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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. What does Noemie do for a living?

2. How does Claire feel about marriage?

3. What relationship did Tristam and Newman have prior to meeting again in the story?

4. How is Newman informed that he has been accepted by the Bellegardes family as Claire's suitor?

5. What reason does Newman give for why he has never been married?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Babcock decide to stop traveling with Newman?

2. What happened that made Newman decide to leave business?

3. What causes Claire to shift from threatening to banish Newman if he talked about marriage again to making him wait 6 months instead?

4. According to Valentin, what attitude toward life does Claire have?

5. What impression does Newman get from Urbain during his dinner at the Bellegardes in Chapter XII?

6. What are the women doing in the Louvre that Newman finds so interesting?

7. How does Noemie react to the paintings Newman wants her to paint for him?

8. What has Claire's family already done to her in regard to marriage?

9. At the end of Chapter V, what amusing point does Newman make about other people's comments on his moral standards?

10. As their friendship starts to form, what do Mrs. Tristam and Newman offer each other?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze at least 3 aspects of "The American" that makes the novel believable as well as what literary devices James uses to create that level of believability OR analyze at least 3 aspects of "The American" that makes the novel unbelievable as well as what literary devices James does not use effectively to create a level of believability in the story.

Essay Topic 2

In a well-written essay, discuss what function Mrs. Tristam mother serves in the novel.

Essay Topic 3

Describe at least 4 features of Claire's mother and how those features fulfill the traditional, literary requirements of a villain.

(see the answer keys)

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