Discussion Questions
1. Zohar means splendor; Pardes
means
paradise as well as orchard; Og is a biblical monster; a golem
is
a clay figure brought to life by having the name of god written on its
forehead. Are these names ironic, or do they aptly describe the characters
and places in the story? Does their significance and appropriateness change?
2. Are the Cnidori people? Is Og a person?
How would including them force changes in the definition of personhood?
3. What does the story suggest about the
power of languages and of texts like Torah and Talmud to change those who
learn them?
4. How does the reader's impression of the
Cnidori change throughout the story?
5. Og cleans, nurses, and acts as a go-between
for the stiff-necked father and his children. What happens to the story
if you interpret Og as a woman? |
