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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 Newman ask Valentin to do while they are at the opera?

2. Who is Newman's least favorite person of the Bellegarde family?

3. How does Newman learn that Urbain and Madame de Bellegarde are returning to Paris to support Claire's decision to become a nun?

4. What threat does Newman make about telling the family secret?

5. How does Claire seem as her marriage to Newman grows closer?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Valentin think happened surrounding the death of his father?

2. What is Newman's original plan in confronting Urbain and Madame de Bellegarde about the way Claire's father died?

3. What is Newman's opinion of Urbain?

4. What does Claire say to Newman when they finally speak after their engagement is called off?

5. What does Urbain's wife ask Newman to do during the opera?

6. How does the Bellegarde family react when Newman tells him that he and Claire are engaged?

7. How did Mrs. Bread get connected to the Bellegarde familiy?

8. What did Madame de Bellegarde once accuse Mrs. Bread of?

9. Why does Mrs. Tristam arrange for Newman to see Claire in her convent?

10. What promise to Mrs. Bread does Newman fulfill in Chapter 23?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss at least 3 literary devices that James uses to help the reader better understand at least one character of your choosing. Use direct quotations and/or examples from the text to support your position.

Essay Topic 2

Identify what you think is the tone for "The American" and discuss 3 literary devices that James uses to create this tone.

Essay Topic 3

Describe at least 3 things that James is able to do with the character of Newman because he is a man AND at least 3 things he is *not* able to do with Newman because he is a man.

(see the answer keys)

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