Fiddler on the Roof

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following phrases best describes what the character of the Fiddler represents?

A) A transient Jewish man looking for his homeland

B) The precarious nature of survival in dangerous circumstances

C) The harshness of the antisemitic Russian caste system

D) An omen of the end of their traditions and community

2. Based on the Rabbi’s “blessing” for the Tsar in the Prologue of Act I, what can be inferred about the relationship between the Jewish villagers in Anatevka and the royal family of Russia?

A) The Tsar supports anti-discrimination laws for their community.

B) The Jewish villagers rally the royals for better working conditions.

C) The villagers in Anatevka are most likely Communists.

D) The Tsar is not a widely respected figure in Anatevka.

3. Which of the following assumptions about marriage is true for the traditional way of life in Anatevka?

A) That marriage cannot exist without love

B) That no marriage is worse than a bad marriage

C) That matchmakers are an outdated social convention

D) That the bride’s family’s opinion is the most important

4. Who is the intended audience of Tevye’s frequent asides in the play?

A) His horse

B) His cow

C) God

D) Golde

5. Which of the following statements best summarizes Perchik’s role in the play?

A) A symbol of royalist Russian power

B) A foreshadowing of the rise of socialist ideology

C) A representation of the persecuted Christian minority

D) A testimony to the empathetic Russian soldier

6. Why does the Russian soldier interrupt Lazar Wolf and Tevye’s celebration during the song “To Life”?

A) To wish them peace and happiness

B) To share the sad news about the Tsar

C) To destroy the town’s tavern

D) To arrest the men for rowdy behavior

7. In Act I, what message is expressed by both Motel and Perchik?

A) That their old way of life is changing

B) That they must leave the village

C) That marriage is a respected tradition

D) That the Torah has modern relevance

8. Which of the following literary terms is predominately used in the song “Miracle of Miracles”?

A) Alliteration

B) Allusion

C) Anagram

D) Anaphora

9. Which of the following phrases best describes the song “Sunrise, Sunset”?

A) A concern for the future for Anatevka

B) A testimony to the beauty of the village landscape

C) A commentary on the passage of time

D) A rhetorical question on the purpose of life

10. Which of the following best describes when Tevye uses the phrase “on the other hand”?

A) When he is weighing the consequences of breaking a tradition

B) When he is questioning the authenticity of his personal faith

C) When he is arguing with Golde about their daughters

D) When he is speaking to the Constable on behalf of the villagers

11. Which of the following best describes Tevye’s reaction to Chava’s marriage?

A) Furious

B) Tolerant

C) Detached

D) Concerned

12. Upon learning that they must leave Anatevka, Mendel states, “Rabbi, we’ve been waiting for the Messiah all our lives. Wouldn't this be a good time for him to come?” to which the Rabbi replies, “We’ll have to wait for him someplace else. Meanwhile, let's start packing.” Which of the following phrases summarizes the purpose of these lines?

A) A reference to the Jewish diaspora

B) A comment on the transient nature of gentiles

C) A reminder of pain experienced during the Holocaust

D) A validation of the importance of tradition

13. How do the characters describe their village in the song “Anatevka”?

A) A picturesque, rural beauty

B) A shameful embarrassment

C) A hopeful new beginning

D) A small, rundown settlement

14. Which of the following phrases does Tevye use frequently throughout the play?

A) “As the Good Book says…”

B) “God be with you.”

C) “If I were a rich man…”

D) “L'Chaim!”

15. Which of the following phrases best describes the final moment of the play?

A) An implication of the continuity of tradition

B) A statement on the departure of Tevye from the faith

C) A focus on returning to the Jewish homeland

D) A critique of the new Jewish communities in America

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. Who is the protagonist of the play? Who is the antagonist?

2. What is one song from the play that particularly stands out to you as meaningful? What emotions does the song evoke? How do the lyrics of the song develop one or more of the play’s key themes?