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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. What does Stidman tell Wenceslas to get him to leave his second meeting with Valerie and return home?

2. What piece of art created by Wenceslas is generating extreme criticism from his fellow artists, including Stidman?

3. How does Valerie explain her relationship to Montejanos?

4. Besides leading Wenceslas astray, for what other family disgrace is Baron Hulot responsible?

5. How does Hortense react upon learning that Wenceslas has lied to her about his whereabouts?

Short Essay Questions

1. After their initial clandestine meetings, what message does Hector receive in the form of a letter from Valerie? What reason does she give for a change of plans? What is the real reason?

2. What has happened to Wenceslas professionally in the three years since he has married Hortense? To what is this change attributed?

3. What are the three beauty spots that Valerie Marneffe arranges for her first meeting with Wenceslas? What is Wenceslas' impression of Valerie?

4. What publication makes Lisbeth so happy? What event begins a chain of events that will end this happiness?

5. Who interrupts Valerie and Hector during their clandestine meeting in Crevel's love nest? By whom is this character accompanied? What does this character tell the Baron about Valerie Marneffe and her husband?

6. Besides the news of the embezzlement scheme in the newspaper, what other news item is featured in the Revue des Beaux-Arts? What is Hortense's reaction to this item?

7. What does the regimental quartermaster from Algeria bring to Hector? What was he expecting the quartermaster to have brought him?

8. What does Adeline advise Hortense to do after her first quarrel with Wenceslas over Valerie Marneffe? What does Adeline reveal to her daughter about her own marriage?

9. In whom does Hector confide his devastation about Valerie? What is this character's response?

10. What problem with her husband does Valerie alert Hector to in a letter? What solution does she suggest to this predicament? How does Hector respond to this suggestion?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the importance of setting in Cousin Bette? Where do the significant scenes take place? In what time period is the novel set? Why is this significant?

Essay Topic 2

How is irony manifested in Cousin Bette? Choose two examples of irony from the text and explain their classification and significance. How does the use of irony affect the tone of the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Pride is a significant theme in Cousin Bette. What is the message conveyed about pride in this novel? Use specific examples from the text to support your answer.

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