Les Misérables Study Guide
Honors Sophomore English
The required summer reading for students entering Honors Sophomore English in the Fall of
2017 is Victor Hugo’s classic novel Les Misérables – “Fantine” and “Cosette” (Part 1 and 2)
only. We will finish the book as a class in August.
Students who are scheduled for this class must stop by the library to check out a copy of the novel
for the summer. If you would like to purchase a printed or electronic copy of the novel, rather
than check one out from the library, you must purchase the version listed below:
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo: Enriched Classic, published by Pocket Books, a
division of Simon & Shuster, Copyright 2005. ISBN# 1-4165-0026-X.
Below is an optional study guide that you can use as you read to check for understanding. This
will not be collected, but there will be a comprehension test over the novel on the second day of
school. Use of this study guide will likely improve your comprehension and give you something
to study when school begins.
If you have questions, please email Mrs. Summers at [email protected]
Enjoy Les Mis!
Fantine
An Upright Man
1.
Who is Monsieur Myriel (Monsiegneur Bienvenu)? Where does he reside?
2.
Why does Monsieur Myriel move from his palace?
The Fall
3.
What happens when the traveler tried to rent a room and pay for a meal from the innkeeper,
Jacquin Labarre? Why is the traveler treated differently?
4.
Who is the traveler? What does he reveal to the Bishop?
5.
Explain the following: “If you are leaving that sorrowful place with hate and anger against men,
you are worthy of compassion; if you leave it with good will, gentleness, and peace, you are better
than any of us” (16).
6.
How does the Bishop react when Jean Valjean says, “Who tells you that I am not a murderer?”
What does this tell you about the Bishop?
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Les Misérables Study Guide
Honors Sophomore English
7.
Why was Valjean sentence to five years in the galleys? Who had he become there? Why were so
many years added to his original sentence?
8.
What does Valjean take from the Bishop’s house?
9.
When Valjean is brought back by the gendarmes, what does the Bishop give him? What are the
conditions of this gift?
10. What does Valjean take from Petit Gervais? Why do you think he steals from him? After he
regrets this action, what does he do that he has not done in nineteen years?
To Entrust is Sometimes to Abandon
11. Who kept the chophouse near Paris?
12. Describe the “little girl of two or three years” (35):
13. What does the mother look like? Why doesn’t she laugh?
14. Describe Madame Thenardier (38):
15. What does Fantine ask of Madame Thenardier? What are the conditions?
16. How do the Thenardiers treat Cosette? Cite one quote to support your answer:
17. What are the names of the Thenardier children?
18. What was Cosette called? Why?
The Descent
19. To where does Fantine return?
20. “Toward the end of the year 1815, an unknown man had established himself in the city…” (43).
Who was this man? By what name is this man known? What had he done for the city?
21. What did Father Madeleine become with the urging of all who knew him? Why was he so
reluctant to accept this position?
22. Who is Javert? What does he notice about society? To what is Javert compared?
23. What does Javert look like? What does he respect? What does he hate?
24. What happens to Father Fauchelevent? Who saves him? Why is Javert so interested in this event?
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Les Misérables Study Guide
Honors Sophomore English
25. Why is Fantine fired from her job?
26. What news do the Thenardiers give Fantine in a letter? Are they being honest with Fantine?
27. What does Fantine sell in order to give money to the Thenardiers?
28. Interpret: “The unfortunate creature became a woman of the town” (58).
29. What does Javert mean when he says, “The Eternal Father in person could do nothing for you…?”
(62)? How does Javert treat Fantine?
30. Interpret: “Monsieur Madeleine was transfigured in the eyes of Fantine; he seemed to her clothed
with light” (67).
31. Why does Javert say he wants to be punished? What does this reveal about Javert’s character?
32. For what is Father Champmathieu arrested?
33. What does Madeleine say when Javert asks to be dismissed? What does this reveal about
Madeleine’s character?
The Champmathieu Affair
34. What is Madeleine’s first thought while listening to Javert?
35. Who seemed to be watching Madeleine?
36. Interpret: “One can no more prevent the mind from returning to an idea than the sea from
returning to a shore. In the case of the sailor, this is called the tide; in the case of the guilty, it is
called remorse. God upheaves the soul as well as the ocean” (77).
37. “He felt the Bishop was present all the more that he was dead…” (78). Why?
38. What does Madeleine decide? (78) Valjean’s “dark night of the soul” makes reference to what
New Testament event?
39. Interpret: “Diamonds are found only in the dark places of the earth…” (80).
40. Why does Madeleine open the locked closet? (81)
41. What does the voice instruct? (82)
42. Why does Madeleine go to Arras?
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Les Misérables Study Guide
Honors Sophomore English
43. How does Madeleine get into the courthouse?
44. Who identifies Champmathieu as Valjean?
45. Why does the judge ask if there is a physician in the courtroom?
46. How does Madeleine convince Cochepaille that he knew him?
47. Understand how and why Valjean made this difficult decision.
Counterstroke (pp. 108-120)
48. What change in Madeleine did the sister notice?
49. How is Javert described? (112)
50. What happens to Fantine?
51. What does Valjean want 3 days for?
52. Of what does Valjean accuse Javert?
Cosette
Waterloo (pp. 121-129)
53. Why is the prowler compared to a jackal? Who is the prowler?
54. Who did the prowler “save”?
The Ship “Orion” (pp. 124-129)
55. What did the Journal de Paris print about Valjean? (List at least 4 pieces of
information).
56. Who saves the man who fell overboard?
Fulfillment of the Promise to the Departed (pp. 130-138)
57. Describe the town, Montfermeil:
58. What is Cosette’s usual place? Describe her (131).
59. Who is the new addition to the Thenardier family? How does the mother react to the cries?
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Les Misérables Study Guide
Honors Sophomore English
60. Describe the woods. Why is Cosette there?
61. What is the significance of Valjean taking the bucket Cosette was carrying?
62. Why doesn’t Cosette want Valjean to take the bucket into the chophouse?
63. Where is Cosette’s usual place in the house? What does she do there?
64. What did Eponine and Azelma see Cosette as?
65. What does Valjean first buy for Cosette? Then what does he buy?
66. How does Valjean deal with Thenardier in the morning?
In Paris
67. Where do Valjean and Cosette live when they first arrive in Paris?
68. Who is the beggar in the square? Why does Valjean have to run with Cosette?
69. Where do Valjean and Cosette find sanctuary? Why does the old gardener help them?
70. How does Fauchelevant convince Mother Superior to allow Valjean and Cosette to stay—and to
educate Cosette?
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Les Misérables Study Guide
Honors Sophomore English
Les Miserables Pronunciation Guide
The Characters
Jean Valjean
Javert
Cosette
Fantine
Marius
Pontmercy
Enjolras
Thenardier
Eponine
Gavroche
Bamatobois
Fauchelevant
Lamarque
Zshan Val·zshan
Jah·ver´
Ko·zet´
Fahn·teen´
Mar´·ee·us
Pohn´·mair·see
Ahn·jol·rahs
Ten·are´·dee·ay
Epp'·oh·neen
Gav·rosh´
Bam´·ah·tah·bwah
Fosh´luh·vohn
Lamark´
Thenardier's Gang
Brujon
Babet
Claquesous
Montparnasse
Broo·zshon
Bah·bay
Klak·soo´
Mont·parnass´
Students at the ABC Café
Courfeyrac
Feuilly
Combeferre
Grantaire
Joly
Lesgles
Ko·fer·ak
Foo´·ee
Kom·fair´
Grahn·tair´
Zshow·lee´
Lay·glay´
Places
Toulon
Montreuil-Sur-Mer
Saint Michele
Notre Dame
Rue de Bac
St. Antoine
St. Martin
Rue Plumet
Rue de Villette
Too·lohn´
Mon·twee soor Mair
San Mee·shell´
No·truh Dahm
Roo duh Bahk
San An·twan
San Mar·tan
Roo Ploo·may´
Roo duh Vee·ette´
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