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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 happens as Friedrich is eating?

2. Of what does Friedrich's father warn Friedrich?

3. What does the narrator's mother think is wrong with Friedrich?

4. How does Herr Schneider earn money?

5. Where is Friedrich?

Short Essay Questions

1. How are these chants a perversion of Jewish historical events?

2. What happens and what is the significance of it when Friedrich and the narrator are leaving the pool?

3. Do you think Resch is more motivated by patriotism or greed when he turns in the Schneiders?

4. Why are Friedrich and his father having uncharacteristic arguments, and why is there tension in the apartment when the narrator goes up to take the Schneiders some potatoes?

5. What is ironic about the way Resch treats his garden polycarp in contrast to how he treats Friedrich?

6. What do you think Schneider was doing by saying, "You were right, Herr..."?

7. What is rather ironic in this chapter and why?

8. What does Friedrich speak about and what does he ask of the narrator's family? What do you think is the reason for his request?

9. Why do you think Friedrich would want to go see a movie that espouses hatred toward Jews?

10. What do you think Resch means when he says, "his luck that he died this way"?

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, "The Way to School," we see not the first evidence of the growing violence towards Jews, but the most overt one in the book so far. 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. Hitler calls for a one-day boycott of Jewish businesses on Saturday, April 1, 1933; this chapter is probably based upon that proclamation. Learn what you can about this boycott and write an essay telling about how widespread it was, the consequences of it, and if it was considered successful.

2. Friedrich and the narrator are only about eight years old and do not understand the hatred and fears of adults. They greet Mr. Rosenthal, a shop owner whose shop is being blocked by a man with a swastika armband. What can we learn from children about accepting differences? What if very young children of the Arab and Western and Israeli worlds got together (before they are too strongly influenced by adults)? What do you think would happen? Would they share their toys? Would they be hateful because someone is of a different race or religion, etc.? Write a speculative essay about what children can teach adults about accepting others.

3. How effective in general are boycotts? Research the history of boycotts and choose several to study and compare and contrast.

Essay Topic 3

In the chapter named "Grandfather," Grandfather inspects the hands before he will shake them and the bottoms of his shoes for proper polishing. He assumes the position at the head of the table and never fails to remind Father of his failure to take care of his family. Answer of the following questions in a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. How does the Grandfather attempt to control his son and his son's family? Give specific examples.

2. What do you think is the main reason for this attempt at control?

3. How do you think the grandfather's personality might be a metaphor for the "personality" of the Nazi regime?

(see the answer keys)

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