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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 worries Mr. Pontellier about this situation?

2. What does Mademoiselle Reisz say is essential to becoming a true artist?

3. What does Edna promise before leaving?

4. Edna tells Robert that he:

5. Why does Mr. Pontellier not try to persuade Edna to go to the wedding?

Short Essay Questions

1. Are Robert Lebrun and Alcee Arobin alike? Or are they dramatically different from one another?

2. Is the dinner party a grand affair?

3. Why does Edna feel strong and confident in the pigeon-house?

4. Did the author give any warning that this love affair might not end happily?

5. Why does Mr. Pontellier talk to Dr. Mandelet about Edna? Why can he not talk to his wife himself?

6. Why does the photo of Alcee Arobin upset Robert so much when he goes back to the pigeon-house with her?

7. Is Leonce at all worried about the breakup of his marriage emotionally? Is he making arrangements to hide his real feelings?

8. Why does Madame Ratignolle urge Edna to think of her children?

9. Do you think Edna's feelings were Robert were genuine?

10. After her disappointing evening with Robert, what does Edna initially do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does the author depict Edna's sense of being suffocated by the cultural restrictions on women in the 19th century? Do you think it is a fair assessment of how women lived during that time?

Essay Topic 2

Although Mademoiselle Reisz is not a lifelong friend or acquaintance, how does she quickly become close with Edna? Why is she an important person in Edna's life? Why is she a critical character in this entire story?

Essay Topic 3

Edna could have insisted that Robert come with her to the Ratignolle's house but did not. If they had gone together, would they have had a chance at a lifetime of happiness, or, were they doomed no matter what?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 970 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample