'The Fiddler on the Roof': Who Said So? Quiz

Answer: Tevye

When Motel (the tailor) and Tzeitel were begging Tevye to let them marry, Tevye said that Motel is only a poor tailor. It was a hard decision for Tevye, with Motel being so poor. The rich Lazar Wolf wanted Tzeitel's hand in marriage, so you can only imagine what Tevye was thinking. Tevye, being a good father, let Tzeitel marry Motel, the man she loved.

Answer: Motel Kumzoil

Motel was asking Tevye for Tzeitel's hand in marriage, and so described it. He is a tailor, after all. Tevye shouted at Motel, "Stop talking like a tailor and tell me who is it!". (Meaning, who is the match.) Tevye gave them his permission to marry.

Answer: Perchik

Perchik and Hodel were having an argument. Hodel was accusing Perchik of being too modern, while Perchik was accusing Hodel of being too old-fashioned. Perchik ended the argument by saying "Did you know, in the city, boys and girls can be affectionate without the permission of a matchmaker?" and made Hodel dance with him. In the future, they ended up getting married.

Answer: Hodel

This is where Hodel accused Perchik of being too modern. In fact, the next part is "But that is too traditional for an advanced thinker like you!". Perchik mocked her and then made her dance with him. They realized their feelings, and eventually got married.

Answer: Golde

Tzeitel and her mother Golde were talking about Yente the matchmaker. Tzeitel didn't like any of the men she brought. That's because she was in love with Motel the tailor!

Yente had suggested a bald man for Tzeitel, and Tzeitel didn't like it so she complained and then Golde told her to marry a monkey if she wants hair. The reasoning behind what Golde said was that they were poor and were going to have to appreciate the husbands that would accept them.

Answer: Lazar Wolf

Lazar Wolf announced this to his friends after Tevye granted him permission to marry Tzeitel. Tevye, Lazar, and their friends made merry and drank all night. In the morning, when Tevye told Tzeitel the news, she had a breakdown. When he saw how unhappy she was, Tevye let Tzeitel marry her sweetheart, Motel, instead of Lazar Wolf.

Answer: Yente

Yente and Golde were talking about a husband for Tzeitel. Yente said that Lazar Wolf the butcher wanted to marry Tzeitel. Golde said that Tevye didn't like the butcher. So that Yente said "Good, so Lazar won't marry him. He wants the daughter, not the father."

Answer: Fyedka

A few gentile men harassed Chavah (Tevye's daughter), then Fyedka came and told them to stop. He then introduced himself (quoted in question text) to Chavah and lent her a book. This was the start of a friendship which ended in Chavah and Fyedka eloping and Chavah being disowned by Tevye.

Answer: Chavah

Tevye was concerned about Chavah and Fyedka's friendship. He told Chavah to remember who she is (meaning a Jew) and who "that man is" (meaning a Christian). Chavah said that his name is Fyedka, and Tevye said "Every creature has a name". Chavah's answer is quoted in the question text.

Answer: Tzeitel

After Hodel and Chavah sang the matchmaker song, and daydreamed about the men of their dreams, Tzeitel told them to stop dreaming and to realize that the men Yente brought aren't attractive or nice. She first teased Chavah (quoted in question text) and asked Hodel about her infatuation with the Rabbi's son.

At the end of the scene, all three girls stop dreaming and hope Yente won't find them a bad match. Ironically, they all arranged their own marriages. Tzeitel got Motel, Hodel got Perchik, and Chavah got Fyedka.