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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who thinks "This is love . . When you notice someone's absence and hate that absence more than anything" (121)?
(a) Alex.
(b) Safran.
(c) Kolker.
(d) Brod.

2. Who did Grandfather "murder?"
(a) Herschel.
(b) Anna.
(c) Safran.
(d) Father.

3. What happens to the Gypsy girl after Safran gets married?
(a) She leaves town.
(b) She continues to have an affair with Safran.
(c) She commits suicide.
(d) She is captured by the Nazis.

4. When Alex reads Jonathan's journal, what story does he find?
(a) A story about Grandfather.
(b) A story about something he has not done yet.
(c) A story about Augustine.
(d) A story about his past.

5. Who does Safran think he looks like?
(a) His mother.
(b) His great-great-great grandfather.
(c) His rabbi.
(d) His neighbor.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "Letter Dated 12 December 1997," what does Alex say is the reason he does not remove his father from his life?

2. Who is in the picture Grandfather pulled from the "In Case" box?

3. Concerning Jonathan's novel, what does Alex ask Jonathan to do?

4. In "Letter Dated 26 January 1998," what did Alex tell Jonathan he did for the first time ever?

5. When Grandfather asks Alex for his life-savings, what does Alex ask for in exchange?

Short Essay Questions

1. With everything that has happened to Jonathan, Alex, and Grandfather, even Grandfather goes through some significant changes. In "An Overture to Illumination," Grandfather makes the waitress apologize to Jonathan. Why? What is different about Grandfather? How and why has he changed?

2. Safran does not consummate his relationship until his wedding night. What does this suggest about his relationships with other women?

3. In "Letter Dated 12 December 1997," what does Alex think about Jonathan's writing about Safran? Is this hypocritical? What has Alex learned?

4. Why does Alex send back the money that Jonathan sent him? Why is he angry?

5. What is odd about Zosha's family home?

6. What does Jonathan tell Alex about his grandmother while waiting for Grandfather and the old woman? What do Jonathan and his grandmother have in common?

7. "Letter Dated 17 November 1997" revolves around the theme of forgiveness. Give at least one example of who needs to be granted forgiveness and the reason.

8. The old woman tells that she must live near Trachimbrod as "punishment" (189). According to her, what is she being punished for? What does this mean to you?

9. Alex asks Jonathan to finish writing the chapter "An Overture to Illumination." Why? Does Jonathan do it? How can you tell?

10. How does the Kolker change in "The Dial, 1941-1804-1941"?

(see the answer keys)

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