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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 challenges Oxtiern to a duel?

2. What do the eight young sultanas serve to the "society" at 11:00?

3. According to the Introduction to "120 Days of Sodom," whose war has drained the state treasury?

4. What is the name of the narrations that everyone has gathered to listen to on "The First Day"?

5. What does Ernestine tell Herman to do on the night of Madame Scholtz's ball?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Herman want to wait to marry?

2. What does the First Day entail?

3. Why do Oxtiern and Madame Scholtz scheme to keep Ernestine and Herman apart?

4. What were the pairings of the "four libertines"?

5. What do the "four libertines" do to strengthen their ties?

6. What are the stage directions for Act Three?

7. When Duclos continues her story on the First Day, what questions does Duc have regarding the story?

8. What are the facts regarding the 150 Murderous Passions?

9. What are the details surrounding Herman?

10. Why does Duclos' story get interrupted on the First Day?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many ancient cultures, dating back over 4,000 years, boasted very sexual imagery. Some of the imagery was very perverse in nature. While perverse, the desire for such imagery remained among many of the great cultures. Based upon this, do you believe that Sade's writings had a place in his own culture? Why/Why not? Why do you think that writings, such as Sade's, were desired among the great societies of the world?

Essay Topic 2

Do you believe that Sade's writings were pornographic? Or, did he go beyond pornographic for you (as a reader)? Were there specific actions that you would consider "going a little too far"? Or, do you believe that Sade went just far enough?

Essay Topic 3

While it is a fact that Sade's writing was banned for close to 170 years in France, it was also banned in England and the United States. Why do you think that the ban was lifted on the text? What about the text did some find worthy of lifting the ban? Would you have lifted the ban? Why/Why not?

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This section contains 873 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample