The Shawl

How does the relationship between Rosa, Stella, and Magda shape the events of the story?

• Rosa’s care, Stella’s need, and Magda’s trust shape the plot’s conflict.
• The way they act and react to each other leads to Magda’s final fate.
• Stella protects Magda while Rosa’s distance leads to tragic choices.
• Rosa’s distance, Stella’s support, and Magda’s quietness shape events.

Which theme is best developed in *The Shawl*?

• Holding onto hope when facing fear and danger in harsh times.
• How the bonds of love can be tested by suffering and despair.
• The way loss and pain change people trying to survive cruelty.
• How memories of family and love help people endure hardships.

How does Ozick’s use of the shawl as a symbol contribute to the emotional impact of the story?

• It shows Rosa’s wish for a future where Magda can be safe again.
• It represents warmth and comfort, yet also the loss of protection.
• It suggests Magda’s innocence and foreshadows her tragic ending.
• It reflects the hardships faced and the small joys people still seek.

What effect does Ozick’s figurative language have on the tone of the story?

• It makes the story feel distant, removing emotion from the events.
• It adds a dreamlike, surreal tone that heightens the sense of loss.
• It brings a sense of hope by showing resilience in tough times.
• It makes the language simpler so that events feel more real to us.

What is the significance of the phrase 'the wolf’s screech' in the final paragraph?

• It describes Rosa’s terror as she watches Magda’s final moments.
• It suggests how the people there must act like animals to survive.
• It reflects Rosa’s grief, which she buries deep inside the shawl.
• It shows the way Magda cries out when she senses coming danger.

How does *The Shawl* differ from other Holocaust narratives?

• It avoids historical details, focusing only on the personal struggle.
• It uses poetic imagery instead of focusing on harsh descriptions.
• It provides a hopeful resolution that contrasts with most stories.
• It explains events factually instead of relying on deep emotions.

What does Stella mean when she says, 'I was cold' after taking the shawl from Magda?

• She thought the shawl would keep Magda warm and safe at night.
• She did not think about Magda and only wanted warmth for herself.
• She was trying to remind Rosa of the pain they all had to endure.
• She meant the place they were in made her feel numb inside too.

How does Cynthia Ozick use the relationships between Rosa, Stella, and Magda to illustrate the effects of extreme conditions on human behavior? Provide specific examples from The Shawl to support your answer.