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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. To which Shakespeare character does the narrator compare Montejanos, due to his physique and complexion?

2. At whose suggestion does Lisbeth change her appearance?

3. When Crevel goes to Valerie's flat the morning after his revelation to Hulot, whom does he find at the breakfast table with her?

4. How does Hortense react upon learning that Wenceslas has lied to her about his whereabouts?

5. Who is the third man to whom Valerie Marneffe tells he is going to be the father of her child?

Short Essay Questions

1. What publication makes Lisbeth so happy? What event begins a chain of events that will end this happiness?

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

3. What are the three beauty spots that Valerie Marneffe arranges for her first meeting with Wenceslas? What is Wenceslas' impression of Valerie?

4. 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?

5. 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?

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

7. Whom does Hector ask to solve his compromising situation with the Marneffes? What does this character do to help the Baron?

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

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

Discuss the conclusion of Cousin Bette. Does the novel have an open or closed ending? How are the major conflicts resolved? What does this reflect about the message of the text?

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

What is the importance of setting in Cousin Bette? Where do the significant scenes take place? In what time period is the novel set? Why is this significant?

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