The Promise Test | Mid-Book Test - Hard

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Short Answer Questions

1. What does Professor Gordon look over at the Zechariah Frankel library?

2. How is Rachel's aunt helping Professor Gordon?

3. What is one image Michael sees in the clouds?

4. What is Rachel urging Michael to do?

5. Who is David Malter?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where do Michael and Reuven go the day after the fair, and what does Reuven teach Michael?

2. Who does the narrator meet in Spring of 1950 that changes his view some about his religion?

3. Describe Rav Kalman.

4. What has Reuven's father completed during the Fall and early Winter?

5. How does Reuven know Professor Gordon?

6. What does Michael say about orthodox Jews?

7. Describe the game which Michael is playing and which is making Reuven and Rachel nervous for him.

8. Who is Nota Finkel and for what is he noted?

9. What rumors infuriate Reuven and his father?

10. What does Danny tell Reuven about Michael?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In chapter 3, the narrator relates that Rav Kalman is a survivor of a Nazi concentration camp. Discuss the following:

1. Research and write a brief informative essay on the Nazi concentration camps of WWII. Why were they established? Who was sent to them? How many died there? How many survived? Offer your own thoughts about the concentration camps.

2. What sort of emotional and psychological damage do you think Rav Kalman could be suffering from as a result of having lived through the experience of a concentration camp?

3. Why do you think Rav Kalman came out of the camp with a still-firm faith in his God?

4. Do you think the concentration camp experience caused very many survivors to abandon their faith in God?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of The Promise, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements (They may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 3

Reuven asks his father about Kotzker, who it turns out is an eccentric rabbi who has shut himself up in a room for twenty years and has disagreements with many Hasidic sects.

Discuss the following:

1. Research the historical Kotzker Rebbe and write an informative essay on him and how the historical facts match up with what is said in The Promise.

2. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a scholar isolating himself for twenty years.

3. Can you ever think of a reason you would isolate yourself for twenty years?

4. Relate the anecdote about Kotzker Rebbe to the theme of silence in the Promise. What other situations are related to the theme of silence? Who tries to silence other? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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