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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 Celine's "Rigadoon," the work of the writer is compared to the patience of what?

2. About how long has Celine been dead when this book was written?

3. Kristeva quotes Celine as saying slang is a language of what?

4. What does Kristeva say Celine's depictions of females all lean toward?

5. What is Celine's character Molly's occupation?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why might Kristeva say many of Celine's stylistic choices be called anti-linguistic or anti-grammatical?

2. Why does Kristeva say it is rash to ignore any value one might find in the Anti-Semitism in Celine's work?

3. What does Kristeva say makes literature "abject"?

4. How does Kristeva say Celine's depictions of females relate to the abject?

5. How does Kristeva say Celine displaced the mother in his depiction of very young girls?

6. Explain how Kristeva says Celine used grotesque acts in his works.

7. How does Kristeva say the hatred of Jews act as a metaphor for the abject?

8. How does Kristeva say Celine's work represents the division caused by economic inequality?

9. Describe Celine's mother type of character.

10. How did Celine use strong women in his works?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Celine's views on human suffering and Kristeva's interpretation of this. Why did he believe that to be human is to suffer? How does Kristeva relate this sentiment to the abject? How does she then relate suffering to horror? What does she say man is afraid of? How do these feelings unify people?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the role of Sigmund Freud in the book. How does Kristeva make use of his ideas? How do her ideas relate to his? How are they different? Describe two instances where she explains his view on a subject and expands upon it.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the motif of incest in the book. Why do you think Kristeva spends so much time on this topic? Why does she say there is such a taboo around incest? How does it relate to the abject? What does she seem to think about this taboo?

(see the answer keys)

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