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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. Why is La Maheude upset about her family?

2. What does Bonnemort mean?

3. Why can't Bonnemort work inside the Voreux anymore?

4. From what hereditary disease does Etienne suffer?

5. Where does La Maheude go to ask for help?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Etienne's move affect his relationship with Catherine?

2. Why is it almost impossible by February for the miners to continue the strike?

3. Souvarine and Etienne have a discussion after the tragedy of the shooting. What do they talk about and what does Souvarine do?

4. What activist does Etienne meet at the Advantage and what do they do?

5. Why were the Montsou miners angry at the Jean-Bart miners?

6. What do the miners demand of Mr. Hennebeau?

7. Chaval comes in the Advantage where Etienne is talking with Rasseneur. What does he announce and what happens between him and Etienne?

8. What does Lantier create for the miners to join and what is one of his first projects?

9. Why has Etienne come to the mine?

10. What is the social scene like in the village?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Zola uses a writing style and a combination of techniques that are equivalent to the painting style and techniques of the late nineteenth century impressionists.

1. How do you think Zola's writing style relates to the theme and plot of the book?

2. How do you think the impact of the book would change had Zola used a more concrete writing style?

Essay Topic 2

By befriending a soldier, Lantier discovers he (Lantier) is not that different from the people against whom he is fighting. Both men share hopes, dreams and memories; both wish for the same kind of life and in the end, they can only be differentiated by the master they serve.

1. Do you think this statement could be true in any situation where one person or group of persons consider another an enemy? Use an example from the text and from life now in the United States to illustrate this statement.

2. If two enemies were placed in a room and had to stay together for one month without fighting do you think they would be enemies at the end of that month? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The author uses the environment to underline the symbolic value of Étienne Lantier's move from timid indignation to effective political action. For instance, Lantier and his supporters decide to leave the tavern of the Rasseneurs and move to another meeting place because the former serve "warm beer" and "bad soup."

1. What other situations in the environment to you see reflecting the situations with the miners?

2. How did Etienne's relationships with the miners and the Maheu family reflect his change from outsider to political leader?

(see the answer keys)

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