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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. How many members of the Maheu family work in the mines?

2. Why does Chaval almost instantly dislike Etienne?

3. How old is Etienne Lantier?

4. Where does Chaval go when the miners strike?

5. Where does La Maheude go to ask for help?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Lantier create for the miners to join and what is one of his first projects?

2. What happens to the strike of the miners as time goes by?

3. What do the miners do once the visitors leave?

4. What happens to Etienne as he works in the mines, as far as his job is concerned?

5. Describe Léon Grégoire and his life.

6. Why is it almost impossible by February for the miners to continue the strike?

7. How does Etienne's move affect his relationship with Catherine?

8. In what type of situation does Bonnemort live?

9. Souvarine and Etienne have a discussion after the tragedy of the shooting. What do they talk about and what does Souvarine do?

10. What do the Jean-Bart miners face on the surface?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the end, the idealist Étienne Lantier traversed the world of the Voreux and though accomplished little in terms of actual gains, he left the miners with a will to fight; the seed of this may eventually grow and burst again through the infertile ground of the mining pit.

1. Do you think this book ended with any shred of hope? Why or why not?

2. If you had been a miner in this situation do you think you would try again? Why or why not?

Use examples from the book to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Pluchart, Lantier's friend and the director of the International for the district, represents the unions and their self-serving attitude.

1. How does the behavior of the union support this statement?

2. Do you think the miners would have been better off if the union had never become involved in their lives? Why or Why not?

3. Do you think unions have a function in today's work world in consideration of all the labor laws? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The third section of the novel draws a portrait of the events that lead the miners to go on strike. It also shows the evolution of Étienne Lantier's political ideas.

1. What do you see as the stages in the evolution of Lantier's thinking from sympathy with the miners to action?

2. How might Etienne Lantier's own weaknesses have pushed him to organize the miners?

3. How did his strengths help him?

Use examples from the book to support your opinions.

(see the answer keys)

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