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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 order does Dolmance give Eugenie regarding their devious plan in the coming days?

2. In this section, Dolmance argues that Noah and Adam both took part in what?

3. Which of the following is not a recommendation Dolmance makes to Eugenie in this section regarding sodomy?

4. How large is Chevalier's phallus compared to Dolmance's?

5. According to Madame de Saint-Ange in this section, what is the surest way for a wanton woman to avoid pregnancy?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What standing wager does Madame de Saint-Ange have?

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

5. According to Sade in To the Philosphers, what is the key to happiness?

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

7. What methods does Madame recommend for avoiding pregnancy?

8. Describe Dolmance.

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

10. Describe Dolmance's defense of incest.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay on the topic of phalli in The Bedroom Philosophers. Discuss the order in which phalli are introduced in the narrative and how one tops the other. How are Dolmance, Chevalier, Augustin and Lapierre's phalli all put to different uses? What are the women's reactions to each? Analyzing the use of phalli in the text, determine what they represent in the world of the novel? Excess? Pleasure? Death?

Essay Topic 2

Madame de Saint-Ange is the ideal of feminine libertinage in Sade's work. Her lessons in the book concern the way a woman must adapt to live a life of wanton pleasure. In a two-part essay, discuss Madame de Saint-Ange's views:

Part 1) What is the importance of marriage in the life of a woman libertine? What precautions must the woman take to ensure her husband is not aware of his activities? How does being married offer new opportunities to a libertine woman? Discuss the details of Madame de Saint-Ange's marriage.

Part 2) What role does the childbirth play in the role of a libertine? How does Madame de Saint-Ange explain a woman should take precautions? What experience has she had with childbirth?

Essay Topic 3

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?

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This section contains 969 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample