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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 Serge shift from angry to charming towards the server who spills wine on him?

2. Which statement best describes Paul's attitude towards Serge?

3. When Serge and Paul are alone at the table, what does Serge tell Paul?

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

5. When Paul senses the tension between Serge and Babette, what does he hope?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. What explanation does Serge give to Paul regarding Babette's behavior in Chapter 15? Is he telling the truth?

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

7. How is Serge perceived by the public?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Paul's history of violence that is revealed through the course of the narrative. When did Paul begin exhibiting violent behavior? What is revealed to be the root of Paul's violence? What is the significance of Paul's violence to the novel's plot?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze and discuss the plot structure of The Dinner. Where in the narrative does the rising action begin? What is the catalytic event that drives the plot of the story? Where is the novel's climax? What is revealed in the falling action and denouement?

Essay Topic 3

Explore and evaluate Claire and Michel's "solution." Why do you think the author chose to have the final decisive actions taken by characters other than the narrator? What would be Paul's solution to the problem?

(see the answer keys)

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