"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? The exchange of stories separated the narrator and Mendel because they were trying to be better than one another and are jealous of each other because of this.
2.) Why does Mendel’s story enchant the narrator, even though he “knew it was all lies”? (p. 163) he thinks its cool
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 started lying about his dad so the n. one upped mendel
4.) Why does the narrator say, “Mendel, enough of these lies,” when he enjoyed Mendel’s story at first? (p. 167) annoying too much lying to each other
5.) Why does the narrator call Mendel a “girl chaser” and run away from him? (p. 168) n. making fun of mendel
6.) Why does the narrator want to learn the Cabala? he wants to prove mendel wrong to be better than mendel he wants to know what the powers are 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? he wants to be better than mendel he wants to make mendel less powerful and stupid
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 wnts to grow up now and be mature
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 is curious he doesn't want mendel to know he is starting to like girls
10.) At the end of the story, why do the narrator’s eyes fill with tears? he is maturing and realizing he is growing up he lost his best friend
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): feeling envy
Synonym: jealous
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I was envious my brother won a hundred dollars at the raffle.
2.) Abruptly (p. 164)
Quote: "Abruptly I said, 'I also have a secret I've never told you.' " (p. 164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): quickly and without warning
Synonym: suddenly
3.) Mockery (p. 164)
Quote: "Mendel's Tartar eyes filled with mockery." (p. 164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): disbelief
Synonym: ridicule, derision
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):
4.) Uncanny (p. 166)
Quote: "Uncanny noises came from in there." (p. 166)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): mysterious
Synonym: eerie
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):
5.) Divulged (p. 169)
Quote: " 'It is written that these mysteries should not be divulged to a man before he is thirty.' " (p. 169)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): shared
Synonym: reveal
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):
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 for
Synonym: intended
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):
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
he likes girls , his dad is a rabi , he knows you have to be 30 to learn the cabala , he knows hes lying ,
he doesn't know if mendels stories are true , he doesn't know who liv es in the building, uncertain about him and mendels friend ship
1.) Why does their exchange of stories separate the narrator and Mendel, rather than bring them closer together? The exchange of stories separated the narrator and Mendel because they were trying to be better than one another and are jealous of each other because of this.
2.) Why does Mendel’s story enchant the narrator, even though he “knew it was all lies”? (p. 163) he thinks its cool
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 started lying about his dad so the n. one upped mendel
4.) Why does the narrator say, “Mendel, enough of these lies,” when he enjoyed Mendel’s story at first? (p. 167) annoying too much lying to each other
5.) Why does the narrator call Mendel a “girl chaser” and run away from him? (p. 168) n. making fun of mendel
6.) Why does the narrator want to learn the Cabala? he wants to prove mendel wrong to be better than mendel he wants to know what the powers are 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? he wants to be better than mendel he wants to make mendel less powerful and stupid
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 wnts to grow up now and be mature
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 is curious he doesn't want mendel to know he is starting to like girls
10.) At the end of the story, why do the narrator’s eyes fill with tears? he is maturing and realizing he is growing up he lost his best friend
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): feeling envy
Synonym: jealous
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I was envious my brother won a hundred dollars at the raffle.
2.) Abruptly (p. 164)
Quote: "Abruptly I said, 'I also have a secret I've never told you.' " (p. 164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): quickly and without warning
Synonym: suddenly
3.) Mockery (p. 164)
Quote: "Mendel's Tartar eyes filled with mockery." (p. 164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): disbelief
Synonym: ridicule, derision
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):
4.) Uncanny (p. 166)
Quote: "Uncanny noises came from in there." (p. 166)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): mysterious
Synonym: eerie
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):
5.) Divulged (p. 169)
Quote: " 'It is written that these mysteries should not be divulged to a man before he is thirty.' " (p. 169)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): shared
Synonym: reveal
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):
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 for
Synonym: intended
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):
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
he likes girls , his dad is a rabi , he knows you have to be 30 to learn the cabala , he knows hes lying ,
he doesn't know if mendels stories are true , he doesn't know who liv es in the building, uncertain about him and mendels friend ship