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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. Who enters the cell after Cincinnatus undresses at the end of his second day in prison, snapping Cincinnatus's world back to normal?

2. What does Cincinnatus have to eat when Emmie comes into his cell?

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

4. Who is waiting for Cincinnatus in his prison cell?

5. What does Cincinnatus do when he undresses at the end of his second day in prison?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do the lawyer, the prison director, and Rodion characterize Cincinnatus' behavior?

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

3. What does Emmie do with the water jug in Cincinnatus' cell?

4. What does Cincinnatus hope to get out of seeing Marthe?

5. What does Pierre say about himself?

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

7. Describe Cincinnatus's early days with his wife.

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

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

10. What does Cincinnatus at first mistake for a window?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The novel revolves around Cincinnatus's persecution for a crime, but his crime is never clearly explained. Discuss the nature of Cincinnatus's crime.

1) What does "gnostic turpitude" mean? How does this phrase describe Cincinnatus' crime?

2) What does the episode in Cincinnatus's childhood when he walks in the air reveal about Cincinnatus' crime?

3) How do the other characters react to Cincinnatus' crime and what does this reveal about the nature of the crime? What is Cincinnatus's own attitude, and why won't he repent?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the importance of the librarian in the novel.

1) What does the librarian's job say about him?

2) How does the librarian react to the other characters and the culture that surrounds him? How does he react to Pierre and the prison director?

3) Why does Cincinnatus try to communicate and make a connection with the librarian near the end of the novel? What does the librarian's reaction say about him? What is the librarian's reaction at the beheading, and what does this indicate?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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