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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 are the couples able to reserve a table on short notice?

2. Where does the story take place?

3. What reason does Paul give Michel for having Michel's phone?

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

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

Short Essay Questions

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

2. To what films does Paul compare the setting and people of Dordogne in Chapter 12?

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

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

5. Why does Paul go into Michel's room an hour before he and Claire leave for the restaurant? Why does he tell Michel he is there?

6. How does Paul describe the people of Dordogne in Chapter 12?

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

8. Paul states in Chapter 17 that Serge is of two minds when it comes to public attention. What are those minds?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the character of Paul as an example of an unreliable narrator. What aspects of Paul's narrative come into question? Why? How would this novel differ if Paul were a reliable narrator, or if the story were related from a third-person perspective?

Essay Topic 2

Explore the relationship of Claire and Paul. How does Paul deal with the Claire's illness and the possibility of losing his family? Why is Claire so protective of Paul? What keeps their marriage going?

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?

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