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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 happened to the letters?

2. About a year after their first meeting, Geoffrey agrees to meet with Ed for what reason?

3. Flaubert, who didn't believe in progress, thought that democracy made people what?

4. What mistake did Enid Starkie make when she published her biography of Flaubert?

5. Why does Geoffrey say that we cannot know everything about the past?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain why Flaubert refers to himself as a bear, and particularly as a white one.

2. Why does Geoffrey think Flaubert might also be compared to a camel?

3. What does Geoffrey say is the difference between internal mistakes in writing literature and external ones?

4. What does Geoffrey mean by this statement which he writes after the stories about the Scottish terrier, "What happened to the truth is not recorded"?

5. How successful was Flaubert during his student days?

6. What does Geoffrey say about coincidences?

7. What is the mystery of the two parrots?

8. Describe Ed Winterton.

9. What was the trick Flaubert planned to play at the Great Pyramid and what was the outcome?

10. What is the plot of "Un coeur simple"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Geoffrey defends Flaubert throughout the book. Given what you have learned about Flaubert, on what points do you think Flaubert deserves to be defended and on what points do you feel he rightly deserves the criticism he was given?

Essay Topic 2

Flaubert's family influenced his life in many ways. Discuss Flaubert's relationship with his mother, his father, and his sister. Include details about the secret he kept from his mother, his father's contributions to his career, and his sister's death.

Essay Topic 3

Geoffrey reveals Ellen's story in full by the end of the book

1) Discuss their relationship, particularly touching on Geoffrey's attitude on Ellen's infidelity and on Ellen's treatment of Geoffrey.

2) Discuss Geoffrey's involvement on his wife's death and comment on his feelings of guilt.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 700 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample