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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. With what had Mme la Comtesse been suffering for quite awhile?

2. What does the priest now think is the source of his pain?

3. What has Seraphita done to her leg?

4. How does the priest keep track of recent events?

5. What does Mme la Comtesse tell the priest about her husband?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what circumstances does the priest feel youthful for the first time in his life?

2. What is the priest's diary entry on the night before he leaves for Lille?

3. What does the priest note about his illness in Chapter 6?

4. Explain how the situation with the medallion is the climax of the novel.

5. What is the Cure de Torcy's simplistic advice for the young priest who feels he is suffering a crisis of faith and vocation?

6. What is odd about the way the priest is treated at the Chateau after the death of Mme la Comtesse?

7. Why is Mme la Comtesse adamant about sending Mlle Chantal to finishing school?

8. How does the priest attempt to break down the emotional barriers Mme la Comtesse has set up around herself?

9. Describe the encounter between the priest and Mlle Chantal.

10. What secret and personal pain does Mme la Comtesse reveal to the priest?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the tone of the novel as the young priest's parish experience extends. What is his demeanor at the onset? How does the tone change as the priest becomes more disillusioned with the people and circumstances of the parish? At the end, what is the priest's outlook?

Essay Topic 2

The scene where the young priest faints twice and vomits blood can be interpreted to be a metaphor for the suffering of Christ prior to his crucifixion. Explain how the priest's suffering mirrors that of Christ's. What other parallels can be drawn between the two?

Essay Topic 3

The climax of the novel is the priest's confrontation with Mme la Comtesse. Explain the nature of a literary climax and why this incident is the climax of this book. Now, write an alternate way this confrontation could have gone. Use creativity!

(see the answer keys)

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