View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Marcelle doing at the beginning of Chapter 8?

2. What does the author note is the true meaning of terror?

3. What is noted about Granero's body at the end of Chapter 11?

4. How does the couple get Marcelle's attention?

5. How is Granero.killed?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the narrator claim he does not care for "normal" pleasures, and why even dirty pleasures have become unsatisfying?

2. Discuss Simone's episode with the raw bull testicle. Include what happens when she first receives it, and the end result.

3. What happens to Marcelle in Chapter 8, and why?

4. In Chapter 6, the author purposefully italicizes the words "wide eyes" and "white eggs". What is the significance of this?

5. Based on the narrator's claims at the end of Chapter 6, what does the episode with eggs indicate about the future of the characters?

6. Explain what happens to Simone as she attempts to masturbate on the bicycle, and the narrator's initial reaction.

7. Describe the sexual fantasy of Simone and the narrator about Marcelle in Chapter 6.

8. Describe what Simone begins enjoying doing with eggs at the beginning of Chapter 6.

9. Describe the narrator's thoughts about Marcelle as the couple rides home from the sanitarium in Chapter 5.

10. Explain the change in Simone following the death of Marcelle.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The narrator believes his search for unusual sexual behavior is somehow related to his and Simone's sense of modesty, in that they are seeking to combat modesty as completely as possible. Do you think this is the reason for their behavior? Why or why not? Do you believe some choose this path to counteract modesty? Why or why not? What else could be their reasons?

Essay Topic 2

Several times throughout the novel, the author equates orgasm to death. Explore this connection in depth. Why would such a connection exist? In what ways does the author link these two concepts? What is his purpose for this link? How does this link represent the lives of Simone and the narrator? Does this point come across clearly? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

In Chapter 4, the narrator notes the curiosity that black-haired Simone wears a black garter belt and stockings, whereas blond Marcelle wears a white belt and stockings. This comparison, however, does far deeper than hair color and clothing choice. What is the author noting about the characters in this passage? Using the rest of the story, does this comparison hold true throughout the novel? Why or why not? What else can this comparison of light and darkness be used to represent? Why?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 923 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample