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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 Monna Lisetta meet Brother Alberto?

2. What does Giannotto di Civigni want to do?

3. What does Rustico tell Alibech she must do to serve God?

4. Why is Alatiel not happy with the duke after they go to Athens?

5. When Abraham returns, what does he want to do that surprises Giannotto?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Brother Alberto take advantage of Lisetta whom he calls Lady Halfwit?

2. What happens when the secret of Masetto's affair with the nun gets out?

3. How does Tancredi discover the affair between Ghismunda and Guiscardo?

4. Why does Isabetta cry over a pot of basil?

5. How does Alatiel eventually end up with the king of Algarve?

6. Describe the character of Ciappelletto who is put in charge of the affairs of Musciatto Franzesi .

7. Why does Andreuccio di Pietro travel to Naples?

8. How does Masetto come to the attention of the abbess?

9. What is the quandary the Florentine brothers find themselves in when Ciappelletto becomes so ill?

10. What ultimately happens after Ciappelletto dies?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay of at least two typewritten, double spaced pages on the topic, THE DECAMERON as a Forerunner to Novels with Sexual Themes. First discuss the largely sexual nature of THE DECAMERON. Then compare the work to Henry Fielding's TOM JONES, Daniel Defoe's MOLL FLANDERS, and Henry Miller's TROPIC OF CANCER.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay of at least two typewritten, double spaced pages on the topic, The Sin of Getting Caught. Use examples from THE DECAMERON to show how the thing people are often sorriest for is that of getting caught. Contrast Peronella and Brother Alberto to show how getting caught is what brings a person down.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay of at least two typewritten, double spaced pages on the topic, Women as the Weaker Sex in THE DECAMERON. Use at least three different examples of how women are seen as inferior to men and more susceptible to moral transgression than men as seen in the book. Discuss how this idea not only plays out in the tales but also in the acceptance of the women gathered in the group of story tellers.

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