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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. Where does Cincinnatus see Marthe, during his trip to the location of his execution?

2. Why does CIncinnatus ask the guards to stop bringing the paper?

3. What does Cincinnatus say when he learns his mother has come to see him?

4. What does Pierre anoint himself and Cincinnatus with?

5. Who has asked Marthe to marry him?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What happens at the moment of Cincinnatus's execution?

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

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

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

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

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

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

9. How does Rodion act toward Cincinnatus?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 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

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?

(see the answer keys)

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