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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 Madame Badoise injure her ankle?

2. What topic does Renee read in Husserl?

3. Why does Renee hide her intelligence from others?

4. How does Renee feel about her marriage?

5. What is Paloma watching with her father?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Renee remember about Arthens' son?

2. What does Paloma Josse believe her future will be like and how does she plan to avoid that future?

3. What has Renee decided about phenomenology and how does she use Kant to come to this conclusion?

4. What is Renee's educational background and who fostered her desire to learn?

5. What note does Renee receive and what astounds her about the note?

6. What do the Renee's clients believe about concierges and how does Renee try to project their image of the average concierge?

7. Who stops to ask Renee something when she and Manuela are talking and what is Renee's feelings about it?

8. What does Paloma believe about life and why?

9. Describe Renee Michel.

10. What does Paloma hear at a dinner party and what does it make her think?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Renee Michel is a highly intelligent woman who has had the misfortune of being born poor. Renee has it in her mind that poor people are not supposed to be intelligent, therefore she hides her intelligence from the people around her, going to great lengths to create an appearance that shows lack of intelligence and imagination as well as a general disinterest in the world around her. To the contrary, Renee is quite intelligent, taking great joy from reading literature and philosophy, as well as watching artistic movies and studying great art. Renee is a complex person who hides her intelligence behind a mask to keep the world from intruding on her carefully created world.

1. Discuss, in depth, the reasons Renee might think being poor excludes intelligence. Use examples from the book and your own life to support your reasoning.

2. Pretending that Renee is your friend, write a letter to her explaining to her what you see are the problems with the way she hides herself. Use examples from the book and your own life to support your reasoning.

3. Discuss possible reasons that often poor people are seen as less intelligent than others. Include in your discussions factors such as low birth weight, poor diet, lack of access to quality education and social and environmental reasons. Use examples from the book and your own life to support your reasoning.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of The Elegance of the Hedgehog, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in "The Elegance of the Hedgehog". (The subplots may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss "The Elegance of the Hedgehog" based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if it is a successful novel.

3. Do you think the criteria for a successful novel should be different if it is written for adults versus young adults? Why or why not? Would most adults consider "The Elegance of the Hedgehog" a successful novel? What about young teens?

(see the answer keys)

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