Jewish Values & Beliefs
This is a core belief that guides Gimpel’s decisions.
What is faith in God?
This is used when the story asks questions that don't expect an actual answer.
What are rhetorical questions?
Gimpel chooses to believe other people instead of reacting with this emotion.
What is anger?
This is the name of Gimpel’s wife.
Who is Elka?
The story takes place in this kind of traditional Jewish village.
What is a shtetl?
The story is told from this narrative perspective.
What is first person?
Instead of confronting conflict, Gimpel often does this.
What is avoid it?
Gimpel’s job in the village.
What is a baker?
This Jewish value is shown through Gimpel’s lack of ego.
What is humility/modesty?
The literary term for the exaggerated lies told to Gimpel.
What is hyperbole?
Gimpel’s belief in the town’s stories shows his tendency to accept this over reality.
What is imagination?
This is what the Spirit of Evil tells Gimpel to do to get revenge on the townspeople.
What is urinate in the bread?
This aspect of Jewish life is shown through shared social norms and gossip.
What is communal life?
This type of writing style makes the narrator sound like they are directly speaking to the reader.
What is conversational prose?
This quality matters more to Gimpel than the townspeople's opinions.
What is moral integrity?
The number of children Elka and (supposedly) Gimpel have.
What is six children?
The story ultimately questions whether being foolish might actually be this.
What is wisdom?
This tone is used when a character downplays or makes themselves seem less important.
What is a self-effacing tone?
Gimpel values this over proving others wrong.
What is the truth/spiritual truth?
At the end of the story, Gimpel becomes this type of traveler.
What is a storyteller?