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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. Which British writer did Frederic seek to emulate in his youth?

2. Which landmark is the crowd gathered around to protest government reforms in Chapter 4?

3. What type of work is Mademoiselle Vatnaz's book, A Young Ladies' Garland?

4. Where is Marie Arnoux from?

5. What business does Jacques Arnoux take up after leaving the art business?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Pellerin's attitude toward Realism? What does he believe the real goal of art to be? In his opinion, what is necessary for great art?

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

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

4. What is Deslauriers' reaction to Frederic's love for Madame Arnoux? What is Deslauriers' opinion of Marie Arnoux when he sees her in the Law Courts?

5. From whom does Madame Moreau borrow money? How does she pay off this debt? How does this affect Frederic's future?

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

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

8. Whom does Frederic go to call upon when he first returns to Paris? Why does he have difficulty finding this person? Who helps Frederic locate this person?

9. What work does Charles Deslauriers do for his father? What unusual physical feature is a result of this work?

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

Art is a significant theme in A Sentimental Education. What type of literature does Frederic aspire to write at the beginning of the novel? What is Pellerin's opinion about the purpose of art? How does this differ from Sénécal's opinion? What statement does A Sentimental Education make about art? How is art related to money in this novel?

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

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?

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