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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. When was Maurice Michaud injured?

2. What does Madame Angellier want to do regarding Benoit?

3. What is Benoit concerned about regarding Madeleine?

4. Where is Charlotte Pericand's mother's house located?

5. How much does Count de Furieres agree to pay the Michauds?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why are the Germans going to arrest Benoit and what happens when they arrive at the Sabarie house?

3. What happens to Charles Langelet in Chapter 29, and why is it ironic at this point?

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

5. What is the atmosphere on the farm where Jean-Marie Michaud is staying?

6. What does Benoit come to the Angellier house to ask and why? What is the response to his favor?

7. Describe the character of Benoit Sabarie.

8. Why do the Germans have a party and what are the feelings of the French villagers about it?

9. What do Gabriel Corte and Florence do when they are shown to their rooms in the luxury hotel?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

All of the different socio-economic classes in France at the time are represented through the different characters in the novel. Identify a character or family of characters that represent each different class, from servants to the working class to the middle class to the upper class. How does the war affect the people in the classes differently? Are the poor more susceptible to the negative attributes of war than the people in the middle and upper classes? How do people from the different classes view the war and the occupation?

Essay Topic 3

Choose two of the main characters of the novel. Compare and contrast the personalities, experiences, and development of these characters. What do we learn from these characters? Do the characters ever cross paths in the novel? If so, what happens to the characters as a result of their interaction?

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This section contains 1,400 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample