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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. What is Madame Alessandri's specialty?

2. Who procures a personal letter from Dambreuse supporting Frederic's candidacy?

3. What does Frederic fantasize about while he watches Arnoux sleep in the guardroom?

4. What weapons do Cisy and Frederic agree to use in their duel?

5. On whose behalf is the benefit performance to which Mademoiselle Vatnaz sells Frederic three tickets?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is happening in the streets of Paris in Chapter 1 of Part Three? What is Frederic's reaction to what he sees?

2. What significant political event takes place at the end of Chapter 6 of Part Two? What effect does this event have on the people of Paris?

3. What does Mademoiselle Vatnaz believe the role of the woman to be? What is Rosanette's position on the subject?

4. What happens to Marie Arnoux's son Eugene at the end of Chapter 6 of Part Two? How does Marie interpret this event?

5. What does Frederic think when he sees how affected Louise Roque is by his visit? Why is Monsieur Roque interested in seeing his daughter marry Frederic?

6. How does Frederic court Madame Dambreuse? What topic of conversation is repeated between the two? How does Frederic feel about Madame Dambreuse in comparison to his other loves?

7. How does Monsieur Roque attempt to gain Madame Moreau's favor? How successful is he?

8. What does Frederic think about while he gazes at Monsieur Dambreuse's corpse? What inspires him to consider these things?

9. What does Frederic do with the fifteen thousand francs he requested from his solicitor to invest in Deslauriers' project? How does he explain his inability to invest this sum to Deslauriers?

10. Who interrupts Frederic's romantic reunion with Marie Arnoux? How does Frederic react to this interruption? How does the intruder defend her actions?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

What is the importance of friendship in A Sentimental Education? Which of Frederic's friends are loyal and offer him help when he is in need? To whom does Frederic act as a loyal friend? Give specific examples from the text.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the narrator of A Sentimental Education. From what perspective is the novel narrated? How does this affect the major themes of the novel? How does the narrator relate to literary realism?

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