The Mysteries of the Cabala
by: 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 seperate the narrator and Mendal instead of bringing them together because they were lying, jealous, and trying to be better than another. "My father is a robber." (pg.162); "I know the Cabala." (pg.164)
2.) Why does Mendel’s story enchant the narrator, even though he “knew it was all lies”? (p. 163)
Mendal's story enchant the narrator even though he "knew it was all lies." (pg.163) because it was exciting, fun, and adventures.
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 says he has "overdone it" (pg.165) with the Cabala story because Mendal started all the lying so he wanted to one up him and be better.
4.) Why does the narrator say, “Mendel, enough of these lies,” when he enjoyed Mendel’s story at first? (p. 167)
The narrator says "Mendal, enough of these lies" (pg.167) when he enjoyed Mendals story at first because its annoying, fustrating, and to much out of control.
5.) Why does the narrator call Mendel a “girl chaser” and run away from him? (p. 168)
The narrator calls Mendal a "girl chaser" (pg.168) because he is making fun of him for liking girls and thinking about getting married.
6.) Why does the narrator want to learn the Cabala?The narrator wants to learn the Cabala because he wasnt to prove Mendal wrong that he does know it, he wants to be better than Mendal, he want to know the power of the book. "Papa, I want you to teach me the Cabala." (pg.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 made the story up about knowing the Cabala because he wants to be better than Mendal. "I know the Cabala." (pg.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" (pg.169) because he wants to grow up faster and learn it.
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 "Papa, can you find out from the Cabala who you are going to get engaged to?" (pg. 170) because he wants to know who he is going to get married to.
10.) At the end of the story, why do the narrator’s eyes fill with tears?
The narrators eyes were filled with tears because his dad kissed him on his forehead and has never done that before and he is realizing that he is becoming more mature. "All the lampposts became bent and all the lights foggy as my eyes filled with tears." (pg.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: suddenly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Someone tapped me abruptly to say ''goodbye.''
2.) Abruptly (p. 164)
Quote: "Abructly I said" (page 164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): random
Synonym: suddenly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): She was envious when fell down so she didn't have to go to school
3.) Mockery (p. 164)
Quote: "Mendel's Tartar eyes filled with mockery" (page 164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words):Making fun of
Synonym: mocking
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): My sister started to mock me.
4.) Uncanny (p. 166)
Quote: "Uncanny noises came from there" (page 166)Definition (based on context/in your own words): Weird
Synonym: Awkward
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): At the party they were so uncanny because they were so silent
5.) Divulged (p. 169)
Quote: "It is written that these mysteries should not be divulged to a man before he is thirty." (page 169)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): won't tell
Synonym: won't speak
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): When we were asking him questions about who took the food he divulged
6.) Destined (p. 170)
Quote: "She, the one destined for me, didn't know either" (page 170)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Meant to be
Synonym: Fated
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Him and his food are destined to be together
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
1.) Why does their exchange of stories separate the narrator and Mendel, rather than bring them closer together?
Their exchange of stories seperate the narrator and Mendal instead of bringing them together because they were lying, jealous, and trying to be better than another. "My father is a robber." (pg.162); "I know the Cabala." (pg.164)
2.) Why does Mendel’s story enchant the narrator, even though he “knew it was all lies”? (p. 163)
Mendal's story enchant the narrator even though he "knew it was all lies." (pg.163) because it was exciting, fun, and adventures.
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 says he has "overdone it" (pg.165) with the Cabala story because Mendal started all the lying so he wanted to one up him and be better.
4.) Why does the narrator say, “Mendel, enough of these lies,” when he enjoyed Mendel’s story at first? (p. 167)
The narrator says "Mendal, enough of these lies" (pg.167) when he enjoyed Mendals story at first because its annoying, fustrating, and to much out of control.
5.) Why does the narrator call Mendel a “girl chaser” and run away from him? (p. 168)
The narrator calls Mendal a "girl chaser" (pg.168) because he is making fun of him for liking girls and thinking about getting married.
6.) Why does the narrator want to learn the Cabala?The narrator wants to learn the Cabala because he wasnt to prove Mendal wrong that he does know it, he wants to be better than Mendal, he want to know the power of the book. "Papa, I want you to teach me the Cabala." (pg.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 made the story up about knowing the Cabala because he wants to be better than Mendal. "I know the Cabala." (pg.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" (pg.169) because he wants to grow up faster and learn it.
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 "Papa, can you find out from the Cabala who you are going to get engaged to?" (pg. 170) because he wants to know who he is going to get married to.
10.) At the end of the story, why do the narrator’s eyes fill with tears?
The narrators eyes were filled with tears because his dad kissed him on his forehead and has never done that before and he is realizing that he is becoming more mature. "All the lampposts became bent and all the lights foggy as my eyes filled with tears." (pg.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: suddenly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Someone tapped me abruptly to say ''goodbye.''
2.) Abruptly (p. 164)
Quote: "Abructly I said" (page 164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): random
Synonym: suddenly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): She was envious when fell down so she didn't have to go to school
3.) Mockery (p. 164)
Quote: "Mendel's Tartar eyes filled with mockery" (page 164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words):Making fun of
Synonym: mocking
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): My sister started to mock me.
4.) Uncanny (p. 166)
Quote: "Uncanny noises came from there" (page 166)Definition (based on context/in your own words): Weird
Synonym: Awkward
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): At the party they were so uncanny because they were so silent
5.) Divulged (p. 169)
Quote: "It is written that these mysteries should not be divulged to a man before he is thirty." (page 169)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): won't tell
Synonym: won't speak
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): When we were asking him questions about who took the food he divulged
6.) Destined (p. 170)
Quote: "She, the one destined for me, didn't know either" (page 170)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Meant to be
Synonym: Fated
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Him and his food are destined to be together
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
NARRATOR IS CERTAIN
|
MENDEL IS UNCERTAIN
|