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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. How does Félicité lose her first job?

2. Where is Mme. Aubain's house located?

3. When Félicité was 25-years-old, how old did people think she was?

4. How many properties does Mme. Aubain still own?

5. What items did Félicité buy for her sister's family?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do you think Félicité means when she says of Victor's death that "'It doesn't matter a bit, not to them it doesn't'"?

2. Describe the scene with the bull and explain why you think it is important.

3. How does Félicité begin to confuse or associate the parrot with the Holy Spirit?

4. Does it seem important that Félicité asks Fabu's forgiveness before she dies?

5. How is Félicité introduced to the reader in the first chapter?

6. What are some examples of times when Félicité has been abused or disregarded? Describe them and explain how she is being treated poorly.

7. Why is it significant that Félicité sleeps in her chair in front of the fire?

8. Why do you think that it struck Félicité as wrong that Mme. Aubain should die before she did?

9. At the beginning of the story, what does the narrator tell us about Mme. Aubain's history?

10. To what extent would you say that this story is about Félicité? What do you think Flaubert wanted to say by writing a short story about a person like Félicité?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The most crucial moment in Félicité's relationship with Mme. Aubain is when the two of them embrace. Analyze this scene and Félicité's reaction to the experience. How does this change her relationship with Mme. Aubain? Why is it so important to Félicité? What impact does it have on the story generally?

Essay Topic 2

Consider Félicité's relationship with her sister and her sister's family. Taking into account both their treatment of her and hers of them, what do Félicité's relationships with her family tell us about her character? Be sure to include her relationships with both Victor and her sister.

Essay Topic 3

The scene of Félicité's death juxtaposes her personal experience and a very public religious celebration. Consider why Flaubert chose to represent her death in this context. How does the procession impact the way we read and understand Félicité's passing?

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