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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 many priests has Candide killed?

2. How did Cunegonde react to Don Issachar?

3. Candide meets two men in the town of Waldberghofftrarbk-dikdorff. To whom do they drink?

4. What had happened to a young man in Italy whom the old woman had met?

5. Why does Cunégonde decide to stay with the governor?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why doesn't Pococurante like the paintings by Raphael?

2. What do Candide and Pangloss experience when they get to Lisbon, and how do they respond?

3. How do Candide, Cunegonde, and the old woman get a head start against the soldiers who begin to look for them in Chapter 9?

4. In Chapter 27, which two characters does Candide rescue by paying for their freedom and when does he recognize them?

5. Who arrives on the ship that comes into the harbor while Cunégonde and the governor are talking and what effect does his arrival have?

6. What is the ritual when one meets the king in Eldorado? What does Candide expect the ritual to be before he is told?

7. How did the young princess in the old woman's story end up in Morocco?

8. What is the custom in Eldorado when brought to see the King?

9. After escaping, what does Candide observe about the war?

10. What is Candide's condition when he reaches Holland, and who helps him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At the beginning of the novel, Candide's life in the setting of the castle at Westphalia is described. However Candide is quickly removed from this setting and forced to begin his travels. What purpose does this setting serve as it is only introduced into the novel for a short time? Does Westphalia serve as a reference point for the novel? What do you think the meaning of this setting is? Is the setting of Westphalia important for Candide? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Candide goes on a truly epic journey through the course of the novel.

- Do people differ from one another that much over the course of his travels? How?

- In what ways is Candide like a traditional tragic hero? In which ways isn't he?

- Is his fate similar to the class tragic hero as discussed in class? What is his epic struggle?

Essay Topic 3

Sometimes authors choose to use the characters in a novel to express their distaste or support of a particular person or social movement. Historically do you think Candide represented a particular person or movement? Why or why not? How does Voltaire use his novel as a social criticism? Do you think Voltaire is critical of a specific social movement or of society in general? Why?

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