Topic: Discussion board assignment
Description:
Modernity/files/2010/12/Gimpel-the-Fool.pdf
Bernard Malamud, “The Magic Barrel,” text
Grace Paley, “Samuel,” text
Discussion:
Answer questions:
1. In “The Magic Barrel,” what effect has years of study had on Leo’s social life?
2. How would you describe his relationship with Salzman?
3. Why does he prefer Stella over all the other women?
4. How do the adult passengers react to the boys’ horsing around?
5. What causes Samuel’s death? The answer is not just the pulling of the emergency cord.
6. Why do you think the boys want to engage in such dangerous play?
7. What kind of fool is Gimpel?
8. Why is he so easy to deceive?
9. What kind of person does he become by the end of the story?
10. One of the themes of the story is faith. What kind of faith does Gimpel have?
11. (Required) In cooperation with the rest of the class, construct a description of Jewish literature. Each of you should provide one or two sentences that talk about one of the following: a general definition, a list of the main themes, kinds of characters that are created, a list of the writers who are included, and the use of Jewish folklore (such as the matchmaker) and religious beliefs in the writing. Do not repeat what someone else has said. When the class has finished this assignment, I will organize it, and you will have the opportunity to earn additional points by adding to the description.