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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. When is the laughter the loudest?

2. Why does Claude take the young woman to his studio?

3. What convinces Claude he still has a vestige of romanticism in his veins?

4. When was the beginnings of the Bohemian lifestyle of Claude and Pierre?

5. Now that Sandoz is married, what role does his wife, Henriette, play in the household?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what way does the reader understand that Claude is first and foremost an artist?

2. How does Claude hurt Christine deeply with his complaint about her dinner?

3. What is Claude's behavior after a party at Sandoz's house that alarms Christine?

4. Describe the image of Claude, Sandoz, Jory, and Chaîne marching through the streets of Paris.

5. How do praise and laughter demonstrate Claude's personal insecurities at the Salon des Refusés?

6. Describe the difference between Sandoz and Jory as writers.

7. How do Christine and Claude react differently to tragedy?

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

9. How does Zola show the domestic side of Christine?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay of at least two typed, double-spaced pages on the topic of The Tragedy of Dubuche. The main points of the essay are (1) why Dubuche was successful at the studio of Duquersonnière, (2) why he failed after joining with Margaillan, and (3) what he was reduced to after failing as an architect.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay of at least two typed, double-spaced pages on the topic of Provencal Morality in the 19th century. In the essay points, include (1) public opinion of single women seen in the company of young men, (2) public acceptance of a courtesan but detesting a trollop, (3) double standards for men and women.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay of at least two typed, double-spaced pages on the topic of The Development of the Rift Between Claude and Christine. Using this line from the end of Chapter 8--"Never again would they be all-in-all to each other; the rift between them could never be healed. The wife had despoiled the mistress, and marriage seems to have done away with love." Explain in the essay what Zola means by those statements.

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