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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 tells Newman that Valentin will not survive his wounds?

2. What does Valentin think of his family's involvement in breaking up Claire and Newman's engagement?

3. Who tells Newman where the convent is that Claire has joined?

4. Whom does Newman first tell that he knows of the family secret?

5. What does Urbain make sure to do at the engagement party?

Short Essay Questions

1. Once Valentin and Newman learn that Noemie has been spending her time with a mysterious man, what does Valentin think about the situation?

2. What threat does Newman end up making to Urbain about the information he has on the Bellegarde family?

3. What does Urbain request of Newman when he comes and confesses that his father was in fact murdered?

4. What does Urbain's wife ask Newman to do during the opera?

5. What did Madame de Bellegarde once accuse Mrs. Bread of?

6. What is Newman's original plan in confronting Urbain and Madame de Bellegarde about the way Claire's father died?

7. What is Newman's opinion of Urbain?

8. Why does Mrs. Tristam arrange for Newman to see Claire in her convent?

9. What does Noemie tell Newman when he confronts her and her father at the Cafe de le Patrie?

10. What does Mrs. Tristam have to say about Claire and Newman's broken engagement?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe at least four negative aspects of having a protagonist as good-natured as Newman. Make sure to use evidence from the novel to support your position.

Essay Topic 2

Describe at least 4 features of Claire's mother and how those features fulfill the traditional, literary requirements of a villain.

Essay Topic 3

Choose at least one female character from "The American" and discuss at least 3 ways she goes against traditional gender stereotypes of someone like her.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 727 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample