Lautréamont's Maldoror: Translated by Alexis Lykiard | Short Essay Assignments

Short Essay Questions

The 60 short essay questions listed in this section require a one to two sentence answer. They ask students to demonstrate a deeper understanding of the text. Students must describe what they've read, rather than just recall it.

Short Essay Question - Book I, Stanzas 1-9

1. What does the narrator warn the reader about before Maldoror's story begins?

2. What happens to Maldoror when he realizes he was born evil?

3. In Book I Stanza 5, what is the first thing Maldoror tells the reader?

4. In Book I, Stanza 6, what does Maldoror suggest people do to children?

5. In Book 1, Stanza 8, why does Maldoror say he is like dogs?

6. Why does Maldoror feel the ocean is superior to humanity?