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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. When the Edmond de Polignac Prize was introduced, it was to be awarded annually by the Royal Society of Literature in London and was worth how much?

2. Where is the Le Cercle de la rue Royale now located?

3. Who did Dr. Pozzi quote in a speech when he said, "However empty the heavens above us might have now become, we should always be able to recognize amongst them the divine figure of Pity" (141)?

4. On what date did a fire break out at the Bazar de la Charite, an annual event organized by the Catholic aristocracy of France, according to the narrative?

5. How is Edmond de Polignac posed in Le Cercle de la rue Royale?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who was Odilon Redon?

2. What did Pozzi's grandson Claude Bourdet say of him?

3. Who was Charles Baudelaire?

4. What was the nature of Dr. Pozzi's relationship with Emma Fischoff?

5. What did Dr. Pozzi warn his fellow doctors about in his inaugural address as the chair of gynecology?

6. What is A Picture of Dorian Gray about?

7. Describe the works of Edgar Degas. What was his style?

8. What rumors abounded about Sarah Bernhardt's sexuality?

9. Describe the painting Madame X. Who painted it and who is the subject?

10. How does the author describe Prince Edmond de Polignac?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Pozzi's marriage to Thérèse Loth-Cazalis. When did they marry? How does the author characterize their marriage? What ultimately led to their separation? How did they live after separating?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the theme of sexuality in The Man in the Red Coat. What individuals in this biography are described as likely homosexual? Why? How was homosexuality perceived at this time? What laws banned homosexual acts and how frequently were they invoked?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the motif of literature in the Man in the Red Coat. Who are some of the most notable authors of the Belle Époque that are discussed in the book? What did they write? What literary styles emerged during this time period?

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