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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 11, Chapter 3 - Popular - Festive Forms.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How is the figure of the king treated in Rabelais' writing?
(a) Like a clown: beaten, travestied, and transformed.
(b) Like a child: pampered, sheltered, and beloved.
(c) Like a god: worshipped, feared, and obeyed.
(d) Like a criminal: charged, tried, and punished.

2. How does Rabelais accomplish the grotesque degradation of his target in the prologue to the Third Book?
(a) By declaring the targets incapable of the basest bodily functions.
(b) By declaring the targets to be empty-headed.
(c) By accusing the targets of paganism and crimes against the Church.
(d) By insulting the targets' mothers.

3. What are the "Catchpoles" of which Rabelais writes?
(a) Vegetables which require being strung to a pole in order to grow.
(b) Materials used to build large meeting-houses.
(c) Animals sent into the wild as sacrifices.
(d) People who earn money by allowing others to beat them.

4. How does the Lord of Basche contrive to bring Catchpoles to his castle?
(a) By celebrating mock weddings.
(b) By celebrating Mass.
(c) By offering people absolution from their sins.
(d) By giving away his possessions.

5. Why does Bakhtin consider oaths, curses, and profanities elements of freedom?
(a) Populist uprisings often have profanities and oaths in their declarations.
(b) They are contrary to official modes of speech.
(c) Slaves are prohibited from using such forms of speech.
(d) A person can form any sound into a curse or profanity.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Bakhtin, what is the function of art?

2. What are the "intelligentsia"?

3. Why, according to Bakhtin, does Rabelais treat excrement ambivalently?

4. What does Bakhtin assert is evident in Rabelais' use of games that combine play and prophecy?

5. What does young Gargantua study in order to become acquainted with the common folk?

(see the answer key)

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