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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. Where does Michael go when Reuven goes in the house?

2. Who does Reuven visit after speaking with Kalman?

3. What does Michael say to a nurse?

4. How does Reuven's father encourage Reuven to act towards Kalman?

5. What does Kalman do in protest about the planned changes at his school?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Michael do when Reuven says he is going inside because he is cold?

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

3. What is Michael's recent disturbing behavior and what precipitated Michael's actions?

4. What do Danny, Rachel, Reuven and Eileen go to see and what is their response?

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

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

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

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

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

10. How is David Malter's recent book release still affecting the community?

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

Oftentimes, a book is more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think The Promise is? Explain your response.

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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