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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. What is the name of the person who owns a home where a child's wake is held in Section 4, Volume 1?

2. What is the name of the famous writer Marcel is awaiting the return of at the beginning of the book?

3. Who finds the thought of Marie being presented foolish until Marcel shows an interest in it?

4. What does Christophe buy Anna Bella as a thank-you gift in Section 7, Volume 1?

5. In what city is the story set at the beginning of the book?

Short Essay Questions

1. What warning does Christophe give to Marcel after he finds him with Juliet in Section 5, Volume 1?

2. What does Juliet tell Marcel about how she feels about Michael in Section 5, Volume 1?

3. What happens when the men learn Michael has contracted yellow fever?

4. How is Christophe's relationship with Michael first described?

5. How does Marcel try to learn to read in Section 3, Volume 1?

6. What does Christophe tell Marcel happened to him when he first arrived in Paris?

7. How does Philippe act towards Marcel when he visits his home in Section 7, Volume 1?

8. How is Marie's appearance described when she goes to the opera to be presented?

9. What happens when Christophe catches Marcel with his mother in Section 7, Volume 1?

10. How are Marcel's thoughts described on his first day of school?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout much of the book, Marcel searched for a true father figure, an act that greatly impacted his actions and thoughts.

Part 1) What impact does Marcel's poor relationship with Philippe have on his desire for a father figure?

Part 2) How has Marcel's mother made it harder for him to find a good father figure in life?

Part 3) What role does Marcel's lack of a father figure have on the sexual advances he makes towards Christophe, and what can we learn about Christophe's nature based on his response to Marcel?

Essay Topic 2

The concept of marriage has a truly flawed portrayal throughout the book.

Part 1) How do white gentlemen appear to view marriage, especially considering Philippe and Aglae's marriage?

Part 2) What does marriage appear to represent to older women of color like Cecil and Madame Elsie based on their actions to marry off Marie?

Part 3) Why do you think marriage is presented more as a business arrangement than for love so often in the book?

Essay Topic 3

The portrayal of New Orleans society is the most important theme presented in the book.

Part 1) How does the society presented in the book hinder most of the characters, namely Richard, Marcel, and Marie, and what factors are responsible for this?

Part 2) What impact does societal traditions have on the attempts of people of color to be successful in the book?

Part 3) Does it appear that the society presented in the book went through any change throughout the book or might have opportunities for change in the future?

(see the answer keys)

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