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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. About what is the narrator's father writing a book?

2. What is the day after the sailing trip?

3. About what does Professor Gordon ask Reuben?

4. About what does Reuven say he has no right to be angry?

5. Who is Abraham Gordon?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who does Reuven encounter at the library and what is the person doing?

2. What does Danny tell Reuven about Michael?

3. Who is Nota Finkel and for what is he noted?

4. What has Reuven's father completed during the Fall and early Winter?

5. Who does Reuven call the day after sailing with Michael and what is the result?

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

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

8. What happens between October and December for Reuven?

9. What does Michael say about orthodox Jews?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

In Chapter 11, Reuven is in Kalman's class, but their encounter is brief. Kalman says nothing to Reuven and Reuven feels hatred for him. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think Reuven's hatred for Kalman is justified?

2. Can this difference of ideology between Kalman and Reuven be a metaphor for the differences between any two people/groups/nations that have ideological differences? Explain fully.

3. Why do you think most people want others to believe the way they do? Is this healthy? Does it contribute to peace or conflict?

(see the answer keys)

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