foreshadowing in literature. What is the purpose of foreshadowing? Cite 3 examples of foreshadowing and how it is used to indicate events to come in The Promise.

Essay Topic 3

Michael hates orthodox Jews because he thinks they try to keep people from speaking the truth as the person sees it. Discuss one of the following:

1. Discuss and analyze the theme of truth in The Promise. Is there one truth? Many truths? Does any character have "the truth"?

2. Many wars have been fought over the concept of "the truth." Discuss one war that was waged over a difference in the perception of truth and what the core issue(s) was. Relate your research back to The Promise.

3. Thoroughly discucss one thing you think is absolutely true and then relate your beliefs in that truth to one character's beliefs about the truth in The Promise.

(see the answer keys)

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