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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 disease did the young dauphin likely suffer from?

2. Why did Antoinette continue to refuse to escape from the towers?

3. Who did Antoinette encourage the young dauphin to remember when they were on vacation for the first time since their captivity?

4. How old was Sophie when she died?

5. How old was Marie Therese when she was freed from exile in the towers?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did the young dauphin die?

2. How did the public react to Antoinette's execution?

3. Why was Antoinette nicknamed "Madame Excess"?

4. What was the reaction from the public when they heard that Louis XVI had returned to the throne?

5. What crime was Antoinette convicted of during her trial?

6. How did Antoinette find herself in a position where she had to make important decisions about the French government during the political upheaval?

7. How did the world react to the birth of the new dauphin, Louis Joseph?

8. Why was Marie Antoinette's trial and execution considered to be a historic event?

9. What was life like for Antoinette in the first few months of her imprisonment?

10. How did Antoinette's brother, Leopold, react to the news that Antoinette and her family were imprisoned?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Although marriage was something highly prized in the European courts, infidelity and affairs were commonplace occurrences, particularly with men who took many lovers. First, describe Marie Antoinette's initial reaction to the courtesans present in the French court. What was her response to the news that her husband, Louis XVI, had taken additional lovers? Why was it considered acceptable for a man to have additional lovers while his wife could not? What dangers were present for a queen when her husband took lovers? How did Marie Antoinette avoid these fates during her reign? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

Before Marie Antoinette left her family to move to France, her mother created a long list of rules for her to abide by while living in France. First, list at least five of the rules Maria Teresa expected Marie Antoinette to live by and describe Marie Antoinette's reaction to these rules. Then, describe how Teresa's list of rules affected Marie Antoinette when she arrived in France. Did she actually abide by the rules or did she dismiss them? To what effect? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the book, there are many instances of shocking death, often brought about by illness, that deeply affected Antoinette's life. Choose two examples of shocking deaths in the book and explain how these deaths came about. Then, describe how these deaths impacted Antoinette, both in her personal and political life. Then, explain whether or not you think these deaths could have been avoided, and how. Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

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