View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who wrote The Earth and the Biblical Story of Its Creation?

2. Who fought in a duel with Catulle Mendes in 1901?

3. How old was Samuel Pozzi when his son Jacques was born?

4. When did Dr. Pozzi arrive in Paris to study medicine?

5. At least how many duels took place in Paris between 1895 and 1905?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who was Marcel Proust?

2. Who was James Abbott McNeill Whistler?

3. What is the novel A Rebours about?

4. What does a dandy refer to?

5. Why was Oscar Wilde put on trial? What was the outcome?

6. What is known about Montesquiou's sexual exploits, according to the author?

7. Who was Jean Lorrain?

8. What does Des Esseintes tortoise symbolize?

9. What does Listerism refer to?

10. What literary device does the author reference and explain in the opening of the narrative?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the American perspectives of the British and French during the time period of the Belle Époque. How did Americans respond to visits from Europeans like Wilde, Montesquiou, and Pozzi? What did they think of European royalty and aristocracy? How did they perceive the art and literature of Europe?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the motif of literature in the Man in the Red Coat. Who are some of the most notable authors of the Belle Époque that are discussed in the book? What did they write? What literary styles emerged during this time period?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the figure of Oscar Wilde. Why does the author focus on Wilde in sections of the book? What narratives of Wilde's work or life are highlighted? How does Wilde reflect upon the times?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 645 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample