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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. Which prominent citizen joins the volunteers?

2. What does the Prefect order?

3. What reason does Rieux give for writing his tale of the plague in Oran?

4. Why are individual burials dispensed with?

5. What is Rieux's reaction to Rambert's plans?

Short Essay Questions

1. Do you think Dr. Castel's serum is likely to be of help?

2. In what way is Cottard shown to be different from other characters in The Plague?

3. What is the effect of the child's death upon the other characters?

4. In Part 4 Chapter 3, what is the situation regarding the plague serum?

5. Account for the difference tenor and content of Fr Paneloux's new sermon, compared with that he gave at the conclusion of the Week of Prayer.

6. What is the situation in the camps for people in quarantine?

7. What do you think has led Dr. Rieux to unburden himself to Grand?

8. What changes does the plague seem to be undergoing?

9. What is the reason for Rambert's decision?

10. What gives the people cause for hope in Part 5 Chapter 1?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How important is character in this novel? Explain your views, referring closely to the text and focusing in depth on two characters.

Essay Topic 2

Choose two characters from the novel, one appealing, the other not so. Compare and contrast these two characters, referring closely to the text.

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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