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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 Pierre Sandoz doing for Claude?

2. What does Christine do just before the deadline to enter a painting at the Salon?

3. Because it is Thursday, what event will take place in the evening?

4. After renewing his association with Sandoz, what is Claude incessantly talking about?

5. Why does Christine resist sightseeing in Paris with Claude?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Claude finally locates his painting, how does he once again feel rejected?

2. What indicates that Claude would be perfectly happy just to see Christine from time to time rather than have her move in with him?

3. What is the showdown between Christine and the nude woman in Claude's painting?

4. How does the reader know that Christine has been thinking of Claude since the night she spent in his studio?

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

6. How has Fagerolles become swallowed up by the commercial world of art?

7. Describe Claude's behavior after the Salon.

8. What is the physical evidence that Dubuche has already deserted to the enemy?

9. Explain how Sandoz maintains his artistic integrity with his novels.

10. Describe how Claude begins to change his attitude toward living in the country.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a critique of the novel. Discuss Zola's style and use of language, giving specific examples. Include the autobiographical nature of Sandoz as Zola himself. Express how you feel about the suspense of the novel and whether it makes you not want to put it down. Conclude with your recommendation for others to read THE MASTERPIECE.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay of at least two typed, double-spaced pages on the topic of the move toward realism in the modern novel. Using Sandoz as the fictional representation of Zola himself, point out the specifics in THE MASTERPIECE that started the move toward more honesty and openness in novels during the late 19th century. Include reasons that living artists of the day objected to THE MASTERPIECE.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay of at least two typed, double-spaced pages on the topic of Jacques as Possibly Autistic. Re-read the passage in the middle of Chapter 8 where Jacques keeps repeating "nice cat, naughty cat." Discuss his behavior as possibly being that of an autistic child. Include in the essay both Claude's and Christine's reactions to the scene as people who do not know how to deal with such a child. Conclude with Jacques's reaction to Claude's outburst. Autism was not a recognizable disability in the 19th century, so is this possibly Zola's observation of such behavior without giving it a name?

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