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Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. How does Moe treat Mashah while Sara is visiting them?
2. What treasured item does Sara's mother save for days when the family has visitors?
3. What item does Sara go to fetch once Bessie's visitor arrives?
4. Why does Reb refuse to become a Rabbi?
5. Who is Zaretzky?
Short Essay Questions
1. What are in the three packages Bessie brings home after work to dress up the house with?
2. Why does Sara insist that she wants to work?
3. How does Sara see Moe treating Mashah when she visits them after running away from home?
4. Why does Father say that the prayers of his daughters go unheard by God?
5. Why does Bessie quietly agree to marry Zalmon despite the fact that she is repulsed by him?
6. Why does Berel Bernstein decide to not marry Bessie?
7. How does Bessie react to the news that Berel Bernstein will not marry her?
8. Why is Reb so angry with Sara at the end of Chapter 8?
9. Why is Mother fretting over money at the beginning of the story?
10. Why does Father get arrested and sent to court?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Food is often used to connect events throughout the story. Whether it be Shenah's cooking or the food in the cafeteria on Grand Street, the end result is the same. Write an essay detailing where and when food is used to connect events in Bread Givers. What does food symbolize? Shenah is known for making which dishes? The food at the Grand Street Cafeteria represents what to Sara and other working girls? Why is Mrs. Feinstein's cooking brought up as a subject at the end of the story? Use examples from the book to support your writing.
Essay Topic 2
The people of Hester Street are for the most part, lower class immigrated families. Throughout Bread Givers class is brought up by multiple characters. The members of the Smolinsky family are constantly trying to raise themselves above the poverty line. Write an essay detailing the efforts the members of the family make to rise above being lower class. How does Reb do his part for trying to become more than lower class? What types of people does he marry the family into? How does going to college help Sara rise above the line of poverty? Use examples from the book to support your writing.
Essay Topic 3
Characters in Bread Givers are often dedicated to one sole task or purpose throughout the story. Write an essay explaining why certain characters in Bread Givers are dedicated to one element or another. How are these characters made distinctive and unique because of their desires in life? In what way or ways is their steadfast dedication used against them in certain circumstances? How is it used to their advantage at times? Explain your rationale by providing examples from the novel.
This section contains 911 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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