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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 Félicité feel after her heroic event?

2. What color is the wainscoting in the living room?

3. When Félicité was 25-years-old, how old did people think she was?

4. How long have Félicité and Mme. Aubain been in this relationship?

5. How does Paul make the journey to Tocqueville?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Mme. Aubain and Félicité's reactions to Virginie's departure differ from each other?

2. What is the irony of Félicité's long search for Loulou?

3. How does Félicité feel about Loulou before she begins to go deaf? How do you know?

4. Why is it significant that Félicité sleeps in her chair in front of the fire?

5. Does it seem important that Félicité asks Fabu's forgiveness before she dies?

6. Explain the irony of Félicité's dismissal from her first job.

7. Why do you think that it struck Félicité as wrong that Mme. Aubain should die before she did?

8. Describe the impression that the narrator gives you of Mme. Aubain's house.

9. What is your impression of Mme. Simon?

10. Why do you think the narrator conceals the real cause of Loulou's death?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Félicité's relationship with Theodore seems relatively minor in the context of the overall narrative. Why do you think Flaubert chose to include it? How does knowing that about Félicité alter our perception of her throughout the rest of the story? You should discuss at least three ways in which our perception of Félicité is affected by her failed relationship with Theodore.

Essay Topic 2

The scene of Félicité's death juxtaposes her personal experience and a very public religious celebration. Consider why Flaubert chose to represent her death in this context. How does the procession impact the way we read and understand Félicité's passing?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the symbolism and meaning of Félicité's final vision. You should draw on passages from earlier in the novel to interpret the final vision. You should definitely consider the symbolism of the parrot. You might also consider the role that Loulou played in Félicité's life, her relationship to religion, her conception of the divine that is receiving her, the procession of Corpus Christi that is occurring as she has her vision, or any other things that you believe to be relevant.

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