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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. Which category of women does Merteuil consider the most worthwhile?

2. How does Madame de Rosemonde respond to Madame de Tourvel's news concerning herself and Valmont?

3. Why has Merteuil never remarried?

4. What does Danceny entrust to Madame de Rosemonde?

5. Who is Valmont's valet?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Merteuil's end in the novel.

2. Summarize the content of the "letter" that Merteuil dictates to Valmont about his apparent love of Madame de Tourvel.

3. Describe what Valmont does when he gets the key to Cécile's room.

4. What is Merteuil's next plan for seduction? How does Valmont react?

5. Describe Merteuil's warning to Valmont about his reputation in Paris.

6. Summarize Merteuil's tale of her ruination of Prévan's.

7. What news of Valmont does Madame de Rosemonde give Madame de Tourvel, and how does Madame de Tourvel react?

8. Whom does Valmont enlist to help him communicate and meet with Madame de Tourvel? How does this person respond?

9. What is Madame de Rosemonde's advice to Madame de Tourvel regarding her feelings for Valmont?

10. What event causes Madame de Tourvel to think Valmont does not love her? How does Valmont's respond?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Discuss the theme of innocence in the novel. How does the author describe "innocence" or "ignorance" and what connotations are attached to these words or ideas? In the novel, is innocence automatically ignorance? Who is impressionable in the novel?How do other characters take advantage of this? Which characters act innocent or ignorant in the novel? Are Madame de Volanges, Madame de Tourvel, and/or Madame de Rosemonde "innocents," in any way? What becomes of Cécile and Danceny's innocence? How are innocence and experience opposed in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

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?

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