Dramaturgy Research - The Shtetl

Dramaturgy is the study of the historical context of a piece of drama.  “Fiddler on the Roof” concerns life in a small village or “shtetl” in western Russia in the early 1900's.  

1. In the culture of the Jewish shtetl according to "Fiddler on the Roof", describe how young people traditionally got engaged and then married.

2-3. In what ways did events at Tevye's eldest daughter, Tzeitl's wedding break tradition?  What happens that brings an abrupt stop to Tzeitl's wedding feast? 

4-5. Who does Tevye give his second daughter Hodel permission marry?  Where was she going on the train?  Why? 

6. Explain why you think Tevye refuses to speak with his third daughter, Chavela, when she comes to talk to him on the road?  What has she done?

7-8-9. Describe the "dance" that takes place as Tevye remembers Chavela as a child.  What do you think the symbolism of the dance is?  

10-11-12. Why do Tevye and the others leave Anatevka?  How much time did they have to pack?  How does he feel about it?  Where does Tevye take his wife and his two youngest girls?

Part 2
1. According to the biography of Shalom Aleichem, where was he born?  

2. What was his given name at birth?  

3. What language did he write his first story in?  What was it called?

4. What does his pseudonym (pen name) mean?

	1.	Describe “Tevye” from Shalom Aleichem’s original stories.  

	1.	What was likely Shalom Aleichem’s intention in Tevye’s misquoting scripture?

	1.	Why did Shalom Aleichem emigrate to the U.S.?

8. What effect did writing his stories in Yiddish have on the Jewish community?

9. What was his first play?  When was it published?

Part 3
1-2. According to the article "The Shtetl" by Temple Emanu-El of San Jose, what is the definition of a shtetl?

3-4. What culture is represented in the Shtetl?  When does the article say this culture flourished until? 

5. What changed after World War I? 

6-7. Describe one of the hardships Jews in the shtetl had to endure.

8-9. Who led the Jewish congregation in each shtetl.  Typically, what did he lead on Saturday afternoon for uneducated jews?

Part 4 
1-2-3. Summarize in complete paragraph form the personal story you chose to read.  

4-5. Describe how reading about someone else's life in another place and time made you feel.  

6-7. Were there similarities between their life and yours?  Can you relate their stories to stories from your own family background?  

8-9. What was completely new and strange for you.