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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. What is one thing that is established in the narrator's neighborhood as it becomes more populous?

2. Who is Michael Gordon?

3. According to Rueven's friend, what rumors are circulating through the seminary?

4. Who is Danny?

5. What does Michael say his nosebleeds are not a result of?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Danny tell Reuven about Michael?

2. What does Michael say about the universe when he is back home after the fair?

3. Where does Professor Gordon invite Reuven and what does Reuven do?

4. How does Danny's father raise Danny?

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

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

7. What rumors infuriate Reuven and his father?

8. What does Reuven reveal in a flashback?

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

10. What does Reuven say about the Hasid?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of change. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with change? Why? What are some symbols of change? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of mental/emotional illness. Which characters struggle with some sort of emotional illness? Why? Which characters seem really healthy emotionally/mentally? Why? How is Michael Gordon's emotional problems a metaphor for the changes taking place in the realm of Jewish theology?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of tradition. What is Reuven's view of tradition? Kalman's? Michael Gordon's? Professor Gordon's? Why is tradition important to some characters? Is anyone willing to abandon traditional viewpoints? Who? What are the positive and negative sides to tradition?

(see the answer keys)

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