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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. Why does Madame Moreau refuse to have anything to do with Monsieur Roque?

2. What does Marie Arnoux do with the roses that her husband gives her at her party?

3. What does Frederic do with the extra allowance his mother sends him for tutoring?

4. What become his principle interests after Deslauriers loses interest in metaphysics?

5. What topics does Frederic discuss with the man he meets on the ship?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. 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?

4. What is the relationship between Frederic and Deslauriers? How did it begin? What planes do they have for the future?

5. What does Pellerin do for a living? What type of books does he read? What is the secret he is trying to discover? Why?

6. 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?

7. What conflict does Frederic have when he finally receives his long-awaited invitation from the Dambreuses? How is it resolved?

8. 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?

9. What kind of trouble does Frederic discover Arnoux is experiencing? With whom does he discuss this? What does he learn?

10. What is Jacques Arnoux's business reputation? Why does Pellerin become so angry with him?

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

What is the role of women in the A Sentimental Education? Compare and contrast the roles of Rosanette, Louise Roque, and Madame Dambreuse to that of Marie Arnoux. In what ways are their roles similar? How are they different?

Essay Topic 3

The Revolution of 1848 is an important element in A Sentimental Education. Give an example of how the revolution affects the protagonist and his relationships with other characters. What is the attitude towards the republican government? How does the disillusionment with the new government parallel other disappointments in the novel?

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This section contains 946 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample