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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Madame Ratignolle think of the Mexicans?

2. What does Edna call the piece she often hears Mademoiselle Reisz play?

3. Over whom did Victor and Robert once fight?

4. What does Madame Ratignolle beg Robert to do?

5. What does Mr. Pontellier send home to his wife while he is away?

Short Essay Questions

1. If Edna were to tell Leonce how she really felt, would he understand? Would he listen? How would she tell him so it would get through to him?

2. Why do you think Robert manages to get Mademoiselle Reisz to play for Edna?

3. What is the first impression the author gives of Mrs. Pontellier?

4. Robert talks about his mother, Mrs. Lebrun. What does his mother do at the Grande Isle?

5. Despite growing closer to Adele, why does Edna still not reveal her thoughts to Adele?

6. Describe Edna's feelings when she learns Robert is leaving for Mexico.

7. Is Edna taking a big risk by going to the Lebrun house to find Mademoiselle Reisz's address?

8. Why does Edna leave the Ratignolles in a depressed rather than a happy state of mind?

9. What is the first impression the author gives of Mr. Pontellier?

10. The author says that Edna's will had blazed up. However, Leonce has a strong will, too. What is going on in this chapter? How is the Pontellier marriage changing?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does Alcee call Edna's new home the "pigeon-house"? Is the term symbolic in any way?

Essay Topic 2

Is The Awakening a proper title for this novel? If you could name it something else, what would you name it and why?

Essay Topic 3

At one point, Edna says that "Her marriage to Leonce Pontellier was purely an accident." Why?

(see the answer keys)

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