The Mysteries of the Cabala
Isaac Bashevis
Singer
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?
Their exchange of stories separate the narrator and Mendel rather than bringing them closer together because they keep lying to each other. "My father is a robber." (p.162)
2.) Why does
Mendel’s story enchant the narrator, even though he “knew it was all lies”? (p.
163)
Mendel's story enchant the narrator, even though he "knew it was all lies"? (p.163) because they want to make the story better.
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)
The narrator realizes that he has "overdone it" (p.165) with the Cabala story because he feels like if Mendel hadn't lied then he wouldn't have to lie either.
4.) Why does the narrator
say, “Mendel, enough of these lies,” when he enjoyed Mendel’s story at first?
(p. 167)
The narrator says "Mendel, enough of these lies," (p.167) when he enjoyed Mendel's story at first because the lies are out of control.
5.) Why does the narrator call
Mendel a “girl chaser” and run away from him? (p.
168)
The narrator calls Mendel a "girl chaser" and run away from him? (p.168) because he's making fun of him for having a crush.
6.) Why does the narrator want to
learn the Cabala?
The narrator wants to learn the Cabal so he could be better than Mendel. "Papa, I want you to teach me the Cabala." (p.169)
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 he want Mendel to feel stupid. "I can take seven mile steps." (p.164)
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) after his father tells him he must not learn the cabala before he is thirty because he wants to grow up.
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 asks papa "papa can you find out from the Cabala who ar you going to get engaged to" (p.170) because he knows that Mendel will make fun of him for liking girls.
10.) At the end of the story, why do
the narrator’s eyes fill with tears?
The narrator's eyes fill with tears because he knows he is turning into a man. "All the lampposts became bent and all the lights foggy as my eyes filled with tears." "Papa, I don't know." (p.171)
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?
Their exchange of stories separate the narrator and Mendel rather than bringing them closer together because they keep lying to each other. "My father is a robber." (p.162)
2.) Why does
Mendel’s story enchant the narrator, even though he “knew it was all lies”? (p.
163)
Mendel's story enchant the narrator, even though he "knew it was all lies"? (p.163) because they want to make the story better.
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)
The narrator realizes that he has "overdone it" (p.165) with the Cabala story because he feels like if Mendel hadn't lied then he wouldn't have to lie either.
4.) Why does the narrator
say, “Mendel, enough of these lies,” when he enjoyed Mendel’s story at first?
(p. 167)
The narrator says "Mendel, enough of these lies," (p.167) when he enjoyed Mendel's story at first because the lies are out of control.
5.) Why does the narrator call
Mendel a “girl chaser” and run away from him? (p.
168)
The narrator calls Mendel a "girl chaser" and run away from him? (p.168) because he's making fun of him for having a crush.
6.) Why does the narrator want to
learn the Cabala?
The narrator wants to learn the Cabal so he could be better than Mendel. "Papa, I want you to teach me the Cabala." (p.169)
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 he want Mendel to feel stupid. "I can take seven mile steps." (p.164)
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) after his father tells him he must not learn the cabala before he is thirty because he wants to grow up.
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 asks papa "papa can you find out from the Cabala who ar you going to get engaged to" (p.170) because he knows that Mendel will make fun of him for liking girls.
10.) At the end of the story, why do
the narrator’s eyes fill with tears?
The narrator's eyes fill with tears because he knows he is turning into a man. "All the lampposts became bent and all the lights foggy as my eyes filled with tears." "Papa, I don't know." (p.171)
Vocabulary:
1.)
Envious (p. 164)
Quote: "He was envious of me because my father was a rabbi and because we lived in an apartment with two rooms, a kitchen, and a balcony." (p.164)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): Jealous
Synonym: envy
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word):I was envious that my brother got a toy and I didn't.
2.) Abruptly (p.
164)
Quote: "Abruptly I said." (p.164)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): randomly
Synonym: bluff
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): My baseball game came to an abruptly stop.
3.) Mockery (p.
164)
Quote: "Mendel's Tartar eyes filled with mockery." (p.164)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): disbelief
Synonym: fake
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): Jerry seemed to be mockery when he said he ate 50 pieces of candy
4.) Uncanny (p.
166)
Quote: "Uncanny noises came from in there." (p.166)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): weird
Synonym: mystic
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): He seemed to be uncanny.
5.) Divulged (p.
169)
Quote: "It is written that these mysteries should not be divulged to a man before he is thirty."
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): given
Synonym: to tell
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): We tried to make Alex divulge who won the game but he didn't tell us.
6.) Destined (p.
170)
Quote: "She, the one destined for me, didn't know either." (p.170)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): meant to be
Synonym: in the future
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): I seemed to be destined for greatness.
1.)
Envious (p. 164)
Quote: "He was envious of me because my father was a rabbi and because we lived in an apartment with two rooms, a kitchen, and a balcony." (p.164)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): Jealous
Synonym: envy
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word):I was envious that my brother got a toy and I didn't.
2.) Abruptly (p.
164)
Quote: "Abruptly I said." (p.164)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): randomly
Synonym: bluff
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): My baseball game came to an abruptly stop.
3.) Mockery (p.
164)
Quote: "Mendel's Tartar eyes filled with mockery." (p.164)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): disbelief
Synonym: fake
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): Jerry seemed to be mockery when he said he ate 50 pieces of candy
4.) Uncanny (p.
166)
Quote: "Uncanny noises came from in there." (p.166)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): weird
Synonym: mystic
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): He seemed to be uncanny.
5.) Divulged (p.
169)
Quote: "It is written that these mysteries should not be divulged to a man before he is thirty."
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): given
Synonym: to tell
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): We tried to make Alex divulge who won the game but he didn't tell us.
6.) Destined (p.
170)
Quote: "She, the one destined for me, didn't know either." (p.170)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): meant to be
Synonym: in the future
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): I seemed to be destined for greatness.
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
V. Narrator feels UNCERTAIN about something
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
V. Narrator feels UNCERTAIN about something
Narrator feels certain about something. The narrator is certain that he likes a girl. (p.168)
. The narrator knows that you have to be thirty to read the cabala. (p.169) . The narrator is not friends with Mendel anymore. (p.168) . The narrator knows that he is lying. (p.164) . The narrator knows that he is going to give the stolen money to charity. (p.166) |
Narrator feels uncertain about something. The narrator doesn't know who is he going get married to. (p.170)
. The narrator doesn't know what the cabala is about. (p.165) . The narrator is unsure if Mendel is lying. (p.162) . The narrator doesn't know who lives in the buildings. (p.162) . The narrator doesn't know if him and Mendel are still friends anymore. (p.167) |