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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. In this section, what does Dolmance claim the heart does?

2. In Dolmance's tirade in this section, what is not compulsory for copulation?

3. According to Dolmance in this section, what do sodomites pride themselves on?

4. How does Eugenie respond to Madame de Mistival's arrival at the beginning of the Final Dialogue?

5. In this section, what does Chevalier claim is still pure in him?

Short Essay Questions

1. What proclamation regarding crime does Dolmance make at the beginning of this section?

2. How is Chevalier's argument in this section atypical of the rest of the text?

3. How does sexual fluid give way to blood at the beginning of the Fifth Dialogue?

4. Why does Madame de Mistival pass out in the Final Dialogue?

5. In the Fifth Dialogue, what does Dolmance explain about the law to Eugenie?

6. What is the only true connection between two people, according to Dolmance in this section?

7. What trepidations does Augustin have at the beginning of the Fifth Dialogue?

8. Why does the author of the pamphlet favor the Olympian gods?

9. What transpires at the end of the Fifth Dialogue?

10. How is the very end of The Bedroom Philosophers incongruous with what preceded it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay about the introduction of the book. What reasons does Sade offer for writing The Bedroom Philosophers? What does he hope his readers will take away from it? Does this introduction seem earnest or like a throwaway joke? Is The Bedroom Philosophers intended to be an instruction manual for those that are tired of social constrictions?

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?

(see the answer keys)

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