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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 was the beginnings of the Bohemian lifestyle of Claude and Pierre?

2. Although Sandoz's novels are selling well, what is happening in literary circles?

3. When does Claude finally break down and admit his hurt and disappointment?

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

5. How does Claude think Irma has changed?

Short Essay Questions

1. How have the fortunes turned for Irma Bécot?

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

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

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

5. What is another evidence of how the Open air group is drifting apart?

6. Describe the irony when Christine finally agrees to walk with Claude in public.

7. Describe the attraction Jory has developed for Mathilde.

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

9. Discuss the Salon des Refusés.

10. How does the foreshadowed tragedy come to pass?

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 Claude Lantier's Reverence for Nude Women in Art. The three specific areas of the novel that deal with this topic should be the main points of your essay: (1) looking at Christine posing nude for the first time, Zola says that Claude's "heart pounded in his breast as it might have done in the presence of a naked saint." (2) Zola later tells the reader that Claude saw his nude woman in his paintings as a symbol for Paris. (3) Finally, Claude is unable to recapture the woman in his final painting and ultimately commits suicide for the love of her.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay of at least two typed, double-spaced pages on the topic of Art and Art Dealers. The essay topics should include (1) Naudet who could tell which artists could make him money but had no idea about which artist could become a great painter; (2) Bongrand's accusation that art had been reduced to francs, and (3) Malgras who recognized good art but resorted to cheating the artists.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay of at least two typed, double-spaced pages on the topic of symbolism in painting. Note in your essay that the nude woman in Claude's paintings represented something in his mind that completely went over the heads of the public. Since classic painting and sculpture had represented the nude body for centuries, what was it about Claude's nude figures that caused the public to laugh at his work?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 958 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample