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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 did the person whom Valmont sent to Madame de Tourvel do?

2. What does the unsigned note to Danceny communicate?

3. What does Merteuil advise Madame de Volanges regarding Cécile?

4. What event not directly described in the novel weighs heavily on Merteuil's mind?

5. What does Madame de Tourvel reveal to Valmont in letter 90?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What does Valmont vow about his seduction of Madame de Tourvel, and how does he plan to carry out his plan?

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

5. How does Merteuil respond to Cécile's news about Valmont's actions?

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

7. Describe Merteuil's end in the novel.

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

9. How does Valmont manipulate Cécile and Danceny's relationship?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

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?

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