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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 opening up to Madame Ratignolle do for Edna?

2. What does Madame Ratignolle beg Robert to do?

3. What happens to Edna at the service?

4. Does Mademoiselle Reisz's performance affect anyone else?

5. How does Madame Ratignolle explain the behavior of the Lebruns?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Edna cry so hard after her husband scolds her for being what he considers a neglectful mother?

2. Before Edna visits the Ratignolles, she is consumed by thoughts of Robert. Is she obsessed? Infatuated? Are her feelings genuine?

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

4. How does Chopin use foreshadowing in this chapter to warn of events to come?

5. Why does Edna throw such a violent fit after Leonce takes off to have dinner at the club?

6. What do you think the author means when she says Edna was beginning to understand her place in the universe as a woman and as a human being?

7. Edna and Adele grow close. How are they different?

8. Is Leonce at all upset that his wife has been away with another man?

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

10. Given all of the time and attention and affection from Robert and now his sudden departure, what kind of person is he? Do you think he is different from the man you first read about? Has he been deceptive? Is he fearful?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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

Essay Topic 2

Dr. Mandelet is also an important character in this story. Why? Why does Leonce feel more at ease opening up about his marital problems with the doctor than confronting Edna directly about their difficulties?

Essay Topic 3

The story begins at Grand Isle and ends there. Why?

(see the answer keys)

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