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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 happens to the boy in Book II, Stanza 6, after Maldoror talks with him about heaven?

2. What does the toad say Maldoror should do if he is so smart?

3. Why did the bulldog Maldoror sent to kill the mad woman's daughter not kill the girl?

4. What did Maldoror do to the mad woman's daughter before sending a bulldog to kill the girl?

5. In Book II, Stanza 13, who does Maldoror find that he feels is just like him?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Maldoror tell men to stop worshiping an insect god?

2. In Book II, what happens to the narrator when he tries to write?

3. Why does Maldoror feel the ocean is superior to humanity?

4. When Mario and Maldoror travel together in Book III, what do they talk about?

5. In Book III, Stanza 3, what does Tremdall witness?

6. What conversation about heaven does Maldoror have with the boy on the park bench?

7. What does the child chasing the horse-drawn bus make Maldoror think of?

8. What does Maldoror do after visiting a brothel in Book III, Stanza 5?

9. What does Maldoror predict about his death in Book I, Stanza 10?

10. What happens to Maldoror when he realizes he was born evil?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore the ocean as a motif in this poem. Give examples of Lautréamont's use of the ocean and explain its symbolism and meaning.

Essay Topic 2

Examine the way the poem, "Lautréamont's Maldoror" is organized. Why did the poet use these divisions? What makes these divisions effective? How are they ineffective?

Essay Topic 3

How does Lautréamont use surrealism throughout this poem? What is the effect of this device? How is it effective or ineffective? Make sure you define surrealism in your essay and use specific examples of it in the poem.

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