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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 happens when M'sieur Pierre sits down?

2. What is Cincinnatus allowed to wear at gala performances because of his profession?

3. What does Cincinnatus look at in the library catalog?

4. What does M'sieur Pierre show Cincinnatus?

5. Who turns the cell light out?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Cincinnatus respond to Pierre's story of why he is in prison?

2. What does Cincinnatus describe happening to the world in his dreams?

3. What happens when there start to be complaints about Cincinnatus?

4. What causes Cincinnatus to finally be caught?

5. Besides how long Cincinnatus has until his execution, what else does Cincinnatus want to know from his captors? What is their response?

6. Why does Pierre turn into a circus performer?

7. Describe the view of the surrounding land that Cincinnatus sees.

8. Describe Cincinnatus's walk through the prison staircase.

9. What happens after Cincinnatus goes to bed, the night after the prisoner arrives?

10. How does Marthe's father treat Cincinnatus?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss communication in the novel.

1) Why does Cincinnatus believe he has communicated with whoever he hears digging a tunnel beyond his wall? How does he feel about having communicated? What does he hope to gain through this communication?

2) How does Cincinnatus use his writing to try to communicate? What is he trying to communicate, and to whom?

3) In what other ways does Cincinnatus try to communicate with those around him? What are the obstacles to communication?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the setting of the prison.

1) Why is the prison set high on a mountain? Why is Cincinnatus the only prisoner? Why is it so large and rambling, with confused passages? What does this contribute to the novel?

2) What does Cincinnatus's cell look like? What do the elements in Cincinnatus's cell represent or indicate? How is Cincinnatus's cell different from Pierre's cell?

3) Why do the cell and prison collapse when Cincinnatus is taken away to be executed?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the hope of escape in the novel.

1) How does Cincinnatus interpret the drawings that he finds in the library catalog? How does he interpret the scratching sounds he hears in the wall?

2) Does hope of escape play a role in keeping Cincinnatus in prison? What would be necessary, in order for Cincinnatus to escape?

3) Who does Cincinnatus put his hope into? What does he expect from Emmie, Pierre, or other characters who might help him in some way?

(see the answer keys)

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