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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. How does Augustin's penis compare to the others in the boudoir?

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

3. Which two libertines penetrate Madame de Saint-Ange in this section?

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

5. What does Dolmance do to Eugenie as Chevalier sodomizes her in this section?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

6. How is Dolmance awed by Augustin in this section?

7. What is the only purpose of friendship, according to Dolmance?

8. What new institutions does the pamphleteer recommend establishing?

9. In this section, how does Dolmance downgrade humanity's importance in his defense of sodomy?

10. Why is marriage unpatriotic, according to the author?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In an essay, discuss the role of incest in The Bedroom Philosophers. Which characters either partake or plan to partake in incestuous relationships in the text? What pleasure do the libertines glean from these relationships? Discuss Dolmance and the unnamed pamphleteer's passionate defenses of the taboo act. What is the Marquis de Sade trying to achieve by actively defending the indefensible practice?

Essay Topic 2

In the pamphlet Chevalier reads in the Fifth Dialogue, an unnamed author refutes the notion that laws are necessary for public order. Over the course of the pamphlet, he disproves the harmful effects of many crimes. Write an essay about three of these crimes. Why does the author state that they are not harmful? What positive effects do they have? What societal changes does the author recommend in harnessing this good?

Part 1) Slander

Part 2) Rape and incest

Part 3) Murder

Essay Topic 3

The Bedroom Philosophers is presented in the form of a series of dialogues in two rooms, almost like a play. In a three-part essay, discuss the use of offstage characters to relate information. In what for do these unseen characters appear? What do we learn from these characters? Why are they not present in the boudoir?

Part 1) V.

Part 2) Eugenie's father.

Part 3) The unnamed pamphleteer.

(see the answer keys)

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