View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the director doing when Rodion brings Cincinnatus back to his cell from the new prisoner's cell?

2. What does Cincinnatus tell the lawyer is not real?

3. What is the weather like the day that Cincinnatus receives the letter?

4. What is Cincinnatus's first job?

5. What time does Rodrig Ivanovich appear?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. After telling his "joke," what does Pierre say about how Cincinnatus looks?

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

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

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

6. What does Emmie do with the books in Cincinnatus' cell?

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

8. What is the new prisoner doing when Cincinnatus walks past his cell after meeting Emmie in the hallway?

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

10. How do all the prison guards react to the new prisoner?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Pierre is an important element in the novel and a representative of the forces of society that are destroying Cincinnatus. Discus Pierre's character, his attitudes, and his reactions.

1) Why does Pierre present himself as a prisoner and try to become Cincinnatus' friend? How does Pierre view his relationship with Cincinnatus?

2) What does Pierre think of himself and his position in society? How does he promote himself? How does he use language and cultural dictates to create "truth?"

3) What elements of Cincinnatus's psyche does Pierre represent?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 813 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample