Major Issues
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Essay Questions

Major Issues

Isaac Bashevis Singer is hailed as an important fictional chronicler of Jewish life, both contemporary and past, American and European. Critics have discussed his thematic exploration of the dark underside of human passions. His portrayal of human depravity and erotic sexuality has provoked both negative and positive critical responses. Scholars have also discussed his symbolic use of female stock characters, such as "the political radical" and "the cultured intellectual." Singer’s innovative blending of fictional modes, such as the supernatural and the realistic, has intrigued critics, as has his imaginative retelling of historical events. The confessional monologue is the narratorial strategy favored by Singer in many of his works.

Author Links

Isaac Bashevis Singer
This bio-critical introduction focuses on the impact of Singer’s Jewish faith on his life and literary works.

More on Isaac Bashevis Singer
Reviews of Singer’s works and articles on Singer from The New York Times archives.

Nobel Lecture
Transcript of Singer’s lecture upon receipt of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1978.

Master in the Shadows
A 1998 "Salon" interview in which Singer comments on free will, destiny, good and evil, and his belief in God.

Singer’s Death
Obituary and biographical profile from the Boston Globe.