Chaim Potok Essays

"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." These insightful words came from Henry David Thoreau. Wisdom sparkles throughout The Chosen, a novel written by Chaim Potok. The three major characters in the story, David Malter, Reb Saunders, and Reuven Malter each displayed wisdom in various ways. Although these three possess contrasting personal traits, they all opened up their eyes into things that the others ignore or they themselves have not noticed before. During the years that

Throughout Chapter Nine of The Chosen, Chaim Potok demonstrates Reuven’s growth as a character, utilizes symbolism to show the struggles Reuven went through, and reveals how important it is to appreciate things you may take for granted, or even hate, such as Reuven’s exams. Potok exhibits Reuven’s growth as a character using the phone call with Billy’s father. On the call, he learns that Billy’s surgery was not successful, which shook him almost enough to make him drop the phone. This exposes how

The Qualities of a Scholar In Chaim Potok’s The Chosen, many great characters exist. The book covers Jewish life across different branches of the religion in America. The characters in this book all face their own challenges, and often times encounter them together. The main protagonist, Reuven Malter, stands out from the other characters in the book because of his success as a student. He exhibits many qualities that cause him to succeed in everything he does. Reuven excels as a student because

“He was coughing a great deal, she told me and was exhausted from the sulfa he was taking. Yes, she would give him my wishes for his speedy recovery.” This small excerpt from The Chosen by Chaim Potok illustrates what kind of character Reuven Malter is. Reuven Malter is a Jewish boy who befriends w another Jewish boy, Daniel Saunders, even though their fathers do not agree with each other on what to believe as a Jew. In The Chosen Reuven has several notable attributes that make him fascinating to

persistence and dedication to his studies and friendships, intelligence in his daily lifestyle, and compassion towards the people he is around. Chaim Potok introduces readers to Reuven immediately in the first chapter of The Chosen in the setting of a baseball game. Right off the bat, people realize his sportsmanship and likeable character. Danny Saunders, who Chaim Potok characterizes as a rival baseball player, and Reuven actually befriended one another in the first few chapters. Though Danny seems kind

Chaim Potok’s The Chosen is a mysterious novel with very interesting dialogue and detail. Although the narrator’s name is never said or mentioned, Potok still managed to write this thrilling novel that has readers at the edge of their seats. In this novel, a 15 year-old boy, who is a protagonist, has a deep love for baseball shares Jewish culture and habits. Him and all the boys who go to school together play baseball on their spare time and are all on the same baseball team. While being friends

Tell why Zebra cannot run anymore. In the short story, “Zebra,” by Chaim Potok, the main character, Zebra, has a passion for running. He attempted a risky run down a steep hill and built up too much momentum making it harder to stop. Out of nowhere, a car emerged and he began suffering from severe injuries. The text states, “...when a huge rushing shadow appeared in his line of vision and crashed into him and plunged him into a darkness from which he emerged very, very slowly…” The author

Efraim Ginsberg 2/2 The Chosen Essay In the realistic fiction novel The Chosen, by Chaim Potok, two boys make their transition into adulthood. In the beginning of the novel, Reuven, a Modern Orthodox Jew and Danny, a Chasidic Jew barely know each other, but start to after Danny hits Reuven with a baseball. After this, Reuven makes friends with Danny and they spend much time together. Danny wants to become a psychologist, against his father's wishes, and Reuven helps him

Chaim Potok’s The Chosen is a book that is not characterized by its suspenseful plots nor rich dialogue; instead, it conveys powerful the powerful themes are friendship and self-identity through subtle interactions between characters and by intertwining events in history to further develop the story (Chosen). The Chosen explores the unlikely friendship between two Jewish boys: Reuven Malter and Danny Saunders. Reuven is an Orthodox Jew raised by his scholarly father and writer, David Malter. He has

INTRO: The novel The Chosen, by Chaim Potok, explores the coming-of-age experiences of two young men, Reuven Malter and Danny Saunders, highlighting the ways in which their changing vision and perception contribute to their personal growth and development; through their ability to see beyond their own perspectives, to appreciate the complexities of human emotion, and to understand the importance of tradition and community, Danny and Reuven are able to emerge as mature, thoughtful individuals. The

Seeing Through Another’s Eyes In Chaim Potok’s book, The Chosen, blindness is a reoccurring theme throughout the book. The first example of blindness is Danny and Reuven live within five blocks from each other for fifteen years and have no idea that the other person exists. Because the boys have such a different culture, they live in their own world and are blind to each other. When they meet at the baseball field they judge each other based on rumors they have heard or by the actions of the

to certain standards, which are honorable to meet; and gives people their idea of right and wrong. In his book The Lord of the Flies, William Golding cleverly shows us what would happen without culture. Culturally good characters are abundant in Chaim Potok’s book, The Chosen. These people, to the reader’s eyes, seem like the kind one wants to know; characters that cling in one’s memory, like Reuven, Danny and Mr. Galanter. Their desire to be culturally right makes these figures so memorable. One

defines chosen in many verses such as Matthew 22:14 “For many are called, but few are chosen” this verse gives the idea that a massive amount of people aren’t chosen if the Jews were excluded who were Gods chosen people. The book “The Chosen” by Potok gives examples of being chosen as well if someone think hard enough, being chosen for a role through blood, this would be Danny and being a Rabbi. There is also being chosen for a path, this would be when Reuven got hit by that baseball, think

Irony, a kind of literature device, happens when two completely opposite things are placed next to each other for a more impactful effect. Chaim Potok’s The Chosen depicts this literary device a few times in the story. During Danny’s visits to Reuven in the hospital, the two boys reveal many things to each other. Amidst their conversation, the boys’ dream jobs happened to become the center of discussion. Danny tells Reuven that he had to take his father’s place as rabbi, or, caretaker of the people

I decided to read The Chosen by Chaim Potok because it is set during the 1940’s and about a culture that I do not have much experience with. This first person novel is narrated by Reuven Malther who lives in Brooklyn and forms an unlikely friendship with a boy named Danny Saunders. Reuven is a secular Jew with a very intellectual father, while Danny is the heir to a Hasidic rebbe position. The Chosen walks readers through the life of these two boys during their adolescence and also through a crisis

In order to become a thriving young artist, one does not need knowledge on art but needs empathy. In the short story, “Zebra” by Chaim Potok, Zebra had suffered from life changing injuries which forced him to stop doing his passion, running. He is later approached by the artist and veteran, John Wilson who introduces Zebra to art, which changes his life. Zebra had no knowledge of art in the beginning of the story, but the empathy he had received from Mr.Wilson had changed that overtime. To have

City during World War II, one catches my eye more than the other. Harper Lee did a spectacular work regarding To Kill a Mockingbird, but The Chosen by Chaim Potok hooked my interest in a greater capacity. Put more specifically, racism in court down south does not have the same pull on my attention that the setting of Jews during World War II does. Potok shows readers the friendship of two Jewish boys, Reuven and Danny. With a serious and dramatic feel, the boys travel to and through their college years

“Blind belief in authority is the greatest enemy of truth.” ~ Albert Einstein. This story tells some thing about how Danny and Reuven, two children from two different culture, became friend. In the book The Chosen, Chaim Potok uses Danny to shows out that people could separate from their culture and people could be friend even though they have different culture and belief. Readers could find out that Danny was response for thing that he did in the beginning of the story. The book shows out Danny

Everything is Dark and Unknowable It starts with a baseball game, a flying baseball and a nearly blinded eye. That is how The Chosen by Chaim Potok starts. Throughout his wonderful book there are many themes that are tied through the book, Religion, Friendship, but most important of all is the theme of the eye. From literally seeing to the figurative eye, Potok ties the eye wonderfully throughout the entire book, making it a wonderful book to read from young to old. One of the main themes through

In Chaim Potok’s novel, The Chosen, Reb Saunders, who is Danny’s father, is a very interesting and wise man. His techniques and beliefs for raising his son is strange and unorthodox but it is what he believes will help grow his son’s soul. He is not your typical father and being Jewish plays a role in his decisions. In the book we see how his actions are used and end with fruitful results. Reb Saunders grew up in a “small town in southern Russia” and was raised in the Jewish Orthodox customs