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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. While Martin was away, what happened to Sanxi (Martin's father)?

2. Why did Martin's impostor demand to see the account books?

3. What physical evidence was there that the impostor could not be Martin?

4. Why did the author rule out the possibility of Martin having gone to the university?

5. How were Martin's problems with producing an heir solved?

Short Essay Questions

1. The impostor went to great lengths to "become" Martin. Do you think this is evidence that his goal was to do more than collect an inheritance? Explain your answer.

2. How did parents view marriage and reproduction in the 1500's in relation to their children?

3. If passing soldiers in Hendaye were somehow ruining the land, why would that affect the Guerres?

4. In Chapter 3, Bertrande described her life in thirds. What three titles did she give to each third?

5. Why do you think the DaGuerres shortened their name to Guerre?

6. What is meant by the following statement: "The realities of this peasant world encourage not only the skills of a good farm wife, but the woman's ability to get her way with the men and to calculate her advantages, say, in remaining a widow."

7. List some of the ways the impostor prepared to pass himself off as Martin.

8. We know very little about why Martin left his family and disappeared. Why do you think he decided to leave?

9. What did the impostor do that began to upset Pierre?

10. Why does the author say the impostor was so easily accepted?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Bertrande seems to have easily adapted to each stage of her marriage to Martin. First, when she was forced to marry at a young age, then when she was reunited with the fake Martin, and in the last stage when she was reunited with the real Martin. Surely she must have felt some anxiety in each of those situations, but she seems to have taken the changes in stride. Based on this knowledge, what can we conclude about Bertrande's priorities? Who was she putting first? Why was she so willing to go along with whatever was thrown at her?

Essay Topic 2

Of the three main characters (Martin, Bertrande, and the impostor, Arnaud) who would you say is the victim? Are any of them victims? Explain your position.

Essay Topic 3

How does the setting contribute to the internal and external conflicts of the stories main characters?

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