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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 human attitude concerns Rieux?

2. How do people find out about the plague death rate?

3. What is Fr Paneloux's special area of expertise?

4. Why is Rieux called out to treat M. Cottard?

5. This chapter focuses on which character in the novel?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Part 2 Chapter 3, what measure is taken by the town leaders?

2. What is one result of the sudden closing of the city gates?

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

4. Why have telegrams become the main means of contact ordinary people now have with the outside world?

5. Who is Raymond Rambert?

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

7. Which character is very persistent in Part 2 Chapter 5?

8. What literary device does Camus use in Chapter 5 to accentuate meaning?

9. Who is Jean Tarrou?

10. When does the Prefect finally take action?

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

Among The Plague's themes is that of moral choice. Explain what is meant by moral choice. What is moral and what is not moral in the context of the plague at Oran? There is much to admire in Rieux, Tarrou and Grand, but is it possible to sympathize at all with Cottard? Write a thoughtful reflective essay.

Essay Topic 3

'Camus' novel The Plague shows us a hero who isn't exactly heroic.' Do you agree or disagree? What is the conventional idea of 'the hero' and does Dr. Rieux fit in with that idea? Discuss the kinds of heroism depicted in the novel.

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