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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 does Kalman say to Reuven in class?

2. Who asks Danny to visit?

3. How does David Malter react to the article Kalman writes about Malter's book?

4. What does Reuven feel towards Kalman?

5. How does Reuven's response to one exam question shock the examiners?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Danny give Michael and what does Michael say about it to Reuven?

2. What does Danny tell Reuven and what is Reuven's reaction?

3. What small breakthrough happens with Michael, and what does his mother want?

4. What does Reuven tell his father about his meetings with Rav Kalman and what is David Malter's response?

5. What does Kalman say to Reuven about his smicha exam?

6. What is the impact of David Malter's book and Kalman's ensuing article on the Yeshiva where David teaches?

7. What happens when Reuven goes in to Michael's room to see him after the fire?

8. What explanation does Kalman offer for his attack on Greenfield the day before in class?

9. Describe the altercation between Kalman and Greenfield.

10. What do Reuven and Gordon discuss when they meet in this chapter?

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

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.

Essay Topic 3

In Chapter 8, Rav Kalman says he wants to impress upon the class the importance of choosing Torah over all else. Kalman says that he could only give his approval to students who put it above all else because he had had one of the greatest teachers of Torah in the world, and since his teacher had been killed, as had all his European students, his approval is the lone approval of an entire great line of Torah commentators. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think Rav Kalman means by the statement that his lone approval of an entire great line of Torah commentators?

2. What is the definition of tradition?

3. How important do you think tradition is in matters of religious belief?

4. Should religious belief change with cultural beliefs? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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