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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. How does Valmont's tale of seduction end?
2. How does Cécile generally feel about the prospect of soon being married?
3. What does Madame de Tourvel allow Valmont to do?
4. What literary tradition does Coward see as applicable?
5. What event does Valmont tell Madame de Tourvel secured his love for her?
Short Essay Questions
1. How does Merteuil respond to Valmont's warning?
2. What does Valmont essentially tell Merteuil about their relationship with each other in letter 15?
3. What serious warning does Valmont give Merteuil?
4. Summarize Prévan's "legendary" feat of seduction according to Valmont.
5. What defines or designates the "libertine" literary tradition?
6. Describe Cécile de Volanges.
7. How does Madame de Tourvel respond to Madame de Volanges' warning about Valmont?
8. Describe Cécile's relationship with Merteuil.
9. What is the content of Danceny's letters to Cécile?
10. What subterfuge does Valmont use to come into possession of Madame de Tourvel's letters?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Examine the ending of the novel and the various fates assigned to each character. Does the ending and Madame de Volanges' final message fulfill the "requirements" of a moral novel? Could the endings of, arguably, the two most important characters (Valmont's death and Merteuil's disgrace) be considered "Deus ex machinas?" Why or why not? Do you find any symbolism in each character's fate? Where do ideas of morality and justice emerge from the ending of the novel? Does the ending resolve anything, leave any issues ambiguous, or become undercut by the vastness of the immorality in the novel?
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
Analyze the changes in Cecile's character throughout the novel. What characteristics define her in the beginning, middle, and end of the story? Closely analyze Cécile's letters to Sophie, looking for language and phrasing which indicates how she feels about her relationships with others. This includes her thoughts on marriage, her relationship with her mother, her feelings for Danceny, and her friendship with Merteuil. How does her language and her style of writing help define Cécile's character? Why does she stop writing to Sophie? Why is Cécile's voice almost completely absent through the last portions of the novel? What does this conspicuous absence say about her identity, or lack thereof? What control, if any, does Cécile retain over her own life? How does she use this control, or how do others (specifically Valmont) control her?
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This section contains 1,071 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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