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

Short Answer Questions

1. Why do the foreigners at the inn come to Venice?

2. What does Cacambo say Cunégonde and the old woman are doing in Chapter 27?

3. How does Senator Pococurante treat his female servants?

4. What is the cause of the gunfire that Candide and Martin hear while they are on the ship?

5. Which group of people captures Candide and Cacambo, binds them, and threatens to eat them?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the role of romantic relationships in the novel for the following couples:

- Paquette and Brother Giroflée

- Cunégonde and Candide

- Cunégonde and the Governor

- Martin and his wife

Are any of the relationships truly happy? Do the relationships seem more superficial or do they represent "true love?"

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the novel, many characters are reintroduced even after their death is witnessed or described. Write an essay explaining how the false deaths of these characters affect the plot as a whole. Consider which characters were thought to have died. Is the choice of these characters significant? What role do these characters play in their appearances before and after their false deaths?

Essay Topic 3

Sometimes authors choose to use the characters in a novel to express their distaste or support of a particular person or social movement. Historically do you think Candide represented a particular person or movement? Why or why not? How does Voltaire use his novel as a social criticism? Do you think Voltaire is critical of a specific social movement or of society in general? Why?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 345 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample