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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. When Pierre talks to CIncinnatus about the execution, when does he say it is scheduled for?

2. What is the last word that Cincinnatus has to find an additional piece of paper to write?

3. What is displayed at the gathering of the city officials, Pierre, and Cincinnatus?

4. What does Cincinnatus do on the morning of his scheduled execution?

5. What does Rodion bring for the spider?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Cecilia C. ask Marthe for, and what was Marthe's response?

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

3. How does Cincinnatus respond to Pierre's speech?

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

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

6. Describe what happens to Cincinnatus's cell when the tunnel is completed.

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

8. What does Emmie's mother describe as Emmie's last prank before going back to school?

9. What inconsistency in Cecilia C.'s clothes does Cincinnatus point out?

10. What is a nonnon?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Cincinnatus's mother Cecelia C. is one of the few people to visit him in prison. Discuss Cecelia C.'s role in the novel.

1) What is Cincinnatus's attitude toward his mother?

2) Why does Cecelia C. come to see him in prison? What does her attitude toward Cincinnatus seem to be? Why did she abandon her son, and why does she come to see him again?

3) How is Cecelia C.'s visit different from the other visits Cincinnatus receives in prison? How is he similar to his mother? How are they different? What affect does the visit have on Cincinnatus?

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

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)

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