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Reuven Malter- The main protagonist, Reuven is trying to find his way and figure out who he wants to be. His struggles with Danny help shape him along the way.

Danny Saunders- throughout the book Danny always seems to be troubled and always has something bugging him in the back of his mind. He is torn between his promise to his father, and his real dream of becoming a psychologist.

David Malter and Reb Saunders- These two characters act as foils by having different religious views, ways of raising children, and overall ways of life. Despite their contrasts, they each teach their sons valuable lessons throughout the book.

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Chaim Potok was lived through a very hard time for the Jewish people all around the world, which resulted in much inspiration to write about the survival of Judaism.

His Hasidic background and orthodox family is also very clear to see shining through the novel.

He also later in life studied Zionism which took on a big role in The Chosen.

Overall I believe most the inspiration came from the time period, ways he was raised, and the subjects he studied in school.

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One of the most important events that lead up to the creation of the novel was the second world war, and, more specifically, The Holocaust. The Holocaust had a profound impact on both Jewish communities and the rest of the world. This is reflected very clearly in The Chosen, as the novel takes place during this time frame. Many of the characters reference it all of the characters are shaken by it.

Another important event that lead up to the creation of the novel was the creation of a Jewish state. The Zionist movement causes tensions between Reuven and Danny's schoolmates, and drives a wedge between their fathers.

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C

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A - Image A is a picture of Chaim Potok, the author of The Chosen.
B - Image B is an image of The Chosen.
C - This is a picture of New York City in the 1940s, the setting of The Chosen.
D - Image D is an image of the sequel to The Chosen, The Promise.

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A

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B

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The emphasis on eyes in The Chosen symbolizes the change in perception that Reuven has on the world when he starts to put himself in other people's "shoes."

After doing this Reuven learns about other peoples struggles, such as Billy's lack out eyesight, and learns about other cultures, like Danny's, and sympathizing with others beliefs in a way.

Silence symbolizes finding your own path and knowledge. Danny's father raised him with silence, and because of this Danny forged his own path and developed his own beliefs on religion this also symbolized loneliness for when Danny didn't have anyone to turn to.

The Talmud symbolizes discussion and interpretation of Jewish laws for Reuven.

This also applies to Danny but The Talmud also, for him, symbolizes the only time he is able to spend with his father.

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When The Chosen was released in 1967, it was critically acclaimed for representing a mostly closed off culture of Hasidic Judaism. The book made the New York Times Bestseller list for over nine months and sold more than 3.4 million copies.  Many today still regard it as an astounding piece of literature.

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After graduating from the Yeshiva University, Chaim Potok studied and became ordained as a rabbi in 1954.  In the late 1950's, he began instructing at the University of Judaism. He then earned a Ph.D. in philosophy in 1965. He began working on The Chosen while studying for his doctoral, and it became his first published novel in 1974. He continued writing and most of his books contained a theme of father son relations. Potok passed away in 2002 at the age of 73.

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The Promise is the sequel of the book The Chosen, this sequel builds on Danny and Reuven's career paths and expands on the struggles that Reuven and Danny face on choosing between orthodox or modern Judaism.
D

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The first edition of The Chosen was published on April 28, 1967.

It was made into a movie in 1981.

The Chosen was adapted into an off-Broadway play in 1988 but was closed after a week of performances.

Chaim Potok himself adapted The Chosen into a play in 1999 (premiered at Arden Theater).

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Chaim Potok was born February 17, 1929 in New York City.

His father,  Benjamin Max a Hasid, emmigrated from Poland to the US in 1920.

His mother is a descendant of a great Hasidic dynasty.

He received an orthodox Jewish education and began to write at age 16.

In 1950 he graduated from Yeshiva university with a degree in English literature.

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The Chosen has five epigraphs, two before the novel, and three that come before each of the three books that make up the novel

In the first Epigraph, Danny is represented by a fish on a fishing line struggling to free itself

This represents Danny because he feels trapped in his situation and struggles to get free

The Second epigraph is  about finding true happiness in friendship

This is a clear reference to Danny and Reuvens' friendship, the driving force of the story

The third epigraph is a passage from the book of Proverbs, from the Torah

It is a reference to the importance of father-son relationships in the book

The fourth epigraph is from the Zohar, a commentary on the Torah

The epigraph, which focuses on silence sets up the conflict between Reb and Danny Saunders

The fifth epigraph is very similar to the fourth, except that it is from a different source

this epigraph is also meant to represent the theme of silence and the conflict between Danny and Reb Saunders

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Love is discussed in The Chosen through the friendship of Danny and Reuven,  how David shows his love for Reuven, and how Reb shows his love for Danny.

Religion is another important theme of the book, Reuven wants to become a Rabbi and Danny is going to become a Rabbi through an inherited position, because of this Reuven and Danny spend a lot of their time studying, interpreting, and discussing Jewish texts such as the Talmud.

Education is both valued by Danny & Reuven, both of them show serious dedication to school, also Danny spent his free time reading and learning about psychology.