The Mysteries of the Cabala
Isaac Bashevis Singer
Include an image of the author or of a symbol from the story.
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?
Mendel is lying and being jealous of each other and trying to outdo each other stories. (pg.164) “ I am different from the other boys.”
2.) Why does Mendel’s story enchant the narrator, even though he “knew it was all lies”? (p. 163)
They both think it is cool and exciting. (pg.163) “I knew it was all lies an even realized which storybooks the different parts came from, but his story enchanted me all the same.”
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)
Mendel got him jealous and made his tall tales longer. (pg.165) “overdone it”
4.) Why does the narrator say, “Mendel, enough of these lies,” when he enjoyed Mendel’s story at first? (p. 167)
Mendel starts to be annoying and the story is pushing them apart, lying to each other and getting out of control. (pg.167) “Mendel, enough of these lies,”
5.) Why does the narrator call Mendel a “girl chaser” and run away from him? (p. 168)
Mendel calls him “girl chaser” because he is staring to like girls at a young age about engage to them and Mendel starts to make fun of him. (pg.168)
6.) Why does the narrator want to learn the Cabala?
The narrator wants to prove Mendel wrong and he is better than Mendel and the power of the book. He also is curious. (pg. 171) “ You are growing up, my son.”
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?
He wants to sound better than him make himself great. (pg.165) “Do you want me to destroy the world?”
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)
He wants grow up and he doesn't want to wait. (pg.169) “Papa, I want it now”
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)
He doesn't want to admit that he likes girls and he is starting to like girls. (pg.170) “Papa, can you find out from the Cabala who you are going to get engaged to”?
10.) At the end of the story, why do the narrator’s eyes fill with tears?
He changes and he is going to a boy to a man and he is also crying because friendship is gone with Mendel. (pg.171) “Son what has happened to you.”
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.” (pg.164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): jealous
Synonym: wanting something that someone else wants.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I am envious because I didn’t get a new phone.
2.) Abruptly (p. 164)
Quote: “ Abruptly I said,” I also have a secret I’ve never told you.” (pg. 164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): suddenly
Synonym: soon as possible
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I abruptly moved away.
3.) Mockery (p. 164)
Quote: “ Mendel’s Tartar eyes filled with mockery.” (pg.164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): disbelief
Synonym: not true
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I don’t mockery.
4.) Uncanny (p. 166)
Quote: “Uncanny noises came from in there.” (pg.166)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): odd
Synonym: not regular
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I heard a uncanny sound.
5.) Divulged (p. 169)
Quote: “It is written that these mysteries should not be divulged to a man before he is thirty.” (pg.169)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): given
Synonym: shared
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I have divulged my room with my little sister.
6.) Destined (p. 170)
Quote: “ She, the one destined for me, didn’t know either.” (pg.170)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): meant to be
Synonym: born for
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I don’t have anyone to be destined with.
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
Isaac Bashevis Singer
Include an image of the author or of a symbol from the story.
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?
Mendel is lying and being jealous of each other and trying to outdo each other stories. (pg.164) “ I am different from the other boys.”
2.) Why does Mendel’s story enchant the narrator, even though he “knew it was all lies”? (p. 163)
They both think it is cool and exciting. (pg.163) “I knew it was all lies an even realized which storybooks the different parts came from, but his story enchanted me all the same.”
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)
Mendel got him jealous and made his tall tales longer. (pg.165) “overdone it”
4.) Why does the narrator say, “Mendel, enough of these lies,” when he enjoyed Mendel’s story at first? (p. 167)
Mendel starts to be annoying and the story is pushing them apart, lying to each other and getting out of control. (pg.167) “Mendel, enough of these lies,”
5.) Why does the narrator call Mendel a “girl chaser” and run away from him? (p. 168)
Mendel calls him “girl chaser” because he is staring to like girls at a young age about engage to them and Mendel starts to make fun of him. (pg.168)
6.) Why does the narrator want to learn the Cabala?
The narrator wants to prove Mendel wrong and he is better than Mendel and the power of the book. He also is curious. (pg. 171) “ You are growing up, my son.”
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?
He wants to sound better than him make himself great. (pg.165) “Do you want me to destroy the world?”
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)
He wants grow up and he doesn't want to wait. (pg.169) “Papa, I want it now”
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)
He doesn't want to admit that he likes girls and he is starting to like girls. (pg.170) “Papa, can you find out from the Cabala who you are going to get engaged to”?
10.) At the end of the story, why do the narrator’s eyes fill with tears?
He changes and he is going to a boy to a man and he is also crying because friendship is gone with Mendel. (pg.171) “Son what has happened to you.”
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.” (pg.164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): jealous
Synonym: wanting something that someone else wants.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I am envious because I didn’t get a new phone.
2.) Abruptly (p. 164)
Quote: “ Abruptly I said,” I also have a secret I’ve never told you.” (pg. 164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): suddenly
Synonym: soon as possible
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I abruptly moved away.
3.) Mockery (p. 164)
Quote: “ Mendel’s Tartar eyes filled with mockery.” (pg.164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): disbelief
Synonym: not true
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I don’t mockery.
4.) Uncanny (p. 166)
Quote: “Uncanny noises came from in there.” (pg.166)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): odd
Synonym: not regular
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I heard a uncanny sound.
5.) Divulged (p. 169)
Quote: “It is written that these mysteries should not be divulged to a man before he is thirty.” (pg.169)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): given
Synonym: shared
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I have divulged my room with my little sister.
6.) Destined (p. 170)
Quote: “ She, the one destined for me, didn’t know either.” (pg.170)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): meant to be
Synonym: born for
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I don’t have anyone to be destined with.
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
Certain
|
Uncertain
|