View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who does the waitress hit in the head with her elbow when pouring the wine?

2. What kind of wine does Serge order for the appetizer course?

3. At what time is Claire's message left on Michel's phone?

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

5. When the two couples talk about a recent film they had all seen, how does Serge respond?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Paul react to the waiter who tells him about the apertif?

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

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

4. Where do Paul and Claire go before the restaurant? Why?

5. How is Rick's behavior described in the video?

6. Why does Michel call his father while he his at the restaurant?

7. What does the man with the beard ask of Paul? Why?

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

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

10. How is the restaurant described?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the importance of the setting in The Dinner. What is the main setting of the novel? What settings are described in flashbacks? How might this novel differ if set in a different country? How would it differ if set in a different type of restaurant?

Essay Topic 2

Who is ultimately responsible for the homeless woman's death? What does the novel attempt to communicate about society's responsibility towards its most vulnerable populations? What is the role of the privileged classes?

Essay Topic 3

Explore Paul's attitudes towards history and humanity. As you watched him lose his job, and later explode during his confrontation with Michel's principal, did you perceive him as ill? Selfish? Rational?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 755 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample