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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who do the women go to for food?

2. How does Etienne help Jeanlin?

3. Why does Lantier decide to hide?

4. What does Hennebeau tell the miners?

5. What does Chaval announce when he comes to the Advantage during the strike?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The situation is desperate, with the miners having no food or heat. Zola draws an analogy of lack of coal as a source of collective energy (for the houses), which is correlated with the lack of food, a source of personal energy (for the body).

1. Discuss two other analogies that Zola uses in the miners' situation.

2. Do you think Zola's analogies are meant to be ambivalent to be powerful? Why or why not?

3. Would he have strengthened his position better with more concrete writing?

Essay Topic 2

In the first chapter, everything is set in the dark of night; the only lighting is provided either by the moonlight or by the fire burning inside the chunks of coal.

1. Why do you think GERMINAL starts at night?

2. How does the dark relate to the book's themes?

3. Did you see any foreshadowing from the darkness in the beginning of the book? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The triumphs of collectivism are short lived and their assurance follows the path of their deteriorating conditions of living.

1. Why and how do you think the triumphant collectivism of the miners being focused together deteriorated?

2. How do you think the focused collectivism of an organized body, such as an army, can remain stable as opposed to the miners?

3. Do you think organization and strong leadership are always necessary in order for a group to work together?

Use examples from the book to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 370 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample