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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. While Cincinnatus meets with his lawyer, who does the prison director inform Cincinnatus is coming?

3. Where is the prison located?

4. In the prison rule number two, what does it say is the prison's pride?

5. What furniture is in Cincinnatus' cell?

Short Essay Questions

1. What reason does Cincinnatus give for needing to know the schedule for his execution?

2. How does Emmie say goodbye to Cincinnatus?

3. What causes Cincinnatus to finally be caught?

4. At Cincinnatus's first meeting with M'sieur Pierre, what happens the first few times M'sieur Pierre asks Cincinnatus a question?

5. In the story that Cincinnatus tells from his childhood, how does he get to the garden?

6. What memory of his wife does Cincinnatus recall in his writing?

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

8. What formula about mortality does Cincinnatus give, which he says applies to everyone?

9. What relatives does Marthe bring with her the first time she visits Cincinnatus in prison?

10. What ring does Cincinnatus describe wearing in his memory from his childhood?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Rodrig and Rodion are the two main representatives of the prison staff in the novel, and throughout the novel, they transform into each other. Discuss the significance of Rodion and Rodrig in the novel.

1) Why are Rodrig and Rodion associated with each other? What do they have in common?

2) What are Rodrig and Rodion's differences? How superficial are these differences?

3) How do Rodrig and Rodion view Cincinnatus? What does Cincinnatus think of the two prison employees? What do they represent in the novel?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Emmie's character becomes a source of hope for Cincinnatus. Discuss Emmie's role in the novel.

1) What qualities does Emmie's character have? What does Cincinnatus assume about Emmie's character? How do his assumptions differ from the reality?

2) How does Emmie represent childhood? What is Cincinnatus's perception of childhood, and how does it affect his view of Emmie?

3) How does Emmie's betrayal of Cincinnatus affect him? How do others view that betrayal?

(see the answer keys)

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