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

2. What does Danceny refuse to do, despite Madame de Volanges' request?

3. What does Danceny's letter 28 accuse Cécile of?

4. With whom does Valmont conspire to trick and humiliate a new acquaintance?

5. What idea does Merteuil plant in Cécile's head after the revelation of her and Danceny's love?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the Editor state in the Editor's Preface?

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

3. How does Merteuil respond to Valmont's warning?

4. How does Cécile describe her feelings about Danceny to Sophie in letter 55?

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

6. What was the general response to _Les Liaisons Dangereuses_ in the 20th century?

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

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

9. What causes Cécile to become worried and sad about her upcoming marriage?

10. Who is Merteuil's "knight," and what does she think of him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the different writing styles of various main characters: Cécile, Danceny, Valmont, Merteuil, Madame de Tourvel, Madame de Rosemonde, and Madame de Volanges. Are any character's style or styles of writing distinct in any way? What type of language, or what tone, is most associated with each character? To what subjects do these characters refer in their letters? How do their styles of writing contribute to the development of their characters? How do their different styles of writing contribute to the "theatricality" of the novel, to its pace, and to the audience's perception of the work?

Essay Topic 2

Does Merteuil and Valmont's relationship through letter writing become a stand-in for having a real sexual relationship, or even being in love? What is the significance of them never meeting face-to-face within the confines of the book? Does Merteuil subtly seduce Valmont through the entire novel? What does she lead him to believe? What promise or contract between them does Valmont continually remind her of? How does their sexual tension contribute to the breaking of their relationship late in the novel? How does their relationship change throughout the course of the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Examine the aspect of Valmont's character that has to do with his feelings for Madame de Tourvel and his feelings for Merteuil. What does he profess to feel for them both, and what does it seem that he actually feels? How does he use language and tone to express these feelings to them and about them? What do his actions around each woman, or having to do with each woman, say about his real feelings for them? Discuss this aspect of Valmont's character as a function of the tension between public and private morality and persona.

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