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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 city does Emma dream of visiting by tracing maps of it?

2. What is an early routine that Charles and Emma establish as newlyweds?

3. How many different beds does Emma realize that she has slept in during her short life?

4. Why does Rodolphe suggest that Emma should begin horseback riding with him?

5. What do the Bovarys discover about their new home?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Emma seek refuge at the home of Mère Rollet in Part 2: Chapter 7?

2. In Chapter 2, Emma is introduced to the reader. How is she described?

3. What are some details about Emma's ideal wedding in Chapter 3 that seem a bit eccentric or unusual?

4. How are Léon and Emma like honeymooners in Part 3: Chapter 3?

5. How has Emma's reputation been ruined by Part 3: Chapter 6?

6. Emma goes back and forth between passionate elation at her affair and guilt over betraying Charles in Part 2: Chapter 10. Why do you think she continues her affair with Rodolphe?

7. What specifically does Charles do to help Emma recover that shows his true devotion to his wife in Part 2: Chapter 13?

8. Do you think that Emma's suicide attempt in Part 2: Chapter 13 is a sign of her true love and devotion for Rodolphe or of disappointment in the the realization that her dream of a better life is over?

9. In Chapter 1, what clues are given that Charles Bovary is a member of the middle class and is considered an "ordinary" person?

10. What are some of the clichés that the dignitaries use who speak at the agricultural show in Part 2: Chapter 8?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Imagine Emma survived her overdose on arsenic. What do you imagine she would have done? How would she have explained her predicament to Charles and solved her financial problems? Would any of the townspeople or her family members come to her aid? Use examples from the novel to support your hypothesis.

Essay Topic 2

Bovarism describes an attitude of self-indulgence and hedonism that is self-destructive. Obviously, Emma's character is the inspiration for this name. Can bovarism ever be positive? Did any of Emma's behaviors and actions ever help others or leave positive effects or consequences? Explain using examples from the text.

Essay Topic 3

Charles, Rodolphe, and Léon embody three very different types of man, all of whom play into Emma's needs in some way. Describe each of Emma's partners and what she initially finds attractive about them. What is it about each of them that she finds irritating or banal? Can you see any similarities in the three?

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