Interpretive Questions: Be sure to answer all questions in complete sentences using quotes to support.
1.) Why does their exchange of stories separate the narrator and Mendel, rather than bring them closer together?
They try to one up each other and they tell lies. "Mendel enough of these lies"(p. 167)
2.) Why does Mendel’s story enchant the narrator, even though he “knew it was all lies”? (p. 163)
It enchants him because he knows this is fairytale and not real but thinks its cool even though he "knew it was all lies"(p. 163).
3.) When the narrator realizes that he has “overdone it” with the Cabala story, why does he say that it is Mendel’s fault? (p. 165)
He says it is Mendel’s fault he has "overdone it"(p. 165) because Mendel started it.
4.) Why does the narrator say, “Mendel, enough of these lies,” when he enjoyed Mendel’s story at first? (p. 167)
He says “Mendel, enough of these lies”(p. 167) because he feels the conversation getting out of hand and feels them stopping being friends.
5.) Why does the narrator call Mendel a “girl chaser” and run away from him? (p. 168)
He calls Mendel a "girl chaser"(p. 168) because he is teasing Mendel because he likes girls.
6.) Why does the narrator want to learn the Cabala?
The narrator wants to be taught "the cabala"(p. 169) to know the powers of the book because he is curious.
7.) When it is his turn to tell a story, why does the narrator make up one about powers he has gained from knowing the Cabala?
The narrator makes up one about powers he has gained from knowing the Cabala because at his "age it is forbidden to study the cabala"(p. 169) and wants to be better than Mendel.
8.) Why does the narrator say, “Papa, I want it now” after his father tells him he must not learn the Cabala before he is thirty? (p. 169)
The narrator says “Papa, I want it now”(p. 169) because he wants to learn the cabala now and doesn’t want to wait until he is older.
9.) Why does the narrator say he is going to get married, but then ask, “Papa, can you find out from the Cabala who you are going to get engaged to”? (p. 170)
The narrator says he is going to get married, but then asks “Papa, can you find out from the Cabala who you are going to get engaged to”(p. 170) because he doesn’t want to admit he likes girls when he does.
10.) At the end of the story, why do the narrator’s eyes fill with tears?
His "eyes filled with tears"(p. 171) because he realizes that he is growing up and is drifting away from Mendel.
1.) Why does their exchange of stories separate the narrator and Mendel, rather than bring them closer together?
They try to one up each other and they tell lies. "Mendel enough of these lies"(p. 167)
2.) Why does Mendel’s story enchant the narrator, even though he “knew it was all lies”? (p. 163)
It enchants him because he knows this is fairytale and not real but thinks its cool even though he "knew it was all lies"(p. 163).
3.) When the narrator realizes that he has “overdone it” with the Cabala story, why does he say that it is Mendel’s fault? (p. 165)
He says it is Mendel’s fault he has "overdone it"(p. 165) because Mendel started it.
4.) Why does the narrator say, “Mendel, enough of these lies,” when he enjoyed Mendel’s story at first? (p. 167)
He says “Mendel, enough of these lies”(p. 167) because he feels the conversation getting out of hand and feels them stopping being friends.
5.) Why does the narrator call Mendel a “girl chaser” and run away from him? (p. 168)
He calls Mendel a "girl chaser"(p. 168) because he is teasing Mendel because he likes girls.
6.) Why does the narrator want to learn the Cabala?
The narrator wants to be taught "the cabala"(p. 169) to know the powers of the book because he is curious.
7.) When it is his turn to tell a story, why does the narrator make up one about powers he has gained from knowing the Cabala?
The narrator makes up one about powers he has gained from knowing the Cabala because at his "age it is forbidden to study the cabala"(p. 169) and wants to be better than Mendel.
8.) Why does the narrator say, “Papa, I want it now” after his father tells him he must not learn the Cabala before he is thirty? (p. 169)
The narrator says “Papa, I want it now”(p. 169) because he wants to learn the cabala now and doesn’t want to wait until he is older.
9.) Why does the narrator say he is going to get married, but then ask, “Papa, can you find out from the Cabala who you are going to get engaged to”? (p. 170)
The narrator says he is going to get married, but then asks “Papa, can you find out from the Cabala who you are going to get engaged to”(p. 170) because he doesn’t want to admit he likes girls when he does.
10.) At the end of the story, why do the narrator’s eyes fill with tears?
His "eyes filled with tears"(p. 171) because he realizes that he is growing up and is drifting away from Mendel.
Vocabulary:
1.) Envious (p. 164)
Quote: “He was envious of me”(p. 164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): jealous
Synonym: greedy
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): She was envious of her new outfit.
2.) Abruptly (p. 164)
Quote: "Abruptly I said"(p. 164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): suddenly
Synonym: unexpectedly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): She moved to the room very abruptly.
3.) Mockery (p. 164)
Quote: "Mendel's Tartar eyes filled with mockery"(p. 164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): disbelief
Synonym: farce
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): He was laughing at his mockery.
4.) Uncanny (p. 166)
Quote: "Uncanny noises came from in there"(p. 166)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): odd
Synonym: spooky
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): It was uncanny that we were born on the same day.
5.) Divulged (p. 169)
Quote: "these mysteries should not be divulged to a man before he is thirty"(p. 169)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): given, shared
Synonym: reveal
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): She divulged on candy for one hour.
6.) Destined (p. 170)
Quote: "the one destined for me"(p. 170)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): meant to be
Synonym: designed
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): He is destined to be the one.
1.) Envious (p. 164)
Quote: “He was envious of me”(p. 164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): jealous
Synonym: greedy
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): She was envious of her new outfit.
2.) Abruptly (p. 164)
Quote: "Abruptly I said"(p. 164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): suddenly
Synonym: unexpectedly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): She moved to the room very abruptly.
3.) Mockery (p. 164)
Quote: "Mendel's Tartar eyes filled with mockery"(p. 164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): disbelief
Synonym: farce
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): He was laughing at his mockery.
4.) Uncanny (p. 166)
Quote: "Uncanny noises came from in there"(p. 166)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): odd
Synonym: spooky
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): It was uncanny that we were born on the same day.
5.) Divulged (p. 169)
Quote: "these mysteries should not be divulged to a man before he is thirty"(p. 169)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): given, shared
Synonym: reveal
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): She divulged on candy for one hour.
6.) Destined (p. 170)
Quote: "the one destined for me"(p. 170)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): meant to be
Synonym: designed
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): He is destined to be the one.
Thinking Map:Use textual evidence to show examples of when the narrator feels certain about something and when the narrator feels uncertain about something. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
Narrator feels CERTAIN about something
He is certain that Mendel is telling lies. You can tell its all made up.(p. 163) He is certain that his dad is a rabbi. He says his dad is a rabbi. (p. 164) He is certain that you have to be thirty to learn the cabala. His dad says that hehas to be thirty. (p. 169) He is certain that his story is a lie. He knows he hasn't learned the cabala yet. (p. 169) He is certain that he wants to learn the cabala. He asks his father to teach him. (p. 169) |
Narrator feels UNCERTAIN about something
He is uncertain about his friendship with Mendel. After their fight they might not want to be friends anymore. (p. 168) He is uncertain about if he likes a girl or not. I don't think he does. (p. 170) He is uncertain about what the cabala holds. He can't understand it. (p. 161) He is uncertain if people live there.I don't know if people do. (p. 169) He is uncertain if Mendel is actually lying. He thinks Mendel is though. (p. 167) |