French Exam Notes

Chapitre Un
We are introduced to the main character Edmond Dantes. He along with the crew of the “Pharoan” reveal news about their time on the seas (the captain’s death, detour to l’île d’Elbe, Dantes’ encounter with Napolean and his officials, and the message he had to deliver…) Danglars is jealous of Edmond as he becomes the unofficial captain of the Pharaon. Danglars looks forward to seeing his fiancée Mercedes and his father. – VOCAB: svelte- slim, armateur- owner of the boat, veuve- widow, autant que – as much as, larmes- tears… – QUESTION ANSWERS: the boat came from Naples, Napolean asks to buy the Pharaon, Dantes wants to go to Paris…

Chapitre Deux
Dantes visits his father and learns about his father’s payment to tailor Caderousse. His father, weak and hungry is still proud of his son’s success and return. Mr. Dantes paid Caderousse off after Dantes left, leaving him with only 200 francs for 3 months. Caderousse comes for a little visit, and Dantes tries to hide his coldness, Caderousse learns about Dantes’ success and incoming wealth. Caderousse meets with Danglars to get more of a report on Dantes. They conspire together… VOCAB: reprendre- continue, faire tort á- to hurt, s’acheminer- direct… – QUESTION ANSWERS : Mercedes lives in Catalane, Mercedes has apparently been cheating on Edmond, the debt was for Dantes who forgot to handle it beforehand…

Chapitre Trois
Mercedes is introduced in the beautiful village of Catalane with a man named Fernand (its her cousin LOL). He loves her but she says she only loves him, as if he were a brother, and she tells him that she is committed to another man. Dantes comes and embraces Mercedes as Fernand looks on with jealousy. Dantes recognizes Fernand’s jealousy and anger. VOCAB: entêté – leading, tendre – advance, tender, ceinture- belt. QUESTION ANSWERS:

Chapitre Quatre
Fernand meets Caderousse and Danglars at « La Cafe Reserve » They speak about Dantes’ successes (marriage to Mercedes, captain of the Phaaon, and favour among important people he works for…) They decide that killing Dantes and Mercedes is extreme, so they decide that prison walls are the perfect way to separate the two. Caderousse decides a letter should be sent anonymously to the magistrate of the king (le procureur). The letter states that Dantes should be charged with high treason for being affiliated with Bonaparte. They had done this as a joke but Danglars returned to the letter and went to the magistrate of the king. VOCAB: complot- conspiration, noce- marriage, arracher- snatch, ivre- drunk, procureur- magistrate, froisser- to crumple. ANSWERS: –

Chapitre Cinq
The day of Dantes and Mercedes’ engagement party. People came early to greet the couple with good luck and blessings, many of which were sailors (matelots) who worked with Dantes. In the middle of the meal, three knocks were heard on the door; it was the commissioner of police with 4 soldiers (soldats). They asked for Dantes and do not disclose the reason for his arrest. He is brave throughout the whole situation. His father cried as Caderousse and Danglars acted surprised (jouait surprise). Dantes assures everyone that it is a mistake, and he will return. A coach takes him to Marseilles. VOCAB: fiançailles- marriage promise, oser- risk, étonné- surprised, voiture- coach ANSWERS : –

Chapitre Six
Dantes is interrogated by Mr. Villefort, who is a prosecutor very obedient to the king. Villeforte recognizes that Dantes is very humble, respectful and confused about the accusation. He admits that Dantes does not look guilty (coupable) . Dantes pleads that he is not guilty and tells of the truth behind the Pharaoh’s detour to Elba. He promised to fulfill Captain’s Leclere’s duty to handoff a special letter to Mr. Noiriter, Villefort’s father (Dantes doesn’t know about this). Villeforte who originally said that Dantes was innocent changed his mind to protect his father, but mostly himself. Dantes is tricked into going to Chateau d’If. Villeforte burns the letter. VOCAB: cendres- ashes, congé- holiday, foudre- lightning, honteux- asked, imprevu- unforeseen, nuire- harm. ANSWERS: Edmond is asked about his political interests, Captain Leclere handed his job on to Dantes, he was deceive by old friends who could not stand his flourishing recognition

Chapitre Sept
Dantes was taken to a small boat by his captors. As the boat (barque) moves away from Marseilles, Dantes remains calm, and realizes that he is being taken to Chateau d’If. He attempted to release himself from them before arriving to the prison, he succeeded, but was captured again. He eventually learns that there was no real trial regarding his “crime.” VOCAB: crainte- fear, geolier- jailor, muraille- high wall.. ANSWERS: Dantes did suspect Villeforte of something, Dantes was calm, he rode in a horse- drawn carriage, he accepted his fate?

Chapitre Huit
Dantes enters the prison for the first time and experiences the humidity, stench, ground, and his room. VOCAB: souterrain – underground, cruche- pitcher, paille- straw

Chapitre Neuf
Dantes speaks with the prison ward (l’inspecteur). He asks for a chance to speak to the governor to plead his case, but the ward says it is impossible. Dantes bribes the ward with money so he can send a letter to Mercedes to explain his absence, the ward considers it. (also because Dantes threatened to hit him with a chair… ) VOCAB: sage- reasonable, place- work, étendre- extend.

ANSWERS: –

Chapitre Dix
Speaks about the history of France after Dantes’ arrest. Napoleon came from Elba to establish his empire. He gave up his empire at the Battle of Waterloo (Bataille de Waterloo). Louis XVIII became king.

Chapitre Onze
After the return of king Louis XVIII, a prison inspector visited Chateau d’If. Many prisoners complained about the bad food and some pleaded for their liberation. Dantes also begged for a trial and says that if he is proven guilty again, he wants to be shot. The inspector calculates that Dantes has been at the prison for 17 months. The story about one prisoner, the crazy priest Faria is revealed. He claims that he possesses a huge treasure worth six million francs. He is willing to pay for his freedom. VOCAB: lassitude- fatigue, accroupir- to crouch, angle- coin, á demi- voix- low voice, parole- here, promise. ANSWERS : the prison guard believes that the priest “thinks” he possesses a treasure, establishing the nickname “fou.”

Chapitre Douze,
The governor fulfilled his promise to consider Dantes’ plea. He learns about the reason for Dantes’ capture. A note said that he was a furious bonapartist. The inspector writes on the same note that there is nothing the governor can do. (rien a faire) VOCAB: rien á faire- nothing to do ANSWERS: réclamation, plainte- complaint, hurler- shout, fusiller- shoot, but, destination- goal, épouvantable- terrifying, serrure- lock, chute- fall,

Chapitre Treize
Dantes spent more days in prison and eventually stopped counting the days. One night he heard scratching coming from the walls. He used his casserole bowl to make a dent in the wall (creuser). He worked on the wall for a bit until he stopped at a beam, this is when he meets L’abbé Faria (Numero 27). They speak briefly about their supposed crimes, current news about the fall of Napoleon (1814), and the location of their cells. The priest planned to break the wall to get to the fortress, jump into the water and swim away to Tiboulen. VOCAB: reboucher- recap, songer- to think, se tromper- make an error, frissoner – shudder, manche- handle, fer- blanc- tin, ANSWERS: Dantes was in prison for 2 years at this point, the priest made an error and ended up going the wrong way, Dantes is prisoner number 34 (PAUL PIERCE for any Celtic fans LOL )

Chapitre Quatorze
The priest Faria was intelligent and teaches Dantes many things. He helps Dantes realize the betrayal (la perfidie) of Danglars, Fernand and Villeforte. When Dantes finally realizes, he is angered and is hysterical. He makes an oath (un serment) for vengeance. They plan a new escape to have a loosened slab (dale) on the floor of the gallery. They plan to tie up a soldier and find their way out of the prison. The priest continues to teach Dantes languages, about history, important figures, and fighting skills. One day, the priest becomes paralyzed after being crushed by rocks as he dug into the wall. VOCAB: écarter- depart, déceler- loosen, déliverance- freedom. ANSWERS : the two prisoners formed a special bond, while the priest lay dying, he is touched by Dantes’ devotion, simplicity, and sincerity to him

Chapitre Quinze
Dantes returned to the room of the dying priest and the priest hands him a paper folded like a cylinder. The paper written in gothic characters (de caractères gothiques) was a treasure map to the priest’s treasure. We learn that the priest served as a secretary to the Cardinal Spada who mentioned the priest in his will. He found the treasure map inside a book. VOCAB: héritier – inherit, moitié- half

ANSWERS: the priest actually inherited a whole library of 5000 volumes.

Chapitre Dix- Six
The priest tells Dantes to go to l’Ile Monte Cristo. The priest dies and Dantes is distraught, he then decides to take the place of the corpse and become free. VOCAB : souhaiter – wish, bénir – bless, livide – pale, cadaver – corpse

Chapitre Dix- Sept
The pretend corpse is taken outside via a stretcher. When they got outside, the air was suddenly fresh and beautiful. The prison guards placed a cannon ball to Dantes’ feet. At the count of three Dantes was thrown in the air and looked like an arrow (flèche) going into the water. He let out a cry as he dived in. The sea was the cemetery of Chateau d’If. VOCAB: civiere- stretcher, vagues- waves, ombres- shading, boulet – drag, tirer à l’arc- take a bow, feint – pretend

Chapitre Dix- Huit
Dantes was deep into the water as he tried to open the sac he was in, and tried to get out, the situation was suffocating. He kicked the sac and freed himself. He stayed in the water to swim to Tiboulen. VOCAB: un coup de pied- kick, trajet- path, phare- lighthouse, Planier- planner, abaisser- descend

Chapitre Dix- Neuf
Our fave chapter ( Dantes meets the pirates of the “Jeune- Amelie.” The boss (patron) demands Dantes for his identity and says he is a Maltese sailor. He asks Dantes to demonstrate his skills. He is impressed and eventually offers Dantes a chance to travel with his pirate crew. Dantes learns from pirate Jacopo that he was in chateu d’If for 19 years, he was now 33. VOCAB: contrebandier- pirate, ramer- row, pont- deck, nu – naked, soupcon- suspicious.

Chapitre Vingt
Dantes spent 2 and a half months on the boat. The pirates became his close friends and they were successful with selling and buying tapestries, rugs (tapis), and cashmere. They stopped at Monte Cristo and Dantes decided to look around for the treasure. While on the island, Dantès pretends to injure himself and claims that he cannot be moved. He urges the men to leave him behind and return for him after a week. Dantès’s best friend among the crew, Jacopo, offers to stay behind, forgoing his share of the profits from the smuggling operation. Dantès is moved by this selfless display, but refuses the offer. Once the men are gone, Dantès begins searching for Faria’s treasure. He uses his enormous ingenuity to uncover the fortune, which is even greater than he had imagined. Dantès falls on his knees and utters a prayer to God, to whom he attributes this windfall. VOCAB: étoffe- rich fabric, Levant- middle east, sanglant- cover in blood, pioche- pickaxe, ténèbres- shadows, armes- coat of arms

Chapitre Vingt- et- Un

The following day, Dantès buys a small ship and crew for Jacopo in order to reward his friend’s kindness. His one condition for the gift is that Jacopo sail to Marseilles and ask for news of a man named Louis Dantès and a woman named Mercédès. Dantès takes his leave of the smugglers and buys a yacht with a secret compartment. He sails the yacht back to Monte Cristo and transfers the remainder of the treasure to the secret compartment of the yacht. Jacopo arrives on the island several days later with sad news: Louis Dantès is dead and Mercédès has disappeared. Dantès tries to hide his extreme emotion and sails for Marseilles. VOCAB: Livourne- Port of Italy, don- present, mit la voile- set sail, physionomie- visage, auberge- small hotel ANSWERS : he found gold, bars, diamonds, pearls and rubies

Chapitre Vingt- Deux

Disguised as an Italian priest and going by the name of Abbé Busoni, Dantès travels to the inn owned by Caderousse. He finds the couple poverty-stricken. Pretending to be the executor of Dantès’s will, he explains that Dantès came into the possession of a large diamond while in prison. He adds that, as his dying wish, Dantès wanted the diamond’s worth divided among the only five people he ever loved: his father, Caderousse, Danglars, Fernand, and Mercédès. Caderousse reveals the events behinds Dantès’s incarceration, confirming what Abbé Faria had already deduced. Caderousse states that he has lived in a torment of regret ever since Dantès was incarcerated. Dantès finds this display of repentance and guilt convincing, and he declares that Caderousse is Dantès’s only true friend.(questionable)

Danglars went to work for a Spanish banking house and ended up a millionaire; he is now one of the richest and most powerful men in Paris. Fernand has also become rich and powerful. Fernand returned wealthy from his tour of duty as a soldier in Greece and married Mercédès eighteen months after Dantès’s imprisonment bega. Caderousse also explains that Dantès’s father, Louis, starved himself to death out of grief over the loss of his son. Both Morrel and Mercédès offered many times to take the old man into their homes and care for him, but he refused every time. Caderousse reflects that the good are always punished and the wicked rewarded. Dantès, in the guise of the priest, promises Caderousse that this is not the case. VOCAB: sueur- perspiration, mordre- to bite, trahir- to betray

Chapitre Vingt- Trois
Still disguised as the representative of Thomson and French, Dantès next pays a visit to Morrel. Morrel is in a state of extreme anxiety over the fact that his once bustling shipping firm is now crumbling into ruin. The terrible news arrives while Dantès is still in Morrel’s office: the Pharaon has been lost. Dantès, who now owns a significant percentage of the debt Morrel owes, grants the devastated man a reprieve. He tells Morrel that he can have an extra three months to find the money to make the payment. VOCAB: gilet- vest, faillite- bankruptcy, dot- dowry, traite- letter of payment

Chapitre Vingt- Quatre
The three months draw to a close, and Morrel still has very little money. He decides that he must take his own life, unable to bear the shame of breaking his obligation to creditors. On the day that his debt is due, Morrel confides his plan to his son, Maximilian, and his son understands, granting his approval. Morrel’s debt notes, which are marked as paid. VOCAB: billet- letter, aiguille- clock hand, hors d’haleine- out of breath

Chapitre Vingt- Cinq
Years passed and Dantes travelled around the world (le monde). He took the name “Le Comte de Monte Cristo” and created a great life for himself. He learned that Villeforte began betraying his friends and went crazy. In Paris, Dantes meets Albert. Albert is excited to show Dantes the hotel that his father constructed in Paris. He meets Mercedes and her pale skin and look of fear shows her knowledge of Dantes’ true identity. VOCAB: paysage- landscape, Leopold Robert- painter, cadre- frame, Rideau- curtain ANSWERS: Dantes sees a painting of Mercedes before he sees her, before he leaves for his meeting, Dantes sees the curtains of Mecedes’ room trembling, she knows who he REALLY is Chapitre Vingt- Six

Dantes returned to see Fernand. A confrontation happens between them, resulting in Dantes enclosing his true identity. Fernand commits suicide. VOCAB: espision- spy, honte- humiliation, appui- support,

ANSWERS : Dantes accusess Fernand of leaving the battle of Waterloo, being a French spy, and assassinating Ali Pacha. Fernand is aware of Dantes’ alibis: le comte, lord Wilmore á Marseilles, Simbab le Marin. Chapitre Vingt- Sept

Danglars and another man are kidnapped and placed into a cell. The “captain” asks them for what they want for dinner. The captain says that the payment for the meal is 100, 000 francs. For every meal, Danglars must pay a significant amount. Dantes did this so that Danglars would lose his wealth and power just as he did. Danglars offers money for his return, but Dantes refuses, he wants him to starve.

Chapitre Vingt- Huit
After 2 days, he paid two million dollars for food. After 12 days, he was left with 50, 000 francs. His partner died of hunger. Dantes then reveals his identity to Danglars. He leaves Danglars to live, but without his riches. Danglars finally has a taste of water from a small river and sees his reflection. His hair had gone white. VOCAB: excigence-demand, balbutier- stammer, hausser- lift, ruisseau- small river. ANSWERS: Dantes’ accomplice was Luigi Vampa.

Chapitre Vingt- Neuf
On a voyage to Turkey, Dantes bought Haydée, a Greek slave. He treated her like a princess and cared for her. He later frees her but refuses. She waits for him to return Chapitre Trente Dantes returns to Haydée and decides that his death would be beneficial. She is distraught by his decision and says that she loves him; like a father, brother, husband. He admits that she is the only thing he has in this world. He says that he can depend his life on her, suffer for her and he can be her happiness ( VOCAB: secouer- shake, sagesse- wisdom

Possible Exam Q’s?
– Who betrayed Dantes? (Danglars, Fernand, Caderousse, Villeforte) – How does he get his revenge (Tries to starve Dantes, pressures Fernand into committing suicide, which he does, and possibly plays a role in forcing Villeforte into madness.) – Dantes’ Allibis (Comte de Monte Cristo, Wilmore of Marseilles, and Simbab the marine)