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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. Who comes to Charles Langelet's house looking for work as a maid?

2. Which of the following is NOT used by Charlotte Pericand to describe her sons to her other crying children after she learns of their deaths?

3. How long are the German soldier's expected to stay in the Angelliers' village?

4. What is Benoit concerned about regarding Madeleine?

5. What does the Viscount decide to do after the Viscountess tells him about Benoit's behavior?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do the Perrin women come back to the village and pay a visit to the Angellier house?

2. What happens to the careers of the Michauds, and what do they do about it?

3. What factors in to Lucile Angellier's decision to ultimately reject Bruno von Falk?

4. Who does Gabriel Corte meet in the bar while at the luxury hotel, and what conclusion does he draw from being amongst these people?

5. What is the atmosphere of the town as the German's depart for Russia?

6. What is the nature of the marriage between Lucile and Gaston Angellier?

7. Describe Bruno von Falk. What does the development of his character do in the novel in Chapters 3 and 4?

8. What happens to Madame Angellier as Lucile and Bruno become closer?

9. Describe the Viscountess Montmort.

10. How does Madame Angellier feel about her daughter-in-law, Lucile?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the presence of one of the following themes in the novel: money, love, food, enemies, secrets, friendship, charity. How is the theme present in the novel? What characters or situations does the theme relate to? Provide examples. What is the theme's importance in the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Many authors write fiction based on a period in history from which they are far removed. However, Irene Nemirovsky was writing this novel based on France in World War II during the time the events occurred. What influence do you think this had on the novel? How can we see the author's feelings about the war and the occupation through her book? Do you think any of the characters echo the author's feelings? Which ones and why?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the attitudes of the poor toward the rich. These attitudes are largely expressed through Hortense Gaillard and her traveling party and the other servants of the novel. What are these people's opinions of the rich? Does the fact that they work for the rich factor into their opinions? Do the poor have a harder time making it during the war? Provide examples.

(see the answer keys)

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