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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 Elisha's new plan concerning the Jews and Christians who believe differently than the traditional Jewish doctrine?

2. When Elisha begins his studies on Antioch, what does he study first?

3. What does Nicholaus try to convince Elisha to do?

4. Once Elisha surveys the desolation at the Temple Mount, what does he tell Joshua?

5. What did Elisha's best friends do because they were manipulated by Elisha?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who does Elisha turn to after sharing his thoughts with Deborah, and why?

2. Why is Elisha unjustly brought to court for sentencing?

3. What do you think Abuyah means by his dying words to Elisha?

4. Why was Elisha and Deborah's marriage pre-arranged by Amram?

5. How does Simeon ben Azzai die?

6. Why do you think Deborah is not comfortable around Meir and his wife Beruriah?

7. How does Elisha handle his new life in Antioch?

8. Why do Antiphanes and Elisha attend all the lectures and symposia offered in Antioch?

9. Do you think Shraga is right to rebel against the Roman government and fight for his beliefs?

10. How does Elisha respond to the death of Beruriah and Meir's children?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe Pappas's journey through faith. Compare and contrast Pappas's journey with Elisha's journey of faith. How do both characters view the concepts of faith and reason? Why does Pappas make his final decision to die as a Jew rather than betray his faith and community?

Essay Topic 2

Why do you think Manto is so casual about picking another human slave? Why is Elisha so disturbed by the process of human trade? Compare Manto's behavior with a similar behavior in American history. Draw conclusions about the nature of subjugating another human being and how this affects the human race.

Essay Topic 3

When Meir and Beruriah's sons die, Elisha thinks about the fragility of life. Elisha looks to Jewish stories and traditions for solace, but he begins to doubt their veracity. Why does Elisha look to the Jewish traditions and literature for comfort? Why does he doubt their potency and truth? Cite three examples of mistrust of faith throughout the novel and explain the tensions characters have between faith and reason.

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