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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 point is Camus making through this chapter?

2. What is one aspect of the plague that Dr Rieux considers?

3. What reason does Grand give for his problem?

4. What is Tarrou's response to the ideas in the High Mass sermon?

5. In what city is the story set?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what era is the story set?

2. What does Dr. Rieux muse about in Part 1 Chapter 5?

3. Why is Jean Tarrou important in the story?

4. As described in Chapter 7, what are the first steps taken to deal with the crisis?

5. What is Dr. Rieux worried about in Chapter 2?

6. What is the main function of the city of Oran?

7. What do you think is interesting about Grand?

8. Why is news of the plague kept from the people?

9. How does the relationship between Dr. Rieux and M. Grand develop?

10. What is the problem about the announcements being made about the disease?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the novel, Dr. Rieux has had to deal with scarcely imaginable tragedy in the wider community. At the very end, when he reasonably expected to return to a normal life, he is hit with personal trady in the deaths of his friend Tarrou and then of his beloved wife. Why is Rieux able to survive all this? What ideas and attitudes does the character of Dr. Rieux symbolise? What does he show to us about the human spirit? Write a thoughtful, detailed essay drawing on the novel as a whole.

Essay Topic 2

Weather conditions in Oran are frequently described at important points in the novel. Examine the ways three of these are connected emotionally or thematically with the action and/or characters in the novel.

Essay Topic 3

Some people are of the opinion that the twentieth century produced no greater novel than The Plague. Why do you think people have said this? In your answer, deal with themes and characters.

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