Compare and contrast Tevye with the main character in Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage. Both face the challenges of surviving in difficult times and harsh environments. Emphasize their efforts to support and guide their children.

Investigate the history of Jews in Russia at the turn of the century. Why was tradition—a key theme in Fiddler on the Roof—so crucial to their way of life?

Read the short stories by Sholem Aleichem (1894’s Tevye and His Daughters) that inspired Fiddler on the Roof. How does the short story format influence the storytelling? How are the narratives presented differently on stage?

The title image and central metaphor of Fiddler on the Roof—the fiddler himself—originates from a painting by Marc Chagall. Explore Chagall’s background and his stylistic concerns as an artist. Compare and contrast Chagall’s work with Stein’s play and its themes.