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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. Why does Mme la Comte say her daughter is being sent away?

2. What happens to the priest one day as he is making his visits to parishioners?

3. Where does the doctor examine the priest?

4. What makes the priest feel uncomfortable?

5. With whom does the priest meet to arrange Mme la Comtesse's funeral?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the priest learn from the sacristan regarding the general perception people have of him?

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

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

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

5. How does the priest handle the matter of Mlle Chantal with Mme la Comtesse?

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

7. Explain the irony of the doctor's physical health.

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

9. Explain the tragic irony of the events following the priest's visit with Mme la Comtesse.

10. What is the diagnosis of the young priest's disease?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Another important theme in the book is injustice. Who are the characters who are most affected by injustice in life? How do these characters manage their lives? Do any of the characters rise above their situations or do they stay mired in the inequities of life?

Essay Topic 2

The young priest compares himself and his parish to a small boy leading cattle out of the cold, drizzly night into a barn. Explain the metaphor the young priest has written regarding his role in the parish.

Essay Topic 3

Another important theme in the book is poverty. The priest never has enough money to meet his needs and is even slightly humiliated for his lack by the townspeople. Explain the priest's internal struggle as he attempts to find his way in both the spiritual and physical worlds. What challenges does he have to overcome? How does he accomplish that?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,128 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample