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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. What is happening when Paul returns from the restroom to the table?

2. What cell phone service does Paul and Michel both use?

3. How old is Serge and Babette's daughter at the time of the narrative?

4. How old does the waitress tell Serge she is when he asked?

5. Where does the story take place?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Paul go into the restroom after finding Claire and Babette in the garden? Does he achieve his objective?

2. What film is described by Claire as the most racist film ever in Chapter 13? Why?

3. How does Paul describe his feelings about his brother?

4. How is the restaurant described?

5. What movie is discussed over dinner? What does Serge observe about the film?

6. How does Paul describe his brother's eating behavior?

7. From what narrative perspective is the novel related? Why is this important?

8. What does Paul say about his feelings of corn in Chapter 16?

9. How is the arrival of Serge and Babette at the restaurant described?

10. What conversation does Paul and Claire have regarding Michel before they go to the restaurant?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore the events and developments that are implied but not presented in the novel. What critical events happened "off-stage"? Why do you think the author chose not to explicitly show certain events?

Essay Topic 2

What does the story of Michel and Rick tell us about nature/nurture? How does Beau view his adaptive family? What have they taught him about how to succeed in the world?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the theme of secrets in The Dinner. What characters in the narrative harbor secrets? From whom do they withhold these secrets? What statements do you think the author is making regarding secrecy in this novel?

(see the answer keys)

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