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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. In Book III, Stanza 5, who attacks the prostitute?

2. In Book I, Stanza 6, what does Maldoror say has the sweetest taste?

3. Why does Maldoror send away the beautiful girl in Book II, Stanza 13?

4. In Book III, Stanza 5, what greets Maldoror at the door of the brothel?

5. Why does Maldoror symbolically to heaven in the form of an octopus?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Maldoror react to the sharks who swarm the capsized ship in Book II, Stanza 13?

2. At the end of Book II, what does the narrator say his poem might cause?

3. What does Maldoror say about the ten-year old girl who used to follow him?

4. In Book I Stanza 5, what is the first thing Maldoror tells the reader?

5. In Book II, Stanza 15, what does Maldoror do when he finds himself at odds with conscience?

6. What does Maldoror do after watching the family eat dinner in Book I, Stanza 11?

7. What happens when Maldoror addresses the lamp hanging in a cathedral?

8. What does the child chasing the horse-drawn bus make Maldoror think of?

9. What happens to God when He passes out drunk on earth?

10. In Book II, what happens to the narrator when he tries to write?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Define the term symbolism. Discuss at least three uses of symbolism throughout this poem and how the symbols effectively portray the theme.

Essay Topic 2

How is success defined in this poem? How is the search for success a theme? Give specific examples from the poem to support your position.

Essay Topic 3

Explore the theme of morality in this poem. What is Lautréamont's message? Give examples from the poem to support your statements about morality.

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