View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How is Michael's treatment progressing?

2. What film do Danny and Reuven and their dates go to see?

3. What does Reuven feel caught between in the religious community?

4. What does Reuven notice about his father?

5. What does Danny want Reuven to convince Michael's parents to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Michael say about Rav Kalman's article?

2. What does Reuven argue at his smicha exam and why is that upsetting to Kalman and Gershenson?

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

4. Describe the altercation between Kalman and Greenfield.

5. What is the essential argument of the second part of Rav Kalman's article attacking David Malter's book?

6. Describe Abe Greenfield and his problem at opening of Chapter 8.

7. What is the difference in scholarly approaches between Kalman and Reuven's father.

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

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

10. What does Reb Saunders tell Reuven and what does Reuven do?

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 the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss The Promise based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if The Promise is a successful novel. Explain your rationale with specific examples.

3. Do you think the fact that The Promise deals with a very specific, narrow subject matter changes the criteria upon which its success should be judged? Explain.

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)

This section contains 1,057 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample