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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 painted Helen's Masada painting?

2. In Chapter 12, how long can the rabbi study before he tires?

3. Where does Aaron get lunch in Chapter 9?

4. How many times did Constantina meet her real father?

5. In Chapter 2, from where did Rabbi Mendes come from?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 6, what did Ester see when she was onboard a ship?

2. In Chapter 15, how did Helen learn of Dror's death?

3. According to Mary in Chapter 16, under what circumstances might Ester marry?

4. At the end of Chapter 13, why does Helen say that she left Dror?

5. In Chapter 13, why does Aaron think it would have been better for the London Jewish community to have invited Mendes to be their rabbi?

6. Why did Catherine and Mary da Costa Mendes come to speak with Ester in Chapter 10?

7. How did Isaac die?

8. What did Mendes and ben Israel's father suffer together?

9. What did the letter propose that Ester burned in Chapter 12?

10. What is the one text that Aaron is able to find that Mendes published, and what is the subject?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ester wants to communicate with one of the rabbi’s former students, Spinoza. Why does Ester want to communicate with Spinoza? How are their thoughts similar? How are they dissimilar?

Essay Topic 2

In the novel, some characters are more thoroughly described than others. Who are some characters that are merely named in passing or have a minor role in the novel? What is the importance of these flat characters to the story line? In what way do these characters make the main characters more colorful or interesting? When there is conflict, what type of role do these flat characters play?

Essay Topic 3

Ester believes that she betrayed the rabbi. Why does Ester believe that she betrayed the rabbi? How does she chastise herself for the betrayal? How does the betrayal affect how she lives?

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