The Count of Monte Cristo

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The Count of Monte Cristo

Alexandre Dumas

About the Author

Alexandre Dumas (1802?1870) wrote so many novels and plays in his lifetime that a critic once remarked, "No one has ever read the whole of Dumas, not even himself." About 1,200 volumes of literature bear Dumas's name, although many were completed with the aid of hired writers who provided plot outlines.

Born in France, Dumas was the son of a general in Napoleon's army. He collaborated on plays with a friend, and in 1829, he had his first success, Henry III and His Court. Among Dumas's most successful novels are The Three Musketeers (1844) and The Count of Monte Cristo (1845), both based on major events in French history. Dumas earned a fortune from his writing but spent it recklessly. He died poor, survived only by an illegitimate son.

Background

The Count of Monte Cristo is set during an important time in French political history. During the French Revolution (1789?1799),

Napoleon became a powerful general. In 1799, he overthrew the revolutionary French government and took control of France. He ruled until 1814, when Louis XVIII took the throne. Napoleon regained control in 1815 for about three months, a period termed "the Court of the Hundred Days." Napoleon lost the throne to Louis later that year with his defeat at Waterloo. The story of The Count of Monte Cristo begins in February 1815, one month before Napoleon's return to power.

The plot of the novel is also based on a true incident. In 1807, as the result of a cruel joke by four jealous friends, a young shoemaker engaged to marry a rich orphan was falsely arrested as a spy against Napoleon. While in prison, he met a dying priest who told him of a hidden treasure. After seven years, the man was released from prison. He found the treasure and, using disguises, took revenge on the evil foursome, one of whom had married his fianc?e. Dumas was fascinated by this real-life melodrama and based his novel on these events.

Quick Guide

As you read The Count of Monte Cristo, keep these literary elements in mind:

? Plot is the sequence of events in a literary work. It begins with an exposition that introduces the setting and characters. A conflict then develops and heightens before reaching the climax, or highest point of interest. The story ends with falling action, which leads to the resolution, or end, of the conflict. Events after the resolution make up the denouement.

? Conflict is a struggle between opposing forces in a story. Internal conflict occurs within a character who faces opposing feelings. External conflict occurs between characters. As you read, look for the internal and external conflicts that Dant?s faces.

? Comparing and contrasting characters is discovering how they are alike and different. The purpose of comparing and contrasting characters is to clarify and

understand their relationships and to identify possible sources of conflict. In the novel, look for ways in which Dant?s is different from his enemies.

? Character motivation is the reason or reasons behind a character's behavior. As you read, seek to understand why Dant?s takes the actions that he does throughout the story.

? Suspense is a feeling of curiosity or uncertainty about the outcome of events that keeps you interested in the plot of a story. Suspense includes dangerous action, in which a character's safety is at risk.

? A theme is a central message or insight conveyed in a work of literature. An implied theme is not stated directly in the text of the work. As you read The Count of Monte Cristo, consider the author's implied message about revenge.

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Reading Guide The Count of Monte Cristo

Vocabulary

1. treacherous (tre?? ?r ?s) adj. seemingly safe but not really so (page 16)

2. decapitator (d? kap? ? t? t?r) n. one who cuts off the head of another (page 44)

3. subservient (s?b sr? v? ?nt) adj. obedient and eager to please (page 68)

4. prosperity (pr?s per? ? t?) n. good fortune, wealth, success (page 93)

5. enumeration (? n? m? r? ??n) n. counting; specifying, as in a list (page 118)

6. restrained (ri str?nd?) v. held back from action (page 143)

7. forestalled (f?r st?ld?) adj. prevented by doing something ahead of time (page 168)

8. punctuality (pu?k? ?? al? ? t?) n. being on time; promptness (page 194)

9. authenticity (?? ??n tis? ? t?) n. condition of being real or genuine (page 218)

10. prone (pr?n) adj. having a natural bent; often given to (page 243)

11. countenance (kTMn? t? n?ns) n. face (page 268) 12. nobility (n? bil? ? t?) n. high rank in society

(page 293) 13. supplications (sup? l? k? ??nz) n. humble prayers

or requests (page 318) 14. vexed (vekst) adj. annoyed or irritated (page 345) 15. despair (di sper?) n. loss of hope (page 370)

16. premeditated (pr? med? ? t? t?d) adj. planned beforehand (page 395)

17. indescribable (in? di skr?b? ? b?l) adj. that cannot be described (page 419)

18. inert (in rt?) adj. without power to move (page 444)

19. irrevocable (ir rev? ? k? b?l) adj. that cannot be undone or taken back (page 468)

20. subsist (s?b sist?) v. to remain alive or continue to live (page 497)

Chapters I?XIII (pages 1?81)

Discussion Questions

1. Why does Danglars dislike Dant?s? Compare and contrast the personalities of the two men.

2. Why are Fernand and Caderousse each willing to join in the conspiracy? What does each man stand to gain?

3. How does Dant?s change emotionally while alone in prison? Why does he decide to starve himself?

4. What kind of person is the Abb? Faria? Why do you think he is willing to help Dant?s?

W riting Activity Write a paragraph that explains why Villefort joins the conspiracy. How do French politics play a role in his actions against Dant?s?

Chapters XIV?XXV (pages 81?154)

Discussion Questions

1. How does Dant?s manage to escape from prison? Do you think he is foolish to carry out such a risky plan? Explain.

2. What does Dant?s find on the Isle of Monte Cristo? How do you think the discovery may help him in the future?

3. Why doesn't Caderousse recognize Dant?s when he visits him? What important information does Caderousse share with him?

4. How does Dant?s help Morrel and his family? Why do you think Dant?s decides to help Morrel?

W riting Activity Write a paragraph in which you predict how Dant?s may attempt to "punish the wicked" for their actions against him.

Chapters XXVI?XXXIII (pages 155?227)

Discussion Questions

1. Why does the Count of Monte Cristo want Albert de Morcerf to be indebted to him? How does the Count arrange that?

2. What kind of impression does the Count make on Albert's party guests? Why do you think they are not more skeptical of him?

3. How does Merc?d?s react when she first meets the Count? Why do you think she behaves so oddly?

4. How does the Count make both Madame Danglars and the Villeforts indebted to him? What does the Count gain by doing so?

W riting Activity Write a paragraph that describes the Count's philosophy regarding death and revenge. Explain why you agree or disagree with him.

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The Count of Monte Cristo Reading Guide

Chapters XXXIV?XLIII (pages 227?288)

Discussion Questions

1. How does the Count feel about Haydee? Why does she refuse to accept his offer of freedom?

2. Why is Albert hesitant about marrying Eug?nie? How does his proposed stock scheme indicate his ignorance about Debray?

3. What conflict exists between Villefort and his father? Why does Noirtier threaten to bequeath all his money to the poor?

4. What do Danglars and his wife fight about after the Count's dinner party? What does Danglars's behavior suggest about him?

W riting Activity Write a paragraph that explains how Dumas uses suspense to heighten the drama in this part of the book.

Chapters XLIV?L (pages 288?362)

Discussion Questions

1. How does Danglars think he might use his daughter to solve his financial problems?

2. What is the relationship between Monsieur de Saint-M?ran and Valentine? Why doesn't he share the same family relationship with Eug?nie Danglars?

3. Under what circumstances does Madame de Saint-M?ran die? How does Villefort react to her death?

4. What secret does Franz discover in the manuscript read in Noirtier's room? What is the result of this revelation?

W riting Activity Write a paragraph that summarizes the revenge that the Count has taken so far. Predict the additional revenge that you expect will follow.

Chapters LI?LXI (pages 363?435)

Discussion Questions

1. How does Danglars respond when Morcerf arrives to discuss their children's marriage? How does each man feel about the decision?

2. How does Haydee play a significant role in the fate of Morcerf? Of what crimes is he found guilty?

3. Why does Albert wish to duel with Monte Cristo? How does he behave differently toward the Count after learning the truth?

4. What major surprise does Morcerf receive upon challenging Monte Cristo to a duel? Why does Morcerf shoot himself?

W riting Activity Write a paragraph describing your feelings about Merc?d?s after the Count's duel with Albert is canceled. Does she seem heroic to you? Why or why not?

Chapters LXII?LXXI (pages 435?509)

Discussion Questions

1. How does Monte Cristo reveal Valentine's poisoner to her? What does the poisoner stand to gain by Valentine's death?

2. What becomes of the love affair between Debray and Madame Danglars? Why does Madame Danglars end up feeling the way she does?

3. How does Villefort react when Dant?s reveals himself? Do you feel the revenge on Villefort is just? Explain.

4. What is Dumas's implied message, or theme, about death and revenge? How much do you agree or disagree with the message? Explain.

W riting Activity Write a paragraph that explains whether or not you feel the story has a satisfying ending. Give the reasons for your opinion.

Pulling It All Together

W riting Write a letter that Dant?s might write to Merc?d?s after sailing away. Have him explain why he has chosen to live with Haydee instead of with her after exacting his revenge.

Oral Response to Literature Some critics assert that Dumas's novel suffers from an overabundance of plot and a lack of character development. In a small group of students, discuss whether you agree or disagree with that assessment. Offer story details to support your opinions.

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Key to Abbreviations in the Lesson Plans

The Lesson Plan following each Reading Guide references pages in the Reading Guide itself and in the Teaching Guides and Customizable Resources component. These references are abbreviated as follows:

RG = Reading Guide Resources = Teaching Guides and Customizable Resources TG = Teaching Guide SAS = Student Activity Sheet GOT = Graphic Organizer Transparency

xii Reading Guides and Lesson Plans

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Lesson Plan The Count of Monte Cristo

For a key to the abbreviations in the Lesson Plan, see page xii.

Before you begin, please review the Sensitive Issues, which appear with the answers for this title.

Preview ? 1 Day 1. With the class, read and discuss the RG Preview.

If this book begins students' study of a novel, distribute and discuss Background on the Novel, Resources, p. 151. 2. Assign Chapters I?XIII, pp. 1?81.

Chapters I?XIII ? 3?4 Days 1. Reading Guide Discussion Questions 1?4 and

Writing Activity; optional, Discussion Guide, Resources, p. 162. 2. Resources Comparing and Contrasting Characters: TG and SAS, pp. 16, 17, and Venn Diagram: GOT, p. 184. Help students identify differences in personality between Danglars and Dant?s. 3. Assign Chapters XIV?XXV, pp. 81?154.

Chapters XIV?XXV ? 3?4 Days 1. Reading Guide Discussion Questions 1?4 and

Writing Activity. 2. Resources Predict: TG and SAS, pp. 132, 133,

and Three-column Chart: GOT, p. 180. Help students predict what Dant?s's revenge will be, based on the status of each of his enemies. 3. Resources Vocabulary: TG and Word Identification--Suffixes: SAS, pp. 136, 145. Have students use vocabulary words 1?5. Students should identify the suffix in each word and tell how it affects the meaning of the word. 4. Assign Chapters XXVI?XXXIII, pp. 155?227.

Chapters XXVI?XXXIII ? 3?4 Days 1. Reading Guide Discussion Questions 1?4 and

Writing Activity. 2. Resources Character Motivation: TG and SAS,

pp. 12, 13, and Two-column Chart: GOT, p. 183. Help students understand Dant?s's various motivations for aiding Albert, Madame Danglars, and the Villeforts. 3. Assign Chapters XXXIV?XLIII, pp. 227?288.

Chapters XXXIV?XLIII ? 2?3 Days 1. Reading Guide Discussion Questions 1?4 and

Writing Activity. 2. Resources Conflict: TG and SAS, pp. 22, 23,

and Three-column Chart: GOT, p. 180. Focus on the external conflict between Villefort and Noirtier and on Monte Cristo's internal conflict regarding his relationship with Haydee. 3. Resources Vocabulary: TG and Synonyms and Antonyms: SAS, pp. 136, 140. Have students use vocabulary words 6?10. Students should provide

286 Lesson Plan The Count of Monte Cristo

a synonym and/or an antonym for as many of the vocabulary words as possible. 4. Assign Chapters XLIV?L, pp. 288?362.

Chapters XLIV?L ? 3?4 Days 1. Reading Guide Discussion Questions 1?4 and

Writing Activity. 2. Resources Suspense: TG and SAS, pp. 110, 111,

and Two-column Chart: GOT, p. 183. Help students identify how suspense builds both when Madame de Saint-M?ran dies and when Franz reads the manuscript regarding his father's death. 3. Assign Chapters LI?LXI, pp. 363?435.

Chapters LI?LXI ? 3?4 Days 1. Reading Guide Discussion Questions 1?4 and

Writing Activity. 2. Resources Plot: TG and SAS, pp. 72, 73, and

Plot Diagram: GOT, p. 178. Help students outline the key plot events that lead to the downfall of Morcerf. 3. Resources Vocabulary: TG and Original Sentences: SAS, pp. 136, 139. Have students use vocabulary words 11?15. 4. Assign Chapters LXII?LXXI, pp. 435?509.

Chapters LXII?LXXI ? 3?4 Days 1. Reading Guide Discussion Questions 1?4 and

Writing Activity. 2. Resources Theme: TG and SAS, pp. 114, 115,

and Web: GOT, p. 185. Guide students to formulate a statement regarding Dumas's implied message about revenge. 3. Resources Vocabulary: TG and Word Identification--Prefixes: SAS, pp. 136, 144. Have students use vocabulary words 16?20. Students should identify the prefix in each word and tell how it affects the meaning of the word. 4. Assign Pulling It All Together activities, RG.

Pulling It All Together ? 1?2 Days 1. Writing Collect and evaluate the writing assign-

ment. Have some papers read aloud, or have them exchanged and reviewed by peers in class. 2. Oral Response to Literature Help students find examples of plot that may be overly involved, as well as examples of characterization that may be underdeveloped because those characters are generally either all good or all bad, with no gray areas. 3. Review for test. 4. Administer test.

To assess and grade the writing assignments, use the rubrics at the end of this book.

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