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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. How does the bike shop owner respond to Paul's visit?

2. After Paul starts taking medication, what does he consider asking Claire?

3. What test is usually used to diagnose Paul's disorder?

4. What does Paul wonder about when he hears about the test usually used to diagnose his disorder?

5. Outside the restaurant, when Paul tells Michel that he has seen the videos on his phone, what does Michel want to know?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Babette respond to the dessert in Chapter 36?

2. How does Paul describe the relationship between Michel and Rick in Chapter 26?

3. How does Paul set up dinners for he and Michel while Claire is in the hospital?

4. Why does Serge and Babette come to Paul's home when Claire is in the hospital? How does Paul respond?

5. What comes about in the discussion between Paul and Claire regarding a second child?

6. What effects does Paul's medication have on him?

7. What does Paul suggest Michel do about the cell phone in Chapter 26?

8. What is clear about the behavior and actions of the perpetrators in the security video Paul watches on the news?

9. What happens with Paul and the owner of the bike shop?

10. What is a flashback? How are flashbacks used in The Dinner?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore Paul's and Serge's career paths. What does it take to succeed in politics vs. the classroom? What skills does one have that the other lacks? What skills and strengths do they share?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Discuss the themes of of race and class privilege as explored in The Dinner. How are these themes developed through character, action, circumstances, and symbolism? How would the events and circumstances of the novel differ if the characters were not affluent and white?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 871 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample