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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. Who interrupts Merivel's wedding night?

2. What does Merivel do while he's hiding in his room?

3. What age does Merivel turn at the beginning of Chapter 11?

4. What piece of attire does Merivel find sweaty and itchy?

5. What does Merivel ask for in his letter to the King?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Merivel get into Celia's room?

2. Who has Celia invited to the house, and why?

3. Why does Degeulasse de Gourly come to visit Merivel?

4. What is Merivel's reaction to the letter about Rosie?

5. What does the King's court like about Merivel?

6. Why doesn't Merivel try to treat his dog himself?

7. What does Merivel think about his promise as an artist before he begins trying to paint?

8. What does Merivel tell the King after drinking the tampered wine?

9. What does Merivel do after he leaves Celia on their wedding night?

10. Explain the metaphor in the story that Pearce tells Merivel.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the values of the characters in the novel, and how the characters assign value to both material and immaterial things.

1) Discuss the valuation of the "nightingale." What gives it value to Merivel, Pearce, and Celia. Why?

2) How do the characters value immaterial things, such as love, friendship, family, tradition, and religion? What role do immaterial things play in the characters' lives?

3) How do the characters value other people? What is this valuation based on?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the novel's treatment of women.

1) How does the novel portray women? What role do women hold in the society, and how does their societal role affect their behavior and personalities?

2) How do the male characters perceive and react to women? What do the male characters think of women, and how do they treat women?

3) How does the author perceive women? How can you distinguish between the characters' perceptions and the author's perception?

Essay Topic 3

The novel is set in the historical period of the Restoration in England. Discuss this historical setting and the relationship between the novel and history.

1) Why did the author choose to set a novel in this time period and name the novel after the historical period?

2) How do historical events such as the fire in London and the plague affect the story?

3) How does your knowledge of things like modern medicine affect how you view the characters and what they do in the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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