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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 does Madame de Tourvel send to Madame de Rosemonde?

2. How did Merteuil approach sex on her wedding night?

3. How does Cécile respond to Merteuil's advice about her relationship with Valmont?

4. How does Merteuil think of Madame de Tourvel?

5. By letter 148, whom has Danceny taken as a lover?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Danceny explain his behavior to Madame de Rosemonde?

2. Summarize Bertrand's letters to Madame de Rosemonde.

3. How did Merteuil develop into a master manipulator?

4. Summarize the problem Madame de Tourvel sees preventing her and Valmont from having a relationship, and how Valmont circumvents her hesitation.

5. What happens between Valmont and Madame de Tourvel that shocks and angers Valmont, and why does he react so strongly?

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

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

8. How does Madame de Volanges respond to Cécile's depression?

9. What subterfuge does Valmont suggest to Cécile in order to get Danceny's letters to her?

10. How does Valmont thwart Merteuil with regards to Danceny?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Discuss the types of mediation present in the novel. This could include: characters who mediate other characters' thoughts, actions, and feelings; the "editor" of the novel mediating the reader's interaction with the story by his arrangement of letters and placement and wording of notes; and plot itself being mediated through the letters. In some instances, the plot twists back upon itself, repeats itself, or offered through different perspectives. What is the effect and significance of such mediation on the themes, symbolism, character development, and the response of the reader?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the role that religion, church, and the clergy have in the novel. How does each character treat, refer to, or interact with religion, faith and morality? Explain the reasoning behind the following categorizations of the main characters, based upon the characters' views on, or influence from, religion: Merteuil and Valmont; Madames de Rosemonde, de Volanges, and de Tourvel; Cécile and Danceny.

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