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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 falls from the sky when Cincinnatus goes to bed to read his novel?

2. Who formally announces that Pierre is the executioner?

3. How does Cincinnatus feel when he wakes on the scheduled morning of his execution?

4. Where is the light on Cincinnatus' ceiling placed?

5. Who does Rodrig show Cincinnatus a 'photohoroscope' of?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the plot of Quercus.

2. What does Cincinnatus's letter to Marthe say?

3. What does Pierre do after the party starts breaking up, before heading back to the prison?

4. How does Marthe get permission to come and see Cincinnatus?

5. What does Pierre do, when the party moves outside at the meeting between Cincinnatus, Pierre, and the city officials?

6. What reason does Pierre give Cincinnatus for pretending to be a prisoner?

7. How does Cincinnatus react when Pierre, the director, and the lawyer announce that it is time for his execution?

8. What is on the list of acceptable last requests that Pierre reads?

9. How does Pierre act during his chess game with Cincinnatus?

10. What does Pierre realize that he has forgotten in his speech?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Cincinnatus is unable to hide his difference because of his emotional reaction to Marthe's disloyalty, and during his imprisonment, one of his main concerns is seeing Marthe again. Discuss Marthe's role in the novel.

1) Why does Cincinnatus love Marthe? Why does he believe that he can make a human connection with her? Is Marthe in any way what Cincinnatus wants her to be?

2) Why does Marthe bring her whole family to her first meeting with Cincinnatus during his imprisonment? Why does she visit him a second time? What does her behavior at these visits say about Marthe's personality and character?

3) How does Marthe perceive Cincinnatus's crime and imprisonment?

Essay Topic 2

Many things in the novel are superficial or fake. Discuss the role of superficiality and falseness in the novel.

1) How is superficiality a part of the culture of the novel?

2) What items in Cincinnatus' surroundings such as in his prison and his cell are fake? What do these fake items signify? How does Cincinnatus perceive them?

3) How are the people surrounding Cincinnatus fake? Why does he perceive them as unreal? What would make a person real to Cincinnatus?

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)

This section contains 859 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample