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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Rejected for the Prix de Rome, what is Fagerolles now painting?
(a) postcards.
(b) copies of Claude's work.
(c) houses.
(d) slick, compromising pictures.

2. How is Claude received at Duquersonnièr's studio?
(a) by being thrown out of the studio.
(b) by being ignored because they are all busy.
(c) with joy and lots of pats on the back.
(d) with antagonism from the architecture students.

3. What does Claude think about the young woman standing on his doorstep at night?
(a) he thinks she is beautiful.
(b) he thinks she is looking for work.
(c) he thinks she is insane.
(d) he thinks she's a trollop.

4. How does Claude often see himself artistically?
(a) as ahead of his time.
(b) as the greatest living artist.
(c) as needing more study.
(d) as impotent.

5. What is it about Claude's use of colors that Christine has difficulty understanding?
(a) yellow skies and pink clouds.
(b) red bananas and yellow apples.
(c) people with purple skin.
(d) blue in the poplar trees and mauve in the ground.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where does Claude want to exhibit his painting?

2. Why does Sandoz not visit Claude and Christine in the country after August?

3. Who is the journalist who drops in while Pierre and Claude are visiting Mahoudeau and Chaîne?

4. How does Zola paint Claude Lantier's angst?

5. Who is the ugly family walking along with Dubuche?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the foreshadowed tragedy come to pass?

2. How is Sandoz, the one character besides Claude who remains steadfast to the revolt against romanticism, able to remain steadfast to their revolutionary ideas?

3. In what way is Christine's response to their love making a believable part of the story?

4. As the character of Claude develops in the novel, what appears to be his greatest fault?

5. Discuss Claude's conversations with Christine that show he is more and more dissatisfied.

6. Why is Claude told not to bring Christine to the Thursday night gatherings?

7. What is the pathos of Claude's funeral?

8. How does Claude exhibit manic behavior during the night?

9. Describe the friendship between Claude, Sandoz, and Dubuche.

10. Explain the result of Claude's and Christine's visit to the country.

(see the answer keys)

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