Chapters 4-6 Study Guide

The Devil's Arithmetic

The saying means “As the peasant says….”

1. What does the saying A goy zugt a vertl mean?

Hannah was in named in honor of Aunt Eva’s deceased friend.

2. For whom was Hannah named?

“ I have all my teeth and all my hair, two fine workhorses, a four-room house, and twenty acres of land beside. I work hard and I do not smell all that bad.” (page 25)

3. What does Shmuel say makes him a "prize" in marriage?

A-doo, A-doo- the echoing sound of the rooster.

4. Identify the onomatopoeia on page 32.

Schmuel says a girl’s dreams, like her life, should be sweet and filled with honey.

5. What does Shmuel say a girl's dream should be about.

“Do you think it strange, little Chaya, that I – Shmuel Abramowicz- with an arm like a tree and, as Gitl says, a head like a stone.”

6. Locate the simile on page 33.

Shmuel admits that he is afraid of GETTING married, but not afraid of BEING married.

7. On page 33, what does Shmuel admit to Hannah about marriage?

The milk was actually unpasteurized cream with “things” floating in it.

8. What is wrong with the milk Hannah was to drink during breakfast?

Shmuel is following the old tradition of the groom fasting before his wedding.

9. What tradition is Shmuel following before the wedding?

Thwack- the sound of the coffeepot being placed on the table.

10. Identify the onomatopoeia on page 37.

Yitzchak gave Shmuel and Fayge two cages of chickens for their wedding.

11. What was Yitzchak's wedding gift for Shmuel and Fayge?

“Two little blond-haired children, no more than three or four years old.” (page 39)

Reuven-little boyTzipporah-little girl

12. What are the names of Yitzchak's children?

The bathroom was a privy, an outhouse, which did not have any lights.

13. Describe the bathroom Hannah must use.

The dress was a dark blue sailor-suit dress with white piping at the sleeves and neck, and a blue sash belt. Hannah called it a shmatte meaning rag.

14. Describe the dress Gitl picked out for Hannah to wear at the wedding. What word does Hannah use to describe the dress?

Gitl put two blue velvet ribbons in Hannah’s plaits. Gitl was originally going to use the ribbons on her wedding night.

15. What did Gitl put in Hannah's hair? What was she originally going to use them for?

“Hannah felt a lot like the chickens, nervous about all the loud, strange men and laughing, chattering women.” (page 44)

16. Identify the simile on page 44.

The girls said their fathers named Gitl, “Gitl the Bear”.

17. What did the girls say their fathers called Gitl?

Shifre- “..had a pale freckled face and eyelashes so light they could not be seen. It made her eyes look shifty.” (pg47)

Esther- “ And Esther was plump with rosy cheeks and a mouth that seemed to rest in a pout. She was round like an Easter egg.” (pg 47)

Yente- “ ….had a ferrety face, sharp in chin and nose, and a yellowish complexion.” (pg47)

Rachel- declared herself as Hannah’s best friend. She had shallow breathing.

18. Give a brief description of the following girls:

The girls were shocked that Hannah was friends with someone who had such a goyish name. When Hannah revealed that Rosemary WAS Catholic, the girls were shocked that a Jew and a Catholic were friends.

19. What did the girls say about Hannah's best friend Rosemary?

20. Give a prediction about what is going to happen in this novel.