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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. Where does Frederic begin to work after learning of his meager inheritance?

2. In what field does Frederic ask Dambreuse to recommend him for a position?

3. In what year does the novel begin?

4. What is the name of the ship on which Frederic travels?

5. What insult is thrown at Deslauriers that started the schoolyard fight that begins his friendship with Frederic?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Madame Moreau's background? What aspirations does she have for her son?

2. What is Sénécal's objection to Jacques Arnoux in Chapter 5? What does Sénecal believe the purpose of art to be?

3. What situation precludes Frederic and Deslauriers from realizing their plans together? What is Frederic's reaction to his news?

4. How does Frederic's schoolmate Baptiste Martinon live? What is his attitude towards life? How does this contrast with Frederic's attitude?

5. Whom does Frederic immediately go to visit when he hears that Jacques Arnoux has gone to Germany? What surprise is waiting for him? Where is the person he was looking for?

6. How does the narrator describe the other people traveling on the ship with Frederic? What do they wear? What are their spirits?

7. What are some of Frederic's artistic ambitions? What art has he already produced at this point?

8. Who is the host of the costume party to which Arnoux brings Frederic? What is this person's relationship to Arnoux?

9. How does the narrator describe Monsieur Dambreuse in Chapter 3? What does he look like? How does he interact with Frederic during their meeting?

10. Which of Frederic's friends are invited to his housewarming party? What is their opinion of his new lifestyle?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of nostalgia in A Sentimental Education. Which characters express nostalgia for the past? What are they nostalgic for? How does nostalgia relate to the overall message of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

What elements of A Sentimental Education characterize this work as a Realist novel? How does this work exemplify literary realism? Give two specific examples from the text.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the portrait of Rosanette painted by Pellerin. Why is this object significant? How does this object affect Frederic's relationships with other characters? Give at least two examples from the text.

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