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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 "Guermantes Way, Part I continued," what does the grandmother take for pain?

2. In Balbec, what do some of the ladies at the hotel doubt about the Marquis and the Princess?

3. How does Francoise feel about leaving Balbec in "Seascape, with Frieze of Girls"?

4. What does Alix think of Mme. de Villeparisis's picture of the Duchesse?

5. How does the narrator's father believe Mme. de Villeparisis will be able to inspire the narrator's writing?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the narrator feel before leaving for his trip to Balbec?

2. What happens in "Guermantes Way, Part I" when the narrator's grandmother becomes ill?

3. What happens when Mme. Swann arrives at Mme. de Villeparisis's party?

4. What happens when the narrator runs into Professor E in "Guermantes Way, Part I continued"?

5. When visiting Elstir's studio in Balbec, why does the narrator want to go to the beach?

6. While in Balbec, how does Francoise react to Mme. de Villeparisis?

7. Why does the narrator want Saint-Loup to talk to Mme. Guermantes in "Guermantes Way, Part I"?

8. What argument does the narrator get into with Bloch in Balbec?

9. How does M. de Charlus feel about the narrator's grandmother in "Place-Names: The Place, Part II"?

10. What happens the first time the narrator sees the group of six girls in "Seascap, with Frieze of Girls"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Illness is a major part of the narrator's life and the lives of several other characters. How are these illnesses used to develop the plot and characters? What do the illnesses represent? Why does the author used illness in these situations?

Essay Topic 2

How are doctors viewed by the characters in this novel? What leads to the success of a doctor? How do the doctors in this novel affect their patients and patient's families? What images are often evoked when doctors are part of the scene? What message is the author delivering about the field of medicine in this novel?

Essay Topic 3

Mme. Swann is a woman with a reputation. Explain how her reputation creates her value in the eyes of the other characters. What does she symbolize for her society and times?

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