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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 piece of art created by Wenceslas is generating extreme criticism from his fellow artists, including Stidman?

2. With whom does Wenceslas claim to be dining while he is at Valerie Marneffe's house?

3. Where does Valerie mention having seen Wenceslas in person before their first formal meeting in her house?

4. What circumstances led to Stidman's introduction to Valerie in the Rue Vaneau?

5. How much does Crevel agree to pay for a copy of the silver group ordered by Valerie?

Short Essay Questions

1. What has happened to Wenceslas professionally in the three years since he has married Hortense? To what is this change attributed?

2. Who interrupts Valerie and Hector during their clandestine meeting in Crevel's love nest? By whom is this character accompanied? What does this character tell the Baron about Valerie Marneffe and her husband?

3. In his letter to the Baron, what does Johann Fischer ask for? What is his plan if Hector cannot help him?

4. After their initial clandestine meetings, what message does Hector receive in the form of a letter from Valerie? What reason does she give for a change of plans? What is the real reason?

5. What problem with her husband does Valerie alert Hector to in a letter? What solution does she suggest to this predicament? How does Hector respond to this suggestion?

6. What news is in the letter to Wenceslas from Valerie? What plan does she concoct for the interception of the letter and why?

7. How does Valerie use her pregnancy to benefit financially and socially? Which men are affected by this news?

8. When he returns home after speaking to Valerie about the impossibility of Marneffe's promotion, what does Hector catch Adeline doing? With what intention did he return to his family that evening?

9. What does Adeline advise Hortense to do after her first quarrel with Wenceslas over Valerie Marneffe? What does Adeline reveal to her daughter about her own marriage?

10. What happens when Hector goes to visit Valerie after he receives her letter? How does he receive a message from her and what is communicated?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Money has a significant role throughout Cousin Bette. Give three examples from the novel in which money significantly alters the plot of the novel and directly affects the protagonist. How is money a characteristic of the Realist novel?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the narrator of Cousin Bette. In what mode is the story narrated? How does this affect the major themes of the novel? How does the narrator relate to literary realism?

Essay Topic 3

Foreshadowing is an important device employed in Cousin Bette. How does the author employ this device? What purpose does it serve? Use three specific examples from the text.

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