Exploring the Text

1. What do you notice about how Bernard Malamud introduces the characters in “The First Seven Years”? Explain how he develops each one and the purpose he or she serves in the story.

   Question

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   Exploring the Text: - What do you notice about how Bernard Malamud introduces the characters in “The First Seven Years”? Explain how he develops each one and the purpose he or she serves in the story.
2. The title “The First Seven Years” alludes to the biblical story of Rachel and Jacob, in which Jacob has to work seven years to be able to marry Rachel. On his wedding night, he finds that her older sister Leah has been substituted and that he has to work another seven years for Rachel. What themes does the connection to the Bible suggest?

   Question

   ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=

   Exploring the Text: - The title “The First Seven Years” alludes to the biblical story of Rachel and Jacob, in which Jacob has to work seven years to be able to marry Rachel. On his wedding night, he finds that her older sister Leah has been substituted and that he has to work another seven years for Rachel. What themes does the connection to the Bible suggest?
3. Feld thinks that Miriam and Max make a “first-class couple” (par. 29). What would make Feld think that? What did you think? Did you expect Miriam and Max to hit it off? Explain your answer.

   Question

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   Exploring the Text: - Feld thinks that Miriam and Max make a “first-class couple” (par. 29). What would make Feld think that? What did you think? Did you expect Miriam and Max to hit it off? Explain your answer.
4. How is Feld’s fascination with Max a reflection of his belief in the American Dream?

   Question

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   Exploring the Text: - How is Feld’s fascination with Max a reflection of his belief in the American Dream?
5. Analyze the story’s last paragraph, which is one long compound sentence with several subordinate clauses. Describe the effect of the sentence’s length and construction. What does it remind you of?

   Question

   ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=

   Exploring the Text: - Analyze the story’s last paragraph, which is one long compound sentence with several subordinate clauses. Describe the effect of the sentence’s length and construction. What does it remind you of?
6. Richard Bernstein, reviewing The Complete Stories in December 1997 for the New York Times, wrote that Malamud could “take figures from the immigrant Jewish petty bourgeoisie [usually defined as the lower middle class] and place them into struggles worthy of the Greeks.” Describe how the characters in “The First Seven Years” represent the Jewish petty bourgeoisie, and explain how their struggles are “worthy of the Greeks.”

   Question

   ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=

   Exploring the Text: - Richard Bernstein, reviewing The Complete Stories in December 1997 for the New York Times, wrote that Malamud could “take figures from the immigrant Jewish petty bourgeoisie [usually defined as the lower middle class] and place them into struggles worthy of the Greeks.” Describe how the characters in “The First Seven Years” represent the Jewish petty bourgeoisie, and explain how their struggles are “worthy of the Greeks.”