View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Newman ask Valentin to do while they are at the opera?

2. Whom does Newman see entering Claire's chapel just as he is leaving?

3. How does Claire seem as her marriage to Newman grows closer?

4. Why do doctors refuse to let Newman see Valentin for a while?

5. Who does Valentin suspect is involved in his father's death?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is Newman's opinion of Urbain?

3. How did Mrs. Bread get connected to the Bellegarde familiy?

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

5. What does Newman first tell the injured Valentin about Claire?

6. What does Valentin think happened surrounding the death of his father?

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

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

9. What does Claire tell Newman about the reason why the engagement has been called off?

10. What does Claire plan to do now that she is no longer engaged to Newman?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In a well-written essay, discuss the role that Noemie's father plays in the novel and at least one major benefit and challenge for James in including him.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

Analyze at least 3 different literary techniques James uses to create tension in "The American."

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 700 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample