THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - Wikispaces · The Count of Monte Cristo Vocabulary List vigilant – watchful contraband – illegal goods insinuate – to hint at betrothal – engagement

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO

Name Mrs. P. McCall American Literature – Period Date Due:

The Count of Monte Cristo Vocabulary List

vigilant – watchful

contraband – illegal goods

insinuate – to hint at

betrothal – engagement

maxim – wise saying

zeal – enthusiasm

benevolence – kindness

ardent – strong; passionate

prodigious – very large; amazing

obstinate – stubborn

lithe – athletically flexible

celibacy – state of abstaining from sex

console – comfort in a loss

incessant – unceasing; never stopping

inquisitive – questioning

orifice – opening

effigy – image of a person or a dummy

repugnance – great disgust

notary – an official who makes documents

incognito – in disguise so that you can’t be recognized

French Words from The Count of Monte Cristo

For each word, write the PART OF SPEECH as well as the definition. You will need to know these words!

1. école =

2. église =

3. château =

4. abbé =

5. madame =

6. mademoiselle =

7. monsieur =

8. pied-à-terre =

9. gendarmes =

10. guillotine =

11. rue =

12. franc =

13. reverie =

14. coup de grace =

15. rosette =

16. boudoir =

17. caprice =

18. valet =

19. cravat =

20. facile =

21. grotesque =

22. connoisseur =

Words that should look a little familiar…

23. haggard =

24. somber =

25. abyss =

26. gesticulate =

27. ingenuity =

28. dowry =

29. shrewd =

30. lethargy =

31. imperative =

32. imperious =

33. countenance =

34. cunning =

35. emanate =

36. infallible =

37. apoplexy =

38. efficacious =

39. obsequious =

40. cosmopolite =

41. vendetta =

42. infallible =

43. breviary =

Character Keeper

Directions: As you read the novel, make it a habit to write details about the characters. Write

physical descriptions (if any), the character’s relation to other characters, and other information that

might help you to remember him or her.

Protagonist and Family

44. Edmond Dantès (protagonist)

45. The Count of Monte Cristo

46. Abbé Busoni

47. Lord Wilford

48. Sinbad the Sailor

49. Louis Dantès

Servants or Friends of Monte Cristo:

50. Baptistin

51. Jacopo

52. Ali

53. Giovanni Bertuccio and Assunta

54. Ali Pasha

55. Luigi Vampa

56. Peppino

57. Haydee

COPYRIGHT, The Center for Learning. Used with permission. Not for resale.

Morrel and Family

58. Monsieur Morrel

59. Maximilien

60. Julie

61. Emmanuel Herbault

62. Cloclès

63. Penelon

Danglars and Family

64. Baron Danglars

65. Hermine Danglars

66. Eugénie

67. Louise d’ Armilly

Gerard de Villefort and Family

68. Villefort

69. Renée de Saint- Méran

70. Valentine

71. Heloise

72. Edouard

73. Benedetto

74. Marquise and Marquis de Saint-Merán

75. Noirtier

76. Barrios


Caderousse

77. Caderousse

Mondego/de Morcerf Family

78. Mercédès

79. Fernand

80. Albert

Other Important Characters

81. Cardinal Spada

82. Abbé Faria

83. Lucien Debray

84. Raoul Chateau-Renaud

85. Major Cavalcanti

86. Andrea Cavalcanti

87. Captain Leclère

88. Louis XVIII

89. Napolean

90. Beauchamp

91. Dr. d’Avrigny

92. Frantz d’Epinay

93. M. de Boville


Study and Discussion Guide

Directions: As you read the novel, answer the following questions. Write in complete sentences.

Chapters 1-4

94. In what year does the novel begin? Why is that year significant?

95. Who is Dantès’s fiancée?

96. Who is offered the position of captain on the Pharaon?

97. What does Dantès father confess has happened to him during his absence?

98. Who is the person talking to Dantès’s fiancée in chapter 3?

99. What do Danglers, Caderousee, and Fernand discuss in the restaurant?

100. What important event happens at Dantès’s betrothal feast?

Chapters 5-9

101. Whose betrothal feast does the reader witness in chapter 5?

102. Why is this feast interrupted?

103. Explain Dantès’s excuse for going to Elba.


104. When does Villefort change his mind about detaining Dantès? Why does he change his mind?

105. What does Dantès think that Villefort is doing by detaining him a night?

106. Where do the gendarmes take Dantès?

107. At the end of chapter 6, where is Dantès taken? Why?

108. King Louis XVIII is a minor character in the novel, but makes an impact in the background story line. What important character visits him? What message does this character bring the king? 109. How does Villefort change Dantès story?

110. Who has arrived in France? Why is this important?

111. What becomes of Danglars, Fernand, and Dantès’s father?

112. While in the dungeon in solitude, Dantès makes a desperate decision. What is it? What keeps Dantès from carrying out this decision? 113. Who is the man Dantès finds? What rumors have been told of this man?


Chapters 10-12

114. Why is the Abbé Faria imprisoned?

115. What does the Abbé do with his time in jail? How are these things possible?

116. Explain how the Abbé helps Dantès figure out how his enemies conspired against him.

117. After Abbé helps Dantès discover his enemies, the Abbé says, “… I have instilled in your heart a feeling that wasn’t there before: vengeance.” Explain the importance of this quotation.

118. What does Abbé teach Dantès? Why do you think that is important information for the reader?

119. Explain Abbé Faria’s illness. What happens right before the great escape?

120. Why does Dantès think that the Abbé is mad?

121. Identify the following people: Cardinal Spada, Pope Alexander VI, Caesar Borgia, Caesar Spada.

122. Explain how the rich Spada family becomes poor.

123. Explain how Abbé Faria discovers his fortune.


124. What happens to the Abbé in this chapter?

125. How does Dantès escape from the Château d’If?

Chapters 13-16

126. Who rescues Dantès? What story does Dantès tell the sailors of the Jeune-Amélie?

127. How does Dantès get to stay on the Isle of Monte Cristo? Explain the “treasure hunt.”

128. How does Dantès reward Jacopo?

129. What happens to Dantès’s father and Mercédès?

130. How does Dantès get the treasure off the Isle of Monte Cristo?

131. What is Caderousse’s new profession?

132. Who visits Caderousse? Who do you think this visitor is?

133. What information does the visitor receive about the following people: Dantès’s father, Morrel, Fernand, Mercédès, Danglars?

134. What does Caderousse receive for this information?


135. What does the visitor learn about Dantès’s enemies and their betrayal?

Chapters 17-19

136. Who do you think is the representative of Thomson and French?

137. What deal does this representative make with the Inspector of Prisons? What does this man learn about Dantès and his imprisonment? 138. Who is Julie? Who is Emmanuel?

139. What has happened to Morrel and his business? What has happened to the Pharaon?

140. What does the representative do for Morrel?

141. What is Morrel planning to do?

142. Who is Maximilien?

143. Who is Sinbad the Sailor, and what does he do?

144. How is Morrel “saved” at the end of chapter 19? Be specific.


Chapters 20-23

145. Who are the two young French gentlemen mentioned in chapter 20? What is the setting?

146. What problem do they have? Who helps them with this problem?

147. Who is Signore Pastrini?

148. Who is Monsieur Bertuccio?

149. What are the Count and company planning on watching at the Piazza del Poplo?

150. To whom do you think the Count is referring in his words to Franz on page 115 when he says, “If a man has tortured and killed your father, your mother, your sweetheart… do you think society has given you sufficient reparation because the blade of the guillotine has passed between the mur-derer’s trapezius and his occipital bone, because the man who made you undergo long years of men-tal and emotional suffering has undergone a few seconds of physical pain?” What does this say about the Count?

151. What happens when Peppino is set free?

152. What are Franz’s and Albert’s reactions to the execution?

153. Who has taken hold of Albert de Morcerf?

154. How do the bandits respond to the Count’s arrival?


155. When does the Count plan to visit Paris?

156. Name and describe the guests at the Morcerf party.

157. What are some of the Count’s eccentricities?

158. How does Mercédès respond to seeing the Count? Why?

Chapters 24-25

159. Where is the Count’s new residence?

160. Where is the country house that the Count bought located? Bertuccio’s response to the news?

161. What is Bertuccio’s secret?

162. Explain the crime that Bertuccio discusses that involves Caderousse.

163. What happened to Assunta?

164. Describe Danglar’s meeting with the Count.

165. What does the Count do to get on Madame Danglar’s good side?


166. How does the Count save Heloise de Villefort?

Chapters 26-31

167. Describe the Count’s conversation with Villefort.

168. Describe Haydée.

169. Whom does the Count visit in chapter 28? Why does the Count leave so abruptly?

170. Whom does the Count visit in chapter 29? Explain the point the Count is trying to make in his conversation with his host. 171. Who visits the Count in chapter 30? Explain the visitor’s view of his relationship with Eugénie Danglars. 172. Who are Monsieur and Viscount Cavalcanti?

Chapters 32-36

173. What two secret lovers do we meet in chapter 32?

174. Whom is Valentine supposed to marry?

175. Whom is Eugénie supposed to marry?

176. What reason does Valentine give for her stepmother’s opposition of marriage?


177. Who is Barrios?

178. Describe Nortier’s condition.

179. How does Nortier respond to the news of Valentine’s marriage? What does he do?

180. What does Villefort decide to do as a direct reaction to Nortier’s response?

181. What story does the Count tell his guests as he gives them a tour of his house in Auteuil?

182. What are Madame Danglars and Villefort’s responses?

183. Who is Benedetto’s partner?

Chapters 37-41

184. Discuss Danglars and Madam Danglars’s conversation.

185. What does Danglars disclose about Fernand and Eugénie’s future?

186. What new information does Villefort disclose to Madame Danglars?

187. Who dies in chapter 41?

188. What are Maximilien’s and Valentine’s plans?


189. Maximilien overhears a conversation between the doctor and Villefort. Discuss the implications of this conversation. Chapters 42-44 190. Why is the wedding between Valentine and Franz called off?

191. What excuse does Danglars give Fernand for calling off the engagement between Albert and

Eugénie?

192. Who dies in chapter 44? Who is accused of the murders?

Chapters 45-48

193. What is Caderousse’s plan?

194. What is contained in the two letters the Count makes Caderousse write?

195. Where will the Count take Albert?

196. Describe the effects surrounding the Fernand Mondego and Ali Pasha affair.

Chapters 49-53

197. Whom does Albert first accuse for his father’s misfortune?

198. Albert challenges the Count to what?

199. Who visits the Count? What does he or she ask of him?


200. What is the outcome of the Albert/Count conflict?

201. What does the Count offer Mercédès? Does she accept?

Chapters 54-61

202. Describe the meeting between the Count and Mondego. What does this conversation lead Mondego to do?

203. Who will help Maximilien and Valentine?

204. Describe the events leading up to Cavalcanti escape.

205. What are Eugénie’s plans?

206. Describe Cavalcanti’s capture.

207. Who is the murderer in the Villefort home?

208. Who dies in chapter 60?

209. What is Danglars planning?

Chapters 62-67

210. What is Maximilien planning to do? Who stops him? How does this person stop Maximilien?


211. Describe the main idea expressed in Danglar’s letter to Madame Danglars.

212. Who visits Benedetto in jail? What do you think he was planning to tell Bertuccio before they were interrupted? 213. Why does Villefort drink the hot chocolate that his wife sends him even though he thinks it is poisoned? 214. What does Villefort ask his wife to do? Based on what you have deduced about Villefort’s cha-racter, how did you react to this? 215. What is revealed in the Benedetto trial? 216. As Villefort looks at the fan Madame de Villefort left behind in the carriage, what does he realize about his actions earlier that day? 217. Who else has died in the Villefort house? 218. Describe the message written by Madame de Villefort. 219. What does the Count realize at the end of this chapter? 220. Describe Villefort’s state of mind at the end of chapter 67. What proof do you have to support your answer? Chapters 68-73 221. Whom does the Count visit in Marseilles?


222. Why does Dantès feel he must return to the Château d’If? What does he realize at the Chateau? 223. Who has “captured” Danglars? 224. How is Danglars being tortured? 225. If one were to rank Dantès enemies from least guilty to most guilty, one would probably choose Danglers as the most guilty enemy. Why does the Count spare Danglars’s life if he is the most guilty? 226. Describe the events leading up to Maximilien’s “suicide.” 227. What explanation does the Count give Maximilien for his strange behavior? 228. What is the significance of the last words in the novel, “Wait and hope”?


Background Notes on the French Revolution and Napoleon Bonaparte

From 1700 to the 1770’s, France enjoyed much prosperity. Both the economy and the population boomed. However, this was mislead-ing, for Kings Louis XIV and Louis XV nearly ma-naged to bankrupt the government from borrow-ing too much money from banks to pay off war debts. The social system, known as the Old Re-gime, had three unequal classes called Estates. The First Estate, made up of the powerful clergy, represented one percent of the population. They lived very well in extravagant homes and did not have to pay taxes. The Second Estate was the nobility. They comprised two percent of the population and likewise did not have to pay taxes. The Third Estate, the remaining ninety-seven percent of the population, were made up of three subclasses: the bourgeois (the professionals and merchants), laborers, and peasants. .

In 1774 when King Louis XVI came to the throne, the country was in serious need of eco-nomic reform. In the 1780s banks refused to lend the king money. Furthermore, there were several years of poor harvests and bread short-ages. King Louis XVI’s financial advisers sug-gested he tax the First and Second Estates. In order to implement his new taxation policies, the king called a meeting in 1789 of the Estates General, something that had not been done since 1614. In the past, each Estate met separately and each would cast one vote, allowing the Third Estate to be outvoted two-to-one. The Third Es-tate was aware that the first two Estates would not vote to be taxed, which meant that the bur-den of saving the country economically would continue to rest in the hands of the Third Estate. The members of the Third Estate did not want to meet separately. Rather, they wanted to meet together with the representatives voting as indi-viduals. King Louis XVI was a weak king, and since he was afraid of the first two Estates, he ruled to follow the old method of meeting. How-ever, the Third Estate refused.

On June 17, 1789, the Third Estate broke from the Estates General and called itself the Na-tional Assembly. In addition, they invited mem-bers of the first two Estates to join them in the reformation of France. Most members of the first two Estates did not join the National Assembly, but a few did for the sake of equality.

The king was fearful of a revolution; in turn, the members of the National Assembly feared an attack. Therefore, on July 14, 1789 – presently known worldwide as Bastille Day – the revolutio-naries stormed the prison of Bastille searching for weapons that the King may have hid. With the storming of Bastille, the French Revolution had officially begun. Chaos broke out over the land when fearful peasants attacked the nobles and religious. At this point the National Assem-bly assumed the power of the government, and they published the Declaration of Rights of Man, a document very similar to the Bill of Rights of the United States.

The French Revolution was underway with the Slogan, “Liberty, equality, fraternity.” Nobles, known as émigrés, fled all over Europe, and King Louis XVIII began to call in troops to Versailles to reinstate the Old Regime. By 1791, the National Assembly had completed the Constitution insti-tuting three branches of government similar to that of the United States. The King reluctantly consented to the Constitution. In the meantime, foreign troops began to invade France in order to defend the rights of the king. On August 10, 1792, the National Assembly suspended the mo-narchy and arrested the king and his family. The National Assembly wanted a popular election of officials, and with this first election, the Assembly established a republic. The National convention replaced the National Assembly and in it were three main political parties: The Girondists who were traditional and conservative, the Jacobins who were liberal and radical, and a third party with no definite view (although eventually most sided with the Jacobins).

On January 21, 1793, the officials guillotined King Louis XVI, an act that was considered brutal and condemned by many nations. Meanwhile, other countries were beginning to invade France. Therefore, the country began to draft soldiers. The National Convention started a program to suppress all opposition. The period from 1793 to July 1794 is known as the Reign of Terror. Dur-ing this time officials, primarily Jacobins, con-ducted quick trials and executions, some of which were for mere suspicion of opposition. Radicals killed anyone considered disloyal to the cause. The leader of this time period was Max-

imilien Robespierre. When Robespierre was killed in July 1794, the Reign of Terror died.

From 1795 to 1799 General Napoleon Bonaparte caught the public’s attention for his military ge-nius. People began to assume that if Napoleon was so successful in his military operations, then he could mend France domestically. Because many were afraid that the royalists would take over the power positions, the revolutionaries placed Napoleon in power. The period from 1799 to 1814 is known as the Napoleonic Era. Napoleon agreed to maintain the present system of government, and he respected the work and ideals of the revolution. In 1804 the people voted to declare France an empire and Napoleon as emperor. During the next four years, “Little General” conquered most of Europe. Whatever country he conquered, he instilled in the people a sense of nationalism, which eventually backfired on him because these conquered people did not have pride in France.

Other countries slowly began to use Napole-on’s military successes against him. These coun-tries studied his methods and began to copy them. When Napoleon conquered Spain and Portugal, the British came to the aid of these countries. Eventually, the British and Spanish took advantage of a weakened French army and defeated the French. One of his greatest military disasters occurred with Russia. In 1812 Czar Al-exander I of Russia decided that he would resume his trade with the British. Napoleon was insulted that his strong ally would oppose the blockade, so he gathered troops from all coun-tries in his empires and invaded Russia. Using these troops caused a problem for Napoleon. These troops did not have the same sense of na-tionalism that his former armies had because they were made up of conquered people. There-fore, they lacked the necessary patriotic fire needed to invade a country like Russia. In addi-tion, Napoleon did not count on the Russian’s military intelligence. As he invaded Russia, the Russian army retreated inland and burned the land and cities after them. This left the French surrounded by devastation with little food or wa-ter. Yet, Napoleon moved forward and con-quered Moscow. However, when the French in-vaded Moscow, the Russians burned this city as

well. As winter set in, soldiers began to die of starvation and various illnesses. Eventually, Na-poleon and the feeble French army retreated to France.

In 1814 several European countries formed a new European Alliance, crushed Napoleon, and sent him to the isle of Elba. The Alliance cap-tured France and restored the Bourbon monarchy by placing on the throne King Louis XVIII, the brother of King Louis XVI. (King Louis XVII, the son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, would have been king, but he died during the Reign of Terror.)

Although Napoleon was banished to Elba, he had no intention of relinquishing his power. On March 1, 1815, Napoleon escaped from the Isle of Elba and returned to France. Twenty days later, Napoleon moved his army into France, the Bourbons escaped to Brussels, and Napoleon’s Hundred Days in power began. However, Prus-sia, Britain, and the Netherlands combined ar-mies to fight Napoleon. On June 18, 1815, these troops defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Water-loo and sent him to St. Helena, where he re-mained until his death in 1821.5

Because Dumas wrote in his native French language, there are many French terms that the author expects the reader to understand. How-ever, unless students have taken French classes or speak the language, they may be confused about several terms. After students study the history, they will be presented with a list of common French terms found in the novel. Stu-dents may refer to this list as they read the novel.

5Anatole G. Mazour and John M. Peoples, World History; People and Nations (Orlando: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich

Publishers, 1990) 421-444.

History of the French Revolution and Napoleon Bonaparte Directions: Review the following. 1700-1770s Much economic prosperity and population growth Social Order: Old Regime and the Three Estates First Estate: the clergy (1% of population – not taxed) Second Estate: the nobility (2% of population – not taxed)

Third Estate: the bourgeoisie (merchants and professionals), laborers and peasants (97% of population – taxed) Kings Louis XIV and Louis XV almost ruin the country financially

1774 King Louis XVI comes to throne – needs to make economic reform 1780s Banks refuse new loans for king; poor harvests; bread shortages; lan-

downers raise rents; king raises taxes May 5, 1789 Estates General meet Third Estate refuses to meet unless all estates meet together and individ-

ual representatives have power to vote. King refuses. June 17, 1789 Third Estate proclaims itself to be the National Assembly. July 14, 1789 Bastille Day – revolutionaries storm the Bastille prison in search of wea-

pons. Chaos breaks out all over the country. August 27, 1789 Publication of the Declaration of the Rights of Man Slogan for French Revolution: “Liberty, equality, fraternity” French noble émigrés flee to other European countries. 1791 The National Assembly completes the Constitution and establishes three

branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. June 21, 1791 King and family try to flee country but are caught; Louis XVI remains king.

Austrian and Prussian troops invade France. August 10, 1792 King is arrested and monarchy is suspended. The Legislative Assembly

votes itself out of existence, sets a date for election of delegates to a Na-tional Convention, and writes a new Constitution.


September 1792 The National Convention establishes France as a republic. Three Main Groups within the Convention Girondists: right-winged, traditional, conservative Jacobins: left-winged, radical, liberal Third group: hold no definite views: most would side with the Jacobins January 21, 1793 King Louis XVI is guillotined; the world is shocked. September 1793 – Reign of Terror to squelch all opposition begins under Robespierre. Quick July 1794 trials and executions, some based solely on suspicion of opposition. 1795 – 1799 Napoleon catches public attention for military genius. Many believe he

could rule domestically as well as militarily. 1799 – 1814 Napoleonic Era 1799 Napoleon’s troops take control of the legislature; he sets himself up as a

dictator, yet keeps the form of a republic and respects many of the im-plemented reforms such as Declaration of Rights of Man.

1804 People vote to declare France an empire and Napoleon the emperor. 1805 British form a new Coalition with other countries to fight Napoleon’s cam-

paign to conquer Europe. 1808 Napoleon dominates Europe. 1812 War against Russia; retreat of French army 1814 New European alliance crushes Napoleon and sends him to the Isle of El-

ba. Louis XVIII named king. March 1, 1815 Napoleon escapes from the Isle of Elba; King flees to Brussels. March 20, 1815 Napoleon’s Hundred Days of Reign while Prussia, Britain, and Netherlands

combine armies to fight Napoleon June 18, 1815 Napoleon is defeated at the Battle of Waterloo; Napoleon is sent to St.

Helena. 1821 Napoleon dies.


Documents

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - Wikispaces · The Count of Monte Cristo Vocabulary List vigilant – watchful contraband – illegal goods insinuate – to hint at betrothal – engagement