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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 do the two boys do?

2. What does the narrator warn Friedrich not to reveal?

3. How does the grandfather admonish his son?

4. What does the narrator's father confess?

5. How would you characterize the teacher's tone?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does this situation with Frau Penk demonstrate?

2. What does this scene about the broken window portend?

3. How does the narrator describe the Jewish Sabbath dinner at Friedrich's home? What does this indicate to the reader?

4. Explain the situation with Frau Penk and why she gives up her position with Mrs. Schneider.

5. Why do you think the narrator is so distracted?

6. What is the first couple of indications in this book that this story will have something to do with the persecution of the Jewish people?

7. Describe the proceedings in the court and their implications.

8. How does Friedrich's relationship with his mother contrast to that of the narrator's relationship with his mother?

9. Describe the grandfather's visit to the narrator's household.

10. Describe the conversation between Herr Schneider and the narrator's father about the Nazi party. Do you think the narrator's father is justified in joining the party?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the chapter "School Days," it is traditional in Germany for families to celebrate the first day of school. Later in the chapter, "The Teacher," we learn that Friedrich has been barred from attending school. Answer the following questions in a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. How important do you think education is to the German people at that time if they actually celebrated the first day of school? Do you think education still is important in Germany?

2. How do you think Friedrich felt when told he could no longer go to the public school? Is there any indication of his reaction? How would you feel under the same circumstances?

3. Research a little on the Jewish culture's attitude towards education. Would their ideas about learning cause the school children to feel better or worse about being excluded from the schools in pre-WWII Germany?

Essay Topic 2

In the chapter titled "Benches," Friedrich falls in love with a kindergarten teacher named Helga. Answer the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Briefly describe how Friedrich and Helga's meeting and relationship develop. Do you think Helga is aware of Friedrich being Jewish at their first meeting? If she is, why do you think she is friendly to him? If not, do you think she would have turned away from him immediately if she knew?

2. What do you think Helga is like if she is willing to be friends with Friedrich knowing he is Jewish and knowing what is going on in the country concerning Jewish people? Describe her as if you are her best friend and trying to tell someone else about who she is.

3. Do you think Friedrich was right in not going back to meet up with Helga? What does this say about his character? Would you have made the same choice?

Essay Topic 3

The chapter titled "The Movie" is very significant in understanding how the German people came to be active Jew persecutors or at the very least placidly compliant in the slaughter and persecution of Jews. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Research the movie Sweet Jew and do a critical analysis of the content.

2. Research the history of the German film industry from its internationally acclaimed status in the early part of the 20th century to its decline in quality when it began being used by the Nazi party for the dissemination of propaganda. Write an essay chronicling the changes.

3. How are movies still used to support and promote certain political or social agendas? Write an essay discussing this topic.

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