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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. How does the narrator feel about his friendship with Saint-Loup?

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

3. What does Albertine give the narrator as a gift when she returns from visiting her aunt?

4. What does Professor E say about making a home visit to the narrator's grandmother in "Guermantes Way, Part I continued"?

5. In "Seascape, with Frieze of Girls," what makes the narrator notice Albertine?

Short Essay Questions

1. While in Balbec, what upsets the narrator about running into the Marquise de Villeparisis?

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

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

4. Which of Elstir's paintings catches the attention of the narrator in "Seascape, with Frieze of Girls"?

5. How does Francoise act during the grandmother's illness?

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

7. What happens when Saint-Loup's mother arrives at Mme. de Villeparisis's party?

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

9. What happens the first time the narrator meets Marquise Robert de Saint-Loup?

10. In "Place-Names: The Place, Part II," what happens when Saint-Loup and the narrator dine with the Bloch family?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are several houses in this novel. Select three houses and compare and contrast them. Consider the families that reside there, the events that take place there and the reputation of each house. How are houses valued in this novel and why?

Essay Topic 2

Many members of the narrator's family are very cold to each other. Describe specific events that support this idea and explain the impact it has on the family. How does the grandmother's death play into this? How would you characterize the relationships within the narrator's family?

Essay Topic 3

The narrator struggles with his career as a writer in this novel, receiving advice from friends, family, and even the famous author, Bergotte. Describe the narrator's relationship with his writing and how it develops throughout the novel. How does the narrator's art of writing compare with the art of other characters? What does this mean in a novel considered to be semi-autobiographical?

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