The Mysteries Of the Cabala By:Issace Bashevis Singer
The Mysteries of the CabalaThe lies brings the narrator and Mendel apart, rather than bringing them closer because of the lies, jealousy, and the need tell a better story than the other "I expected him to ask many more questions , but he remained stubbornly silent". (page 165)
2.) Why does Mendel’s story enchant the narrator, even though he “knew it was all lies”? (p. 163)
Mendel's story enchants the narrator even though he "knew it was all lies" (page 163) because he thinks it is cool and fun
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)
When the narrator realizes that he has "overdone it"(page 165) and blames Mendel, he blames him because Mendel lied first, which means if he didn't lie, the narrator didn't have to lie
4.) Why does the narrator say, “Mendel, enough of these lies,” when he enjoyed Mendel’s story at first? (p. 167)
The narrator says "enough of these lies" (page 167) when he enjoyed Mendel's story at first because it got annoying, frustrating and got 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" (page 168) because he realizes that Mendel is starting to like girls, and the narrator calls him a "girl chaser" to mock him
6.) Why does the narrator want to learn the Cabala?
The narrator wants to learn about the Cabala because he wants his story be true, he is curious, and be better than Mendel "Papa, I want you to teach me the Cabala" (page 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?
When it was his turn to tell a story, the narrator makes up one about his power he gained from the Cabala to prove that he is better than Mendel and make Mendel feel bad "I can take seven mile steps" (page 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 say "Papa, I want it now" (page 169) because he wants to prove that he is not lying to Mendel and that he is curious and want to learn more about the Cabala
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, can you find out from the Cabala who you are going to get engaged to”? (page 170) because he does not want to admit that he likes girls, and wants to know more about the Cabala
10.) At the end of the story, why do the narrator’s eyes fill with tears?
At the end of the story, the narrator's eyes fill with tears because he realizes he is not friends with Mendel anymore and he is crying because he realizes that he is growing up "You are growing up, my son" (page 171)
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): She was envious when fell down so she didn't have to go to school
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): A person abruptly hit me in the face and said "Have a good day'
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: moking
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): He started mocking me for missing the shot
4.) Uncanny (p. 166)
Quote: "Uncanny noises came from there" (page 166)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Weird
Synonym: Akward
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): Ment to be
Synonym: Fated
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Him and his food are destined to be together
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:
- His stories are lies Pg. 164
- Likes girls too Pg. 171
- Knows Mendel's stories are lies Pg. 162 - 163
- Knows he doesn't know the Cabala Pg. 166
- Knows that Mendel doesn't need the six-groschen coin Pg. 166
Uncertain:
- Doesn't know if he will get married Pg. 170
- Doesn't know what the Cabala could do Pg. 170-171
- Doesn't know what the Cabala could do for him Pg. 170
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2.) Why does Mendel’s story enchant the narrator, even though he “knew it was all lies”? (p. 163)
Mendel's story enchants the narrator even though he "knew it was all lies" (page 163) because he thinks it is cool and fun
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)
When the narrator realizes that he has "overdone it"(page 165) and blames Mendel, he blames him because Mendel lied first, which means if he didn't lie, the narrator didn't have to lie
4.) Why does the narrator say, “Mendel, enough of these lies,” when he enjoyed Mendel’s story at first? (p. 167)
The narrator says "enough of these lies" (page 167) when he enjoyed Mendel's story at first because it got annoying, frustrating and got 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" (page 168) because he realizes that Mendel is starting to like girls, and the narrator calls him a "girl chaser" to mock him
6.) Why does the narrator want to learn the Cabala?
The narrator wants to learn about the Cabala because he wants his story be true, he is curious, and be better than Mendel "Papa, I want you to teach me the Cabala" (page 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?
When it was his turn to tell a story, the narrator makes up one about his power he gained from the Cabala to prove that he is better than Mendel and make Mendel feel bad "I can take seven mile steps" (page 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 say "Papa, I want it now" (page 169) because he wants to prove that he is not lying to Mendel and that he is curious and want to learn more about the Cabala
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, can you find out from the Cabala who you are going to get engaged to”? (page 170) because he does not want to admit that he likes girls, and wants to know more about the Cabala
10.) At the end of the story, why do the narrator’s eyes fill with tears?
At the end of the story, the narrator's eyes fill with tears because he realizes he is not friends with Mendel anymore and he is crying because he realizes that he is growing up "You are growing up, my son" (page 171)
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): She was envious when fell down so she didn't have to go to school
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): A person abruptly hit me in the face and said "Have a good day'
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: moking
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): He started mocking me for missing the shot
4.) Uncanny (p. 166)
Quote: "Uncanny noises came from there" (page 166)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Weird
Synonym: Akward
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): Ment to be
Synonym: Fated
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Him and his food are destined to be together
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:
- His stories are lies Pg. 164
- Likes girls too Pg. 171
- Knows Mendel's stories are lies Pg. 162 - 163
- Knows he doesn't know the Cabala Pg. 166
- Knows that Mendel doesn't need the six-groschen coin Pg. 166
Uncertain:
- Doesn't know if he will get married Pg. 170
- Doesn't know what the Cabala could do Pg. 170-171
- Doesn't know what the Cabala could do for him Pg. 170
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