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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Letters 16 - 50.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Madame de Tourvel promise to Madame de Volanges in letter 11?
(a) That she will consider no one's feelings, but her own.
(b) That she will do everything Valmont asks of her.
(c) That she will request that Valmont leave the estate.
(d) That she will treat Valmont coldly.

2. According to Merteuil in letter 10, which pretext do women use to submit to sexual pleasure with a man?
(a) Women come to secret agreements with their lovers.
(b) Women use the excuse of weak-mindedness.
(c) Women allow themselves to be raped.
(d) Women initiate their own seductions.

3. What is the first action Valmont takes to make Madame de Tourvel look favorably upon him?
(a) He disarms a burglar at the estate.
(b) He leaps to his aunt's aid when she falls.
(c) He pays a peasant family's back taxes.
(d) He expresses interest in a position in the Church.

4. What does Cécile think are pretty much the same thing?
(a) Innocence and ignorance.
(b) Friendship and marriage.
(c) Friendship and love.
(d) Sex and love.

5. What euphemism does Merteuil use to refer to her lover?
(a) "Swain."
(b) "Distraction."
(c) "Pastime."
(d) "Knight."

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Valmont contrive to grope the woman he wants to seduce?

2. On what issue does Cécile ask Merteuil's advice in letter 27?

3. What common subjects of social satire is the novel clearly lacking, according to Coward?

4. Why is Cécile unable to go to the opera with Merteuil?

5. What is the name of the school-friend to whom Cécile writes?

(see the answer key)

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