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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. The narrator discusses the tendency to look where for matters of love?

2. The narrator says that dreams are symbolic of which of the following?

3. What is Dread afraid of?

4. In what way is Dread portrayed?

5. Who touches Bialacoil with a torch?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Dread a caricature?

2. Describe the change that occurs in the writing style in the middle of the book.

3. Who is Bialacoil?

4. Describe the tone De Lorris uses to describe the narrator's entrance to Mirth's garden.

5. What does Venus's presence in the rose garden mean?

6. What is significant about the castle that Jealousy begins to build?

7. Describe Reason.

8. Who is Vekke?

9. What are De Lorris's three motives for writing The Romance of the Rose?

10. How does Cupid suggest that the narrator can be a good suitor?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does the narrator choose to share the dream with the reader? How can you tell throughout the novel that these motives are true?

Essay Topic 2

Is the tone of The Romance of the Rose more cynical or optimistic? Point out at least five pieces of evidence.

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the arguments that Reason makes in his conversations about courtly love and gift giving. Are Reason's arguments logical? Are the convincing? Are they valid? Are they outdated?

(see the answer keys)

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