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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. Who is Abraham Gordon?

2. Who is the Jewish, elderly man who comes up to Reuven, Rachel and Michael?

3. What type of an emergency has Danny had in this chapter that tires him?

4. What is Rachel urging Michael to do?

5. Why is Professor Gordon exhausted at the opening to Chapter 4?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. How does Danny's father raise Danny?

4. Describe Reuven's visit with Danny.

5. What does Reuven say about the Hasid?

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

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

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

9. What happens between October and December for Reuven?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Reuven asks his father about Kotzker, who it turns out is an eccentric rabbi who has shut himself up in a room for twenty years and has disagreements with many Hasidic sects.

Discuss the following:

1. Research the historical Kotzker Rebbe and write an informative essay on him and how the historical facts match up with what is said in The Promise.

2. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a scholar isolating himself for twenty years.

3. Can you ever think of a reason you would isolate yourself for twenty years?

4. Relate the anecdote about Kotzker Rebbe to the theme of silence in the Promise. What other situations are related to the theme of silence? Who tries to silence other? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Reuven Malter and Daniel Saunders. How are they similar? How are they different? Is there a flaw in each of their personalities? Is either man's cause more worthy than the other? Be specific and give examples.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of David Malter and Rav Kalman. How do they seem different? Which do you like more? Why? Which one seems more of a well-rounded character?

3. Thoroughly analyze how three of the secondary characters help drive the plot and what their contribution is to the storyline. Are any of the secondary characters unnecessary? Indispensable? Which of the secondary characters are likable? Which are either unlikable or even despicable? Be specific and give examples.

Essay Topic 3

Michael's character and his problems are intertwined with many of the other major characters. In chapter one, Michael's emotional problems are evident already. Discuss the following:

1. What foreshadowing takes place in chapter one about Michael, and where and how does the foreshadowing resolve itself?

2. Discuss which characters Michael in some way mirrors? How and why does he serve as a mirror? Give specific examples.

3. Define the concept of "foil" in a literary sense. Discuss which characters to whom Michael is a foil. How and why does he serve as a foil? Give specific examples.

(see the answer keys)

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