1. Why do you think Karen Hesse wrote the scene about the old man and the oranges. Make sure you support your opinion. (pp. 44-45)
2. Why is Rifka's cousin Hannah given piano lessons even when she is terrible at playing the piano, while Tovah is musically talented and is NOT given pianon lessons? What does this say about society in Russia in the early 1900's? Support your answer with text evidence or from our discussion in class today.
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Letters From Rifka
By Karen Hesse
23 comments:
SG#8
1. I think that Karen Hesse wrote that scene with the old man because I think she wanted to show that in every city there is always somebody who is going to try to steal your money. Like when Rifka gave all of her money to him for an orange but then he lied that she didn't give him any money and he just got more money from lying.
2. Tovah isn't getting piano lessons because Uncle Avrum thinks that she isn't going to be good enough for marrige because of her bad back. This says that this shows poor treatment of women because just because she has a bad back doesn't mean she isn't good for marrige.
BS24
1. I think she wrote that scene to show that although Rifka is clever and smart she isn't street smart because when she showed the orange man all the money she had then he said that was how much the orange was that was dumb because it was not that much so she had gotten ripped off.
2. Rifka's cousin is given piano lessons even though she is terrible at them because like Rifka said she was a fairy princess which means she would marry easily, but since Tovah had the crooked back it made her not as attractive and that was what boys would marry for looks. This says that Russia's society in the 1900's really mattered if the girls were smart because the boy's would think that it wasn't right for girls to have hobbies and interests.
KGL#17
1. I think Karen Hesse wrote the scene about the man and the oranges to show 1. Rifka does not have street smarts. We know this because she hands all her food money over which we are assuming was a lot, for a small piece of fruit. You should never hand all your money over to anyone when you don't even know what the price is. 2. That they were so poor there food variety was not large, she didn't even know what an orange was. (P.44 "What is this?" I asked in Polish.."the fruit was small, more yellow than orange, with patches of green." "Oranges," the old man answered.) And lastly 3 to make her dislike cities so there will be more conflict in Belgium.
2. Rifka’s cousin Hannah was taught the piano instead of musically talented Tovah because Uncle Avrum wanted her to "catch a good husband." The reason they don't do the same for Tovah is because she has a crooked back that makes her less attractive. Hannah is beautiful and graceful but as Mr.D said "not the sharpest knife in the draw". Tovah is brave, funny and smart. But because the society in Russia in the early 1900's hundred was based around woman becoming mothers and wives, nothing else, they had to be attractive and pretty for a man to want to marry them. Tovah having a crooked back might prevent her from ever marrying.
MBI#16
1. Karen Hesse wrote the part about the old man and the oranges because she wanted to show that she had never been to a city so therefore she wasn't street smart. In our class today we talked about how if you go into the city you have to know some people might trick you and take advantage of you. For example on page 45 Rifka asks how much the orange was. The old man asks her how much she had and she foolishly showed him all the money. The old man said that was enough, but it was way too much. That supports my answer because if Rifka had been street smart she would not have showed the old man all here money. If she had not showed him all the money and she was street smart she would still have the money for food.
2. Rifka’s cousin Hannah is given piano even though she is terrible at piano and Tovah is very good at the piano and she does not get lessons because Tovah has a bent back and her father wants Hannah to take lessons because she is pretty and a man would want to marry a women that is pretty and can play the piano. As for Tovah she might not get married because she is not as pretty and she has a bent so the father doesn't want to waste money on her lessons because she may never get married. This says that in the 1900's in Russia the parents only wanted there daughters to get married, have children, and take care of them. Also back then people choose to marry someone because they were pretty. So with Tovah's back it might be hard for her to find someone who will marry her. So the father thinks that he should not pay for her to take piano because it won’t help her to find a husband. It was the other way around for Hannah.
SGC#4
1. I think Karen Hesse wrote that scene about the oranges and the old con man to show that Rifka didn't have streetsmarts because she'd never travled that far out of Berdichev. It also shows how Jews were mistreated in Russia. Rifka was gnawing at the rind, which we all know is the incorrect way to eat oranges.
2. Hannah is given piano but not Tovah even though she has the musical skill because Uncle Avrum thinks this will allow her to catch a good husband. This is not so for Tovah because sne has a crooked back and is believed to not be one of those people that are meant to marry. This says the society in Russia in the early
1900's were based on men and that men were the dominant gender. For example on pg. 54 it said that Saul & Nathan had Mitvahs because they only celebrated boys becoming men but not girls becoming women. All women were supposed to do were cook and raise a family.
A.M.D #6
1. To show that Rifka was desperate for food and because she had never been to a city she was not street smart.
2. Hannah takes piano so that she can get a good husband. (pg. 59)Russian society did not care about people who were not normal. "Some girls aren't meant to marry, Rifka" (pg. 60)
rhs23
1 I think Karen Hesse wrote that piece of the story in to show how the Jews were not exsposed to big cities or alot of the things other religions because on the page with the old man and the orange incident Rifka was asking the old man how much an orange is he replied b asking how much she had Rifka showed him all her money and the man took it al. Then the man acuesed her of stealing and Rifka's dad had to pay the old man more money to shut up this proves Rifka wasn't street smart.
2 Rifka's cousin is not givin piano lessons because she has a crooked back and doesn't really have a chance of getting maried so Uncle Avrum doesn't want to waiste his time, but Hannah is pritty and can marry if she learns how to play piano.
OB#1
1 I think Karen Hesse wrote the scene about the old man and the oranges because it showed how high poverty level for Jews where. First of all on page 45 Rifka wrote " biting through the bitter skin of the fruit." The shows that normally poor Jews weren't exposed to fruits and vegetables such as oranges. Also Rifka wrote that she was foolish because of what she did by just showing all her money to the orange seller who conned her. It showed that she really hadn't been very exposed to other places except Berdichev because she didn't have street smarts becasue the place she lived was very small and it wasn't a very big city and while Warsaw was a huge city. Again she couldn't really travel so the poverty for Jews comes back once again
2 Rifka's cousin, Hannah, is given piano lessons and not Tovah is because Hannah is pretty and beautiful(Not the sharpest knife in the drawer though) and Uncle Avrum though it would be easier for her to get a wife because you didn't have to be educated to be a wife back then. All you had to be able to do was cook clean take care of children and keep the Sabbath. Tovah was smart and strong but she, I think, wanted to learn and be more that just a wife and mother, also she had a crooked back so she wasn't very pretty. You see Uncle Avrum knew that Piano lessons would help get a good husband for his daughter. What this says about society in Russia in the early 1900's was that it was unfair to women because they weren't educated and the prettiest women got the guy also their marriages were arranged for them and the couldn't choose who they wanted. Also it showed that women where treated unfairly by not letting them be doctors or lawyers or teachers.
MG-11
1. the reason that she wrote the part with old man was to show that she was inexperienced, because when she asked how much the oranges cost he said how much do you have, rifka showed him all the money that she had and he told that one orange was all she could afford and ripped her off.
2. Hannah was given piano lessons on page 59-60 because she had a better chance to marry when tovah has a bad back so it was because hannah had a better chance to marry because a girl who is talented and can play piano has a better chance to get married. Also she was able to help support the family.
bag12
1. I think that Karen Hesse wrote the scene about the man and the oranges because it shows how Rifka doesn't have street smarts because she has never been exposed to a big city. For example, the old man says, "How much you have?" and Rifka gave him all her money. This shows that Rifka doesn't have street smarts because the old man never told her that her money was enough and later he called "Thief!Theif!" and got more money to be quiet.
2. Rifka's cousin Hannah is given piano lessons even though she is terrible because since she is "like a fairy princess", if she could play the piano, a man might be attracted to her. Tovah isn't getting lessons even though she is musically talented because she fell when she was little and her back got crooked. Because of that, she probably would not get married anyway so Uncle Avrum doesn't want to waste the money on someone who probably would not get married. This shows that Russia's society in the early 1900s discriminated against woman. Their society believed that woman had no value except to get married and take care of the family. For example, in our discussion, we talked about how families would make their daughters marry another family's son and they would get money for it. They practically sold their daughters away.
ab#2
1. I think Karen Hesse included the scene with the old man selling the oranges because she wanted to show how Rifka had never experienced a large city like Warsaw. For example, if Rifka was street smart she would ask how much it was without showing him all the money she had on her. Also it is another example of how Jews were treated badly because Rifka had never been exposed to oranges so she bit into it without removing the peel. A Russian living in Berdichev was probably exposed to oranges but not Rifka.
2.In Russia at this time period at the age of thirteen to sixteen girls were married, began to have children and became housewives. Hannah was given piano lessons so she would have a better chance of catching a good husband. Tovah is not given piano lessons even though he is much more musically talented because when she was a baby she fell off the table making her back crooked as found on page 59. Uncle Avrum thought that Tovah hes no chance of a man wanting her so he doesn't want to spend his money if it isn't going to help her catch a good husband.
BJR#22
1.Karen Hesse put that scene in the book because she wanted to show that because Rifka lived in Berdichev all of her life and has never been to the city so she had no street smarts so she didnt expect the old man to con her out of her money because she wasn't from the city.
2.Hannah is given piano lessons even though she is terrible at it because she is prettier than Toovah who has a crooked back and will never marry because of it. That is why Uncle Avrum won't waste money of lessons even if Tovah is musically talented. This says that Russia in the early 1900's was that most women turned 13 and they were expected to be able to raise and take care of a family.
JCG#9
1 I think karen Hesse wrote the scene about the man with the oranges because she wanted to explain to the reader that jews weren't exposed to things like buying oranges on the street. She shows that when Rifka just gives the man all of the money she has before asking how much the oranges cost.
2 Rifka's cousin Hannah was given piano lessons even when she is terrible at it and Tovah is very good at it and is not given lessons because tovah has a crooked back. Therefore not many people would want to marry someone with a crooked back they marry people by there look's and Hannah is very pretty. Hannah is having the piano lessons because someone would also want to marry her if she plays the piano well. This says that the society in Russia in the early 1900's people don't marry people by how they act but how they iook and play the piano.
JGM21
1. I think the author wrote the scene about the old man and the orange to show you what a horrible city it is and it makes Rifka not want to star in Warshaw. The reason I think this gives Rifka even more reason not to want to staw in Warshaw because she might loose more mony and not be able to get food while har family are in America. It also shows she is not street smart.
2. I think hannah is given lessons even though she is horrible while Tovah who is musiclly talented is not given lessons is because they want Hannah to "catch a good husband." as it says on page 59 and Rifka's mom says on page 60 that some girls aren't ment too marry. I can infer that Rifka's mom thinks Tovah is one of thoese girls who are not ment to marry
CE#7
1. I think Karen Hesse wrote the scene about the old man and the oranges because she wanted to show that Rifka isn't street-smart. Rifka saw the man with the oranges, and she wanted to buy one. The old man asked how much money she had to spend, and showed the old man all the money she had. The old man took the money from her and gave her one orange. When Rifka came back to the old man a while later, he shouted and called Rifka a thief. Her father had to give the old man more money to quiet him down. This scene shows how inexperienced she is.
2. Hannah is given musical lessons because she is beautiful and likely to be married away. Tovah's father doesn't want to give Tovah musical lessons because she has a crooked back, and doesn't want to waste money one someone who is less likely to be married away. Also, Tovah is very clever, and women weren't expected to be smart. All they really did was take care of the family and have children
AEH#14
1.I think she wrote about that scene because it shows that she wasnt espireinced much and on pg 45 the book says"A few months later,mama came and saw me biting the bitter skin of the fruit. where did you get that?"she asked."where is the money i gave you,Rifka",
I took her to the old man, but the man cried,"there you are! theif!You steal my oranges!Help!Police What monstor are you to steal from an old man.
2.Hannah's is only given piano lessons because back then they used playing th piano to get marryed and hannah is pretty. while tovah is ugly with a hunched back but, very talented at playing the piano and her dad thoungt that she wouldnt get marryed either way.
( dusscustion in class)
JRC#5: 1. Karen Hesse talked about the man and the oranges because she wanted us to know that Rifka was not street smart[pp.44/45]
2. Rifkas cosin Hannah gets piano lessons when tovah is beter than her because men will marrie her more likely because she is better at every thing and keeping the sabith. In class we said that since she is such a siney penny she is more likly to marrie and tovah has a curved back.
mkm#20!!!!!!!
1) I think Karen Hesse wrote about the old man and the oranges because it is teaching you how limited Jews where here is the example (pg.) "What is this? ...... Oranges the old man answerd." Another example is that Karen i trying to say is Rifka has never left Berdichev before does not have the right steert smart she needs to be in a city like Warsaw.
2) In our discussion in class we talked about that Tovah's father wouldn't speend money on piano lessons for Tovah because he thinks because of the falling off the table when she was younger and that giving her a non stright back she is not pretty enough to marry and even through she is much better at the piano player she would have no one to share her talent with. But because Hannah is much pretter than Tovah so she needs to have many talents to share with her husband. this shows that in the early 1900's the only thing man care about is you must cook and clean and last and the thing that I hate the most is that the women need to be pretty!
JLH 15
1. I think Karen Hesse wrote the scene about the old man and the oranges because she wanted to express how Rifka wasn't very exposed to the city and that shows how the Russions would treat Jews. It also shows how the Russions woun't let the Jews out of their sight.
2. Rifka's cousin Hannah is given piano lessonss, while Tovah is musically talented and is not given piano lessons becaues although Hannah is beutiful and pretty. Also, on page 59 Moma told Rifka that Uncle Avrum only gives Hannah lessons because he thinks and it will help her catch a good husband and he dosn't teach piano lesson's to Tovah because she dosen't have a straite back so he thinks playing piano won't help her catch a good husband. This all says that in Russia in the early 1900's is that everything was based on lookes when it came to marrying and today it's based on if you reaaly love this person enogh to marrie he/she.
CC3
1 I think Karen Hesse wrote the scene about the old man and the oranges because when Rifka saw the round orange fruit she wanted one. Rifka showed her money to the man. The man sensed that Rifka had no street smarts because if you did have street smarts you would not show your money to the person selling the item you would ask how much it is. So instead of the man telling her the price he grabbed all her money from her. He did this because he knew Rifka did not have street smarts. This goes for all people in big cites. This is found on pages 44 and 45.
2 Rifka's cousin Hannah is given piano lessons even though she is terrible at playing it, while Tovah is musically talented and is NOT given piano lessons because on page 59 the page explains that Tovah's back isn't straight. I think Uncle Avrum does not give Tovah lessons because why should he waste his time teaching her to play when she won't be able to play it well, but for Hannah he teaches her because she has better posture and is good looking. He taught her because in the story it says "Uncle Avrom gives Hannah piano lessons so she can catch a good husband". But for Tovah since her back is not straight she probably would not get married. Like momma said on page 60 "Some girls aren't meant to marry." That would be Tovah. That is what I think it means.
MJG#10 1I think Karen Hesse wrote the scene about the old man and the oranges because she wanted to express the fact that Rifka's family was poor and inexperenced having to do with the inner city.
2 Rifka's cousin Hannah given piano lessons even when she is terrible at playing the piano because she is pretty and does not have a curved back like tova and thierfor can find a husband easier.
PG#13
Question 1)I think Karen Hesse added this scene because it tells you that Rifka didn't need school smarts she needed street smarts to know that once the man who sold the orange to Rifka he said she was a thief and that she stole the orange from him, but also she asked how much it was and the man sadi how much money do you have and Rifka had a lot of money and just gavust so it to the man because that's how much he siad it was when he yelled thief and stealer papa had to give him more money just so the man would shut his yap.
Question 2)Part 1. Hannah is given piano lessons because of the way she looks she has long black hair and is very pretty like a fairy princess and that uncle Avrum will have no trouble at all finding her a husband easily, not like Tovah who is great at playing the piano but because of her back problem uncle Avrum said that Tovah will probably not be able to catch one as easily. Part 2) It says that girls were expected to get an aranged marriage and soon be able to have kids at around the ages of 13, 14, 15, and or 16 and be able to support your family.
cl 19
1. I think Karen Hesse wrote the scene with the old man and the oranges because she wanted to show that jews were treated badly and lied to.
2. Hannah is given piano lessons instead of Tovah because Tovah has a crooked back and Hannah doesn't and at that time girls were ment to marry, so Hannah had a better chance of getting married. This says that girls in Russia were only used to help around the house until they could get married or they would stay to help around the house... for example on page 60, Mama says "some girls aren't meant to marry"
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