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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. How was Jean de Coras killed?

2. Of the people who testified, how many testified that the impostor was indeed an impostor?

3. What was the impostor's defense in the second trial?

4. Why does the author suspect Martin showed up at the courthouse?

5. What judge's writings were the basis for much of The Return of Martin Guerre?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do you think Bertrande immediately acknowledged the real Martin?

2. What was the impostor's response to Martin's arrival in the days after their initial confrontation?

3. Why did Coras find the impostor remarkable even after having been fooled by him?

4. LeSueur's pamphlet, "Admiranda Historia," became hugely popular, very quickly. Why do you think this happened?

5. The author says Montainge was too hard on Coras. Why?

6. The judges were unsure of the impostor's guilt or innocence. How did the law's view of marriage play a role in the judge's decision?

7. How important was Coras' Arrest Memorable" in the 16th century?

8. Coras was a romantic. Give an example of one of his romantic gestures.

9. When questioned in court during the second trial what did the impostor do that convinced the judges of his innocence?

10. Why wouldn't a confession from the impostor be enough to prove his guilt?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The judges were about to find Arnaud not guilty when Martin returned. Based on what you know about the characters, place and time of this story, make predictions about what might have happened if Martin had not returned? Consider how Bertrande would have responded, as well as Pierre. What would Arnaud have done next? Would he have escalated his demands for records and land?

Essay Topic 2

In the story of The Return of Martin Guerre, much is made of the Catholic and Protestant religions. The author states that there were three Protestant judges and two Catholic judges in the second trial. She implies this might have had an affect on the outcome of the trial. Do you believe that religion was a strong enough factor to lead the court to hand down a not guilty verdict to a guilty man? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Considering the three main characters (Martin, Bertrande, and the impostor, Arnaud) who do you find the most fascinating? Which one of these three do you think was the most complex? Why?

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