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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 are Rachel and Reuven nervous about what Michael is doing?

2. Who was Nota Finkel?

3. Who does Michael see briefly?

4. How was Danny taught about suffering by his father?

5. What does Michael say he cannot get out of his head?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Reuven and Professor Gordon discuss about Michael?

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

3. What rumors infuriate Reuven and his father?

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

5. What does Michael tell Reuven about Michael's nosebleeds?

6. When does Michael get a nosebleed at the fair, and what do Reuven and Rachel do?

7. Describe the game which Michael is playing and which is making Reuven and Rachel nervous for him.

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

9. How does Danny's father raise Danny?

10. Describe the neighborhood in which the narrator lives at the opening of the The Promise.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Kalman picks on Reuven by having him read Gemora aloud and critiques his interpretations. Reuven reads Kalman's book on ethics. Discuss the following:

1. What is ethics? How do you think the topic figures in during the telling of The Promise?

2. Why do you think Kalman is picking on Reuven in class?

3. Do you think it is ironic that Kalman wrote a book on ethics and yet he obviously picks on a student just because Kalman sees him with someone with whom Kalman disagrees?

4. Discuss the major characters (Kalman, Reuven, Danny, Professor Gordon, Michael Gordon and David Malter) and tell why you think each is ethical or not, giving one example for each to illustrate your point.

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

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in The Promise.

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of The Promise. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of The Promiise. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

(see the answer keys)

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