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? They are lying and trying to out do them selves. “ Tartar eyes filed with Mockery (p.164)
2.) Why does Mendel’s story enchant the narrator, even though he “knew it was all lies”? (p. 163) He thinks it is cool and he likes them . “knew it was all lies” (p. 163)
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’s is the one who started it and he wanted to one up him. “overdone it” (p.165)
4.) Why does the narrator say, “Mendel, enough of these lies,” when he enjoyed Mendel’s story at first? (p. 167) He does no like them and it has gotten out of hand and they are just lying. “Mendel, enough of these lies,” (p.167)
5.) Why does the narrator call Mendel a “girl chaser” and run away from him? (p. 168) He is making up of him because he likes girls. “girl chaser” (p.168)
6.) Why does the narrator want to learn the Cabala? He wants to be better than Mandel and he wants to know the powers of the book. “ Pap, I want it now” (p.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? He wants to be better than Mendel and make a fool of him.
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) So he will not be a liyer and he wants to grow up “Papa, I want it now” (p.169)
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 dose not want to tell Mendel that he likes girls and he wants to know “Papa, can you find out from the Cabala who you are going to get engaged to” (p. 170)
10.) At the end of the story, why do the narrator’s eyes fill with tears? He is going to a boy to a man and he is growing up and there friend ship is over. “ Lights foggy as my eyes filled with tears” (p.171)
Vocabulary:
1.) Envious (p. 164)
Quote: “ He was Envious of me” (p.164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): jealous
Synonym: o want something
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I was Envious of what he had.
2.) Abruptly (p. 164)
Quote: “ even more so. Abruptly I said” (p.164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): suddenly
Synonym: to pop up
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I Abruptly did that thing
3.) Mockery (p. 164)
Quote: “ Tartar eyes filed with Mockery (p.164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): disbelief
Synonym: to not know
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I was Mockery.
4.) Uncanny (p. 166)
Quote: “Uncanny noises came from in there.” (p.166)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): odd
Synonym: weird
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): it was very Uncanny.
5.) Divulged (p. 169)
Quote: “ Mysteries should not be Divulged” (p.169)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): given
Synonym: shared
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I was Divulged.
6.) Destined (p. 170)
Quote: “ She, the one Destined for me (p.170)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): meant to be
Synonym: for you
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): it was Destined for me
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
He Likes girls
He has to 30
He is growing
He can’t do what he said he could do
He knows nothing about the book
UNCERTAIN
Who he will gat married to
He is dose not know what is in the book
He dos not know if is story are rite
He dose not no what building people live
He dose not know if they are still friends
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? They are lying and trying to out do them selves. “ Tartar eyes filed with Mockery (p.164)
2.) Why does Mendel’s story enchant the narrator, even though he “knew it was all lies”? (p. 163) He thinks it is cool and he likes them . “knew it was all lies” (p. 163)
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’s is the one who started it and he wanted to one up him. “overdone it” (p.165)
4.) Why does the narrator say, “Mendel, enough of these lies,” when he enjoyed Mendel’s story at first? (p. 167) He does no like them and it has gotten out of hand and they are just lying. “Mendel, enough of these lies,” (p.167)
5.) Why does the narrator call Mendel a “girl chaser” and run away from him? (p. 168) He is making up of him because he likes girls. “girl chaser” (p.168)
6.) Why does the narrator want to learn the Cabala? He wants to be better than Mandel and he wants to know the powers of the book. “ Pap, I want it now” (p.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? He wants to be better than Mendel and make a fool of him.
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) So he will not be a liyer and he wants to grow up “Papa, I want it now” (p.169)
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 dose not want to tell Mendel that he likes girls and he wants to know “Papa, can you find out from the Cabala who you are going to get engaged to” (p. 170)
10.) At the end of the story, why do the narrator’s eyes fill with tears? He is going to a boy to a man and he is growing up and there friend ship is over. “ Lights foggy as my eyes filled with tears” (p.171)
Vocabulary:
1.) Envious (p. 164)
Quote: “ He was Envious of me” (p.164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): jealous
Synonym: o want something
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I was Envious of what he had.
2.) Abruptly (p. 164)
Quote: “ even more so. Abruptly I said” (p.164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): suddenly
Synonym: to pop up
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I Abruptly did that thing
3.) Mockery (p. 164)
Quote: “ Tartar eyes filed with Mockery (p.164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): disbelief
Synonym: to not know
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I was Mockery.
4.) Uncanny (p. 166)
Quote: “Uncanny noises came from in there.” (p.166)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): odd
Synonym: weird
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): it was very Uncanny.
5.) Divulged (p. 169)
Quote: “ Mysteries should not be Divulged” (p.169)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): given
Synonym: shared
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I was Divulged.
6.) Destined (p. 170)
Quote: “ She, the one Destined for me (p.170)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): meant to be
Synonym: for you
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): it was Destined for me
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
He Likes girls
He has to 30
He is growing
He can’t do what he said he could do
He knows nothing about the book
UNCERTAIN
Who he will gat married to
He is dose not know what is in the book
He dos not know if is story are rite
He dose not no what building people live
He dose not know if they are still friends