The mysteries of the cabala
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 separate the narrator and Mendel, rather than bring them together because they are lying, they begin to get jealous of each other and overdo it. "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)
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 "knew it was all lies"(p.163) because it is very 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)
When the narrator realizes that he has "overdone it"(p.165) with the Cabala story, he says that it is Mendel's fault because Mendel started it, since Mendel lied he wanted to look cool and lie too.
4.) Why does the narrator say, “Mendel, enough of these lies,” when he enjoyed Mendel’s story at first? (p. 167)
The narrator says "Mendel, enough of the lies"(p.167) when he enjoyed Mendel's stories at first because it's too 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"(p.168) and run away from him because he is making fun of Mendel for having a crush.
6.) Why does the narrator want to learn the Cabala?
The narrator wants to learn the Cabala because he wants to prove he is not a liar, he wants to prove he is better the Mendel, and he is curious of what the book is. " Papa, I want you to teach me the Cabala."(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?
When it is his turn to tell a story, the narrator makes up one about powers he gained from knowing the Cabala because he wants to seem better than Mendel. " I said: I know the Cabala!"(p.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"(p.169) after his father tells him he must not learn the Cabala before he is thirty because he wants to grow up already.
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 he is going to get married, but then ask, "Papa, can you find out from the Cabala who are you going to get engaged to"(p.170) because he doesn't want to admit he likes girls but he is starting to.
10.) At the end of the story, why do the narrator’s eyes fill with tears?
The narrator's eyes fill with tears at the end of the story because he knows he is growing up and he knows his friendship with Mendel is going away. " You are growing up my son. That is what is happening to you."(p.171)
Vocabulary:
1.) Envious (p. 164)
Quote: "He was envious of me because my father was a rabbi and because I lived in an apartment with two rooms, a kitchen, and a balcony."(p.164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): jealous
Synonym: Jealous
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I am envious of my sister because she has an iPhone.
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): randomly
Synonym: randomly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I abruptly started to run around.
3.) Mockery (p. 164)
Quote: "Mendel's Tartar eyes filled with mockery."(164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): disbelieve
Synonym: disbelieve
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): My sister looked at me with mockery after I told her a story.
4.) Uncanny (p. 166)
Quote: "Uncanny noises came from in there."(p.166)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): odd, mysterious
Synonym: mysterious
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Uncanny things were in my sisters room.
5.) Divulged (p. 169)
Quote: "It is written that these mysteries could not be divulged to a man before he is thirty."(p.169)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): given
Synonym: given
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): My mom said that an iPhone should not bedivulged to me until next month.
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 to be
Synonym: meant
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I am destined to be smart.
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.
Certain
-Mendel is lying when he tells the story. (p.162, 163)
-His dad is a rabbi. (p.164)
-He can't learn the Cabala until he is thirty.(p.169)
-He lied about knowing the Cabala.(p.164)
-He wants to learn the Cabala.(p.169)
Uncertain
-If parts of Mendel's story is true.(p.167,168)
-What the cabala is, does, and what is in it.(p.169)
-If him and Mendel are still best friends.(p.171)
-Who he is going to get married to.(p.169,170)
-If he likes anyone.(p.170)
1.) Why does their exchange of stories separate the narrator and Mendel, rather than bring them closer together?
The exchange of stories separate the narrator and Mendel, rather than bring them together because they are lying, they begin to get jealous of each other and overdo it. "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)
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 "knew it was all lies"(p.163) because it is very 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)
When the narrator realizes that he has "overdone it"(p.165) with the Cabala story, he says that it is Mendel's fault because Mendel started it, since Mendel lied he wanted to look cool and lie too.
4.) Why does the narrator say, “Mendel, enough of these lies,” when he enjoyed Mendel’s story at first? (p. 167)
The narrator says "Mendel, enough of the lies"(p.167) when he enjoyed Mendel's stories at first because it's too 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"(p.168) and run away from him because he is making fun of Mendel for having a crush.
6.) Why does the narrator want to learn the Cabala?
The narrator wants to learn the Cabala because he wants to prove he is not a liar, he wants to prove he is better the Mendel, and he is curious of what the book is. " Papa, I want you to teach me the Cabala."(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?
When it is his turn to tell a story, the narrator makes up one about powers he gained from knowing the Cabala because he wants to seem better than Mendel. " I said: I know the Cabala!"(p.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"(p.169) after his father tells him he must not learn the Cabala before he is thirty because he wants to grow up already.
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 he is going to get married, but then ask, "Papa, can you find out from the Cabala who are you going to get engaged to"(p.170) because he doesn't want to admit he likes girls but he is starting to.
10.) At the end of the story, why do the narrator’s eyes fill with tears?
The narrator's eyes fill with tears at the end of the story because he knows he is growing up and he knows his friendship with Mendel is going away. " You are growing up my son. That is what is happening to you."(p.171)
Vocabulary:
1.) Envious (p. 164)
Quote: "He was envious of me because my father was a rabbi and because I lived in an apartment with two rooms, a kitchen, and a balcony."(p.164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): jealous
Synonym: Jealous
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I am envious of my sister because she has an iPhone.
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): randomly
Synonym: randomly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I abruptly started to run around.
3.) Mockery (p. 164)
Quote: "Mendel's Tartar eyes filled with mockery."(164)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): disbelieve
Synonym: disbelieve
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): My sister looked at me with mockery after I told her a story.
4.) Uncanny (p. 166)
Quote: "Uncanny noises came from in there."(p.166)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): odd, mysterious
Synonym: mysterious
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Uncanny things were in my sisters room.
5.) Divulged (p. 169)
Quote: "It is written that these mysteries could not be divulged to a man before he is thirty."(p.169)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): given
Synonym: given
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): My mom said that an iPhone should not bedivulged to me until next month.
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 to be
Synonym: meant
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I am destined to be smart.
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.
Certain
-Mendel is lying when he tells the story. (p.162, 163)
-His dad is a rabbi. (p.164)
-He can't learn the Cabala until he is thirty.(p.169)
-He lied about knowing the Cabala.(p.164)
-He wants to learn the Cabala.(p.169)
Uncertain
-If parts of Mendel's story is true.(p.167,168)
-What the cabala is, does, and what is in it.(p.169)
-If him and Mendel are still best friends.(p.171)
-Who he is going to get married to.(p.169,170)
-If he likes anyone.(p.170)