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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 Wenceslas produce in the early part of his marriage in addition to and contrasting with the statue he has been hired to design by the Prince of Wissembourg?

2. Who intercepts the letter that Valerie writes to Wenceslas?

3. What does Baron Hulot agree to provide for Valerie Marneffe's second child?

4. How do Crevel and Hulot feel about Montejanos' arrival?

5. What does Monsieur Marneffe do when Hector tries to enter his house after receiving Valerie's letter?

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

2. 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?

3. In whom does Hector confide his devastation about Valerie? What is this character's response?

4. What proof of Wenceslas' infidelity does Hortense receive? What does she decide to do after she receives this proof and why?

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

6. What solution does Bette give for Hortense and Wenceslas' money troubles? Why does Hortense object to this solution?

7. What plan does Adeline conceive to save her uncle? What is the outcome?

8. 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?

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. Besides the news of the embezzlement scheme in the newspaper, what other news item is featured in the Revue des Beaux-Arts? What is Hortense's reaction to this item?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the role of women in Cousin Bette? Compare and contrast the roles of Lisbeth and Valerie Marneffe to those of Adeline and Hortense. In what ways are their roles similar? How are they different?

Essay Topic 2

What elements of Cousin Bette characterize this work as a Realist novel? How does this work exemplify literary realism? Give two specific examples from the text.

Essay Topic 3

Pride is a significant theme in Cousin Bette. What is the message conveyed about pride in this novel? Use specific examples from the text to support your answer.

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