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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who wrote the Publisher's Foreword to _Les Liasons Dangerueses_?
(a) Laclos' wife, Marie-Soulange Duperré.
(b) Choderlos de Laclos.
(c) The owner of the shop in which the book was printed.
(d) The Duke d'Orleans.

2. With what circumstance is Danceny most frustrated?
(a) The inconvenience of being stuck in Paris for business matters.
(b) The weather prevents him from traveling.
(c) Valmont's apparent silence on Danceny and Cécile's affair.
(d) His inability to express his feelings to Cécile.

3. Whom does Merteuil want to manipulate into a relationship with Cécile?
(a) Valmont.
(b) Azolan.
(c) Danceny.
(d) Monsieur de Tourvel.

4. Against whom does Valmont warn Merteuil in letter 70?
(a) Bertram.
(b) Danceny.
(c) Azolan.
(d) Prévan.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What else does David Coward, author of the Introduction, insist is a factor in libertine novels?

2. What literary tradition does Coward see as applicable?

3. What does Merteuil think is Valmont's greatest flaw in his plan of seduction?

4. Why does Valmont think it possible to seduce this woman?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the general contents of Valmont's love letters to Madame de Tourvel?

2. How does Madame de Tourvel respond to Valmont's first love letter?

3. Describe Cécile de Volanges.

4. Describe Cécile's relationship with Merteuil.

5. What does Madame de Volanges say about Valmont to warn Madame de Tourvel against becoming too friendly with him?

6. How does Cécile describe Danceny to her friend Sophie?

7. What event causes Cécile and Danceny to despair? What are the immediate results?

8. How does Madame de Tourvel respond to Madame de Volanges' warning about Valmont?

9. What subterfuge does Valmont use to come into possession of Madame de Tourvel's letters?

10. What does the author of the Introduction say about potential political messages of social commentary in Laclos' novel?

(see the answer keys)

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