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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. According to Mordecai, why does a Just Man never have to run after suffering?

2. What does Jacob do to avoid being recognized as a Jew on the way to the synagogue?

3. What does Mordecai Levy have to do to keep his potato harvesting job?

4. What advertisement made Benjamin's tailoring shop a success?

5. What does Ernie decide that he is after the bullying by the Plimpfe?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ernie do to ease the emptiness in his heart after the beating?

2. What things does Mordecai believe to be incomprehensible?

3. Why does Ilse Bruckner have to end her relationship with her friend Ernie?

4. What does Benjamin imagine will happen to the Jews as they become acquainted with Germans?

5. What qualities of character does Brother Beast possess?

6. How does Benjamin successfully market himself as a tailor?

7. What "mysterious" change takes place in Benjamin after Mordecai and Judith join him in Stillenstadt?

8. Why is Jacob not consoled when Ernie promises to "spring" at the Hitler Youth if they bother the little boy?

9. What does Ernie think as he is surrounded by the Pimpfe bullies?

10. What drama takes place between Judith and Fraulein Blumenthal as children are born?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Benjamin declares that being a Jew is impossible. In your essay, explain the ways in which the Jews in this story are different from other human groups. How are they identified? How do they see themselves among other people? What does Benjamin mean when he says it is impossible?

Essay Topic 2

There are moments in this story when Ernie is happy. In your essay, identify and explain the moments that cause him to briefly experience happiness. Do they make his life better or worse? Why do you think so?

Essay Topic 3

Evaluate this story in terms of tone and mood. Is it unrelentingly dark? Are there funny scenes? Are there lovable characters? Are all of the non-Jews evil? How does the author keep his reading audience from being overwhelmed by despair at this story? Use concrete examples and quotations from the story to support your ideas.

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