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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. To what dog does Renee liken concierges?

2. What surprised Renee about her husband?

3. What does Paloma begin to drink in the morning?

4. What does Renee remember about Arthens' son?

5. How does Renee feel about her marriage?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Renee remember about Arthens' son?

2. What has Renee decided about phenomenology and how does she use Kant to come to this conclusion?

3. What does Paloma think of Maître Arthens?

4. Why does Chabrot come to Renee's apartment?

5. What does Paloma decide to do after observing an interesting rugby player?

6. What way did Paloma consider suicide and what why does she finally settle upon in her mind?

7. What does Renee say when the son of a tenant in the building says something to Renee about Marx?

8. Describe Olympe.

9. What is Renee's educational background and who fostered her desire to learn?

10. Who is Manuela and what does she want to do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Muriel Barbery.

2. What in Barbery's background may have helped her in writing "The Elegance of the Hedgehog"? What may have influenced the way she depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. Who is/are the protagonists of the story and why?

2. Who is/are the antagonists of the story and why?

3. Which 3 secondary characters have the greatest impact on the plot?

4. Are any of the characters dispensable and which ones? Why or why not?

5. Do you think this is a character-driven plot or an action-driven plot? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think "The Elegance of the Hedgehog" is? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

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