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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who intervenes at the Hennebearus' to save Cécile?

2. Why do the miners organize a meeting in the forest?

3. By January, what problem do the striking miners face?

4. What happens when the Borains arrive at the mine to work?

5. Where does Lantier hide?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Grégoire summarizes the entire position of the typical bourgeois.

1. What do you see as his position?

2. What parts of Gregoire's position do you believe is true? What parts do you see as false?

3. Do you believe the wealthy class in America today would agree with Gregoire's position on the miners? Why or why not?

Use examples from the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

The first chapter also introduces the "monster," which is the huge cone-like structure set over the pit that is described as a beast ready to eat the men that slave for it.

1. How did you feel about the mine from the way Zola described it?

2. Using metaphors and analogy describe the mine as Zola sees it.

3. Why do you think Zola used metaphors in his descriptions?

Essay Topic 3

The army is now occupying Montsou, which means that the miners are powerless, a situation which fuels even more ambivalent anger.

1. How do you think powerlessness engenders anger?

2. What are alternatives to anger to deal with powerlessness?

3. Do you believe the anger seen in some civil rights groups in the 1960s in America stemmed from feeling powerless? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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