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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. According to Sade in To the Libertines, what is the only way one can find transcendence?

2. Who does Sade recommend his young girl readers emulate?

3. What letter does Chevalier use to denote the friend who introduced her to Dolmance?

4. According to Dolmance, what is the most pleasurable sexual act?

5. In the Third Dialogue, what function of the human body does Dolmance refuse to discuss?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Chevalier frame Dolamnce's entrance in the First Dialogue?

2. How does Madame de Saint-Ange recommend a married woman carry out her infidelity?

3. What does Dolmance think about parental control of children?

4. What theory regarding large penises does Dolmance posit in the Fourth Dialogue?

5. How is Madame de Saint-Ange acquainted with Eugenie?

6. At the beginning of this section, what argument does Dolmance make regarding virtue?

7. What specific instructions does Sade give his readers about emulating characters in To the Libertines?

8. What is the value of blasphemy to the libertine?

9. Why is sodomy, according to Dolmance, the height of libertine pleasure?

10. What methods does Madame recommend for avoiding pregnancy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In The Bedroom Philosophers, the abstract idea of nature is used as a central justification for libertine philosophy. Write an essay about the use of nature as a guiding principle in the novel. What elements of nature are inspiring to the libertines? Does nature follow a set of moral guidelines? What connection does nature have to the human race? What does the human impulse to hurt and conquer have in common with nature?

Essay Topic 2

The dialogues of The Bedroom Philosophers are intended to be perversions of Socratic dialogues, in which a philosopher takes a given dictum and dissects it, disproving it piece by piece. In an essay, choose one dialogue and discuss how the libertine dissects a given social more. What component of society is the character refuting? What does he or she find at fault in it? How does he or she disprove this fault, and what conclusion is reached?

Essay Topic 3

The Libertines of The Bedroom Philosophers are all exorbitantly wealthy, and as firm believers in the ascendancy of personal liberties they have little to no sympathy for the poor. Write an essay in three parts on the subject of class relationships in the novel:

Part 1) Why does Dolmance believe that charity and social welfare are meaningless exercises? What deleterious effects do they have in his opinion? What does he think of individuals who support them?

Part 2) Discuss the role of servants like Augusten and Lapierre in the events of the novel. Are these characters presented as fully invested individuals? What is their purpose in the proceedings? Discuss why Augustin is sent out of the room when the pamphlet is read aloud.

Part 3) Discuss the argument in the Fifth Dialogue between Chevalier and Dolmance. What compassionate point does Chevalier raise, and why does he raise it? How does Dolmance shout him down?

(see the answer keys)

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