The Count of Monte Cristo​: Comprehension Questions

Note: ​These are questions we will work together on in class. Sometimes, a couple may be
assigned as homework or they may even be part of a ‘bell ringer” or a pop quiz. Some
questions may not be covered word for word in class. Regardless, use these questions to help
guide your understanding of the book and they will definitely be of help when it comes time to
prepare for the test.

Chapters 1-3
1. What is the setting in these first chapters (time and place)?
2. Describe what you know about Dantes’ appearance, job, and character at this point.
3. Who is Mercedes? How would you describe her?
4. Who is Caderousse?
5. Who is Fernand?
6. Who is Monsieur Morrel?
7. Who is Danglars and what is his job?
8. What happens to the Captain of the Pharaon?
9. Why is it important that Dantes stops at the Isle of Elba?
10. Who is the “emperor”?
11. Which characters have a grudge against Dantes and why?

Chapter 4
1. What happens to Dantes in this chapter?

Chapter 5
1. What is Villefort doing when he is called to question Dantes?
2. Who is Villefort’s father?
3. What are the political sympathies of Nortier?
4. What is Villefort’s Job?
5. What political sympathies is Morrel suspected of having?
6. To whom is the letter addressed that Dantes is to deliver?
7. What does Villefort do with the letter?
8. What orders does Villefort give Dantes about the letter?

Chapter 6
1. Where do the guards take Dantes?
2. Why is Dantes transferred to the dungeon?

Chapter 7
1. Why does the King employ Villefort?
2. How does Villefort describe Dantes to the King?
3. What news does the Minister of Police bring to the King?
 4. How does the King reward Villefort for his efforts to warn him?

Chapter 8

1. Why is the King’s gratitude useless and even dangerous to Villefort?

2. What are the advantages to Villefort if he marries someone his father picked out?
3. What are the advantages to Villefort if he marries Monsieur de Saint-Meran’s daughter?
4. What does Monsieur Morrel do to try to help free Dantes?
5. Where does Danglars go?
6. Where does Fernand go?
7. What does Mercedes do?
8. What happens to Dantes’ father?
9. Who helps Dantes’ father and why is this dangerous?

Chapter 9
1. When Dantes loses all hope of escape, what does he finally plan to do?
2. What happens that causes Dantes to regain some hope and bring life back into him?
3. What does Dantes first use as a tool to dig with?
4. How much longer has the other prisoner been in Chateau d’ If?
5. How old is Dantes now?

Chapter 10

1. Describe how the other prisoner looks.

2. Describe the tool the prisoner uses to dig the passage from his cell to Dantes’.
3. What is the name of the other prisoner?
4. How long has Abbe Faria been working on his escape?
5. How does Faria make paper to write on?
6. How does Faria make a pen to write with?
7. How does Faria make ink to write with?
8. How does Faria make a knife?
9. How does Faria make a rope ladder?
10. What does Faria use as a needle?
11. How does Dantes change after he and Faria figure out who is responsible for his imprisonment?
12. What do Dantes and Faria plan to do to fill their time and keep themselves busy?
13. What does Faria make Dantes swear before he tells him the escape plan?
14. Describe what Faria’s attacks are like.
15. Why does Faria think he will not see Dantes again after the attack?
16. What does Dantes swear to Faria after his attack?

Chapter 11

1. What does Dantes first think when Faria shares with him about his treasure?
 2. How does the priest finally learn where the treasure was?
3. Where is the treasure placed?

Chapter 12

1. What does Faria tell Dantes to do to try to save him during the attack?
2. How do they determine if someone was really dead in prison? (2 things)
3. Describe Dantes escape plan.
4. Where do they bury the dead in the Chateau d’If?

Chapters 13 and 14

1. Where does Dantes land after he swims?

2. What plan does he make to be rescued by the ship?
3. What is the date that Dantes is rescued?
4. How long does Dantes spend in prison?
5. How has Dantes changed in appearance in the years spent in prison?
6. How does it happen that Dantes is going to go to the Isle of Monte Cristo?

Chapter 15

1. How does Dantes explain his sudden wealth to the crew he has been working with?
2. How does he reward Jacopo for his friendship?
3. What news does Dantes get about Mercedes and his father?

Chapter 16

1. What is Caderousse doing now?

2. What is Caderousse’s wife like?
3. How does the “priest” get Caderousse to tell him about Danglars, Mercedes and Fernand?
4. How is Morrel doing?
5. What has happened to Danglars?
6. What has happened to Fernand?
7. Who does Mercedes marry?
8. What is the name of Mercedes’ son?
9. Who does Villefort finally marry?
10. Who does the priest end up rewarding with the diamond?

Chapter 17

1. Who is the Englishman who comes before the mayor of Marseilles?

2. Why does the Englishman go to see Monsieur Boville?
3. What story does the Englishman give as to why he wants to know what happened to Abbe Faria?
Chapter 18

1. What is the state of affairs in the Morrel household now?

2. How much money does Morrel owe Thompson and French?
3. What news is brought to Morrel when the Englishman from Thompson and French is still here?
4. What does the Englishman from Thompson and French do about Morrel’s debts?

Chapter 19

1. What happened when Morrel asks for a loan from Danglars?

2. What is Morrel going to do when he finds he still cannot pay his debts at the end of the time?
3. Who is Maximilien?
4. In the note, what does “Sinbad the Sailor” tell Julie to do?
5. What does Julie give to her father from “Sinbad the Sailor”?
6. Now that Dantes has rewarded those who were his true friends, what does he NOW plan to do?

Chapter 20

1. Whose son is Albert de Morcerf?

2. Why can’t Albert and Franz find a carriage?
3. Who is being executed February 22nd?
4. Which of the prisoners is given a reprieve?

Chapter 21

1. Describe how Albert is kidnapped.

2. Who is Luigi Vampa?
3. Why is Peppino grateful to the Count of Monte Cristo?
4. How does the Count free Albert from his kidnapper?
5. When does the Count plan to visit Albert in Paris?

Chapter 22

1. Who arrives first at Albert’s house?

2. Who shows up that Albert doesn’t expect?
3. Explain how Captain Morrel saves the Count de Chateau-Renaud’s life.
4. What does the Count use as a pillbox?
5. What do they Grand Seignior and His Holiness give the Count in exchange for the other two
emeralds?

Chapter 23
 1. Describe the Count de Morcerf.
2. Why do Albert and the Count de Morcerf think that Mercedes is ill?
3. What does Mercedes advise Albert to do?

Chapter 24
1. How much does the house in Auteuil cost?
2. Why is Bertuccio nervous about going into the garden?
3. What does Bertuccio swear to Villefort?
4. What does Bertuccio do to Villefort in the garden?
5. What happens to Madame Caderousse?
6. What happens to the jeweler?
7. Who do you think is most responsible for that incident? Why?
8. What happens to Bertuccio as a result of that incident?
9. What happens to Caderousse as a result of that incident?

Chapter 25
1. Why is Danglars amazed that Monte Cristo is so wealthy?
2. How does Monte Cristo explain his wealth?
3. Explain what happens with the horses. (include all events)

Chapter 26
1. How does the Count act towards Villefort? Why?
2. What is a cosmopolite?
3. Why would the Count want to be Providence?

Chapter 27
1. Why does the Count fear that Haydee will leave him?
2. What does the Count mean when he says, “It’s not the tree that leaves the blossom, but the
blossom that leaves the tree”?

Chapter 28
1. Why does the Count recognize Cocles?
2. What is so special about the silk purse?
3. Why does the Count say that he may know the man that gave the purse to him?
4. Why is the Count so upset after Maximilien talks about his father’s last words?
5. Why does Julie feel that she has heard the Count’s voice before?

Chapter 29
1. Describe Edouard.
2. What knowledge does Monte Cristo possess that is discussed in this chapter?
3. From whom do you think he gained this knowledge?
 4. What does Monte Cristo mean when he says, “I’m sure the seed I’ve sown hasn’t fallen on barren
ground”?

Chapter 30
1. What does Albert not want to do at the beginning of this chapter?
2. What lesson does Albert suggest Debray teach Madame Danglars?
3. How does Albert want the Count to help him?

Chapter 31
1. Who visits Monte Cristo in this chapter?
2. What is revealed in the conversation on p.p.198-199 and the letters on p.p. 199-200?
3. How does the Monte Cristo feel about the “father and son”?

Chapter 32
1. What “secrets” are Valentine Villefort and Eugenie Danglars exchanging?
2. Why is Madame de Villefort against Valentine marrying Franz?

Chapter 33
1. What senses does Monsieur Nortier possess?
2. How does Monsieur Nortier communicate?
3. How does Monsieur Nortier feel about Franz d’Epinay?
4. Why does Monsieur Nortier want a notary?
5. What is Monsieur Nortier going to do with his fortune if Valentine marries Franz d’ Epinay?

Chapter 34
1. Why does Monte Cristo visit a telegraph?
2. What story appears in Le Messager from a telegraphic dispatch?
3. What report appears in Le Messager the next day?
4. What effect do these reports have on Danglars?

Chapter 35
1. Why does Bertuccio pass the “untouched” room in terror?
2. What does Monte Cristo see happen between Madame Danglars and Debray when she arrives?
3. Describe the relationship between Danglars and his wife.
4. What does Bertuccio reveal about Madame Danglars and Villefort?
5. Where do Madame Danglars and Villefort plan to meet? Why?

Chapter 36
1. How much money does Andrea give Caderousse?
2. What does Caderousse pretend to be to get across the barrier into Paris?

Chapter 37
1. What is Danglars’ attitude toward Debray in this chapter?
 2. How much does Danglars lose on the Spanish bonds?
3. Why does Danglars believe his wife about the Spanish bonds?

Chapter 38
1. How long has Danglars known the Count de Morcerf?
2. What is Danglars going to do when he leaves the Count’s house?

Chapter 39
1. Where does Madame Danglars go after she leaves her house? Why?
2. What does Madame Danglars believe happened to her child? What really happened?
3. What is Villefort’s plan to find out about the Count?

Chapter 40
1. Why is Albert unhappy that the people at the Count’s party did not talk about him?
2. Why doesn’t Albert want to marry Mademoiselle Danglars?
3. Why doesn’t Monsieur Danglars want his daughter to marry Albert?

Chapter 41
1. Why doesn’t Villefort go to the ball with his wife and daughter? What does he do instead?
2. How does Madame de Saint-Meran die?
3. What does Madame de Saint-Meran say that she saw enter her room in the night?
4. How does Maximilien know that something is wrong with Valentine without even seeing her?
5. Who does Valentine want to marry?
6. Why does her grandmother want her to get married fast?
7. Why won’t Valentine run away with Maximilien?

Chapter 42
1. Explain what the papers are that Nortier wants taken from his desk.
2. Who is the president of the Bonapartist club?
3. Why does Noirtier reveal these papers at this time?

Chapter 43
1. What does the letter that Villefort receives from Franz say?
2. What does Noirtier’s new will say?
3. What takes place during the conversation between Danglars and Morcerf?

Chapter 44
1. What plan does Noirtier have Valentine tell Maximilien?
2. Explain what happens to Barrois and who the doctor thinks is responsible for the incident.
3. Why doesn’t Noirtier die from the poison?

Chapter 45
 1. What is Caderousse’s request of Andrea?
2. What plan does Andrea make for Caderousse to get more money?

Chapter 46

1. What does the letter say that came to the Count of Monte Cristo at his country house in Auteuil?
2. Why does the Count decide to go to his house to catch the thief rather than turn it over to the
police?
3. How does the Count choose to confront the thief in his house?
4. What does Caderousse do when Abbe Busoni says he is going to tell Danglars everything?
5. What does the Abbe Busoni force Caderousse to do before he leaves his house?
6. What happens when Caderousse leaves the house?

Chapter 47
1. Where do the Albert and the Count go in this chapter?
2. Describe what makes their transportation unique
3. From whom does Albert receive a letter and what does it inform Albert about?

Chapter 48
1. What does the chamber do about the article printed in the newspaper about the Count de Morcerf?
2. Who comes to testify against the Count of Morcerf?
3. What does this witness accuse Morcerf of doing?

Chapter 49
1. Who does Albert first think is responsible for his father’s dishonor?
2. What does Baron Danglars explain to Albert?

Chapter 50
1. Where does Albert decide to confront the Count of Monte Cristo?
2. What does Meredes decide to do after talking to Albert?
3. What is the Count’s reaction to Albert’s accusation?
4. Who are Albert’s “seconds” in the duel?
5. Who are Count’s “seconds” in the duel?

Chapter 51
1. Who comes to visit the Count in this chapter?
2. What is the visitor’s purpose?
3. Explain the change that came over the Count as he agreed to the request made of him.

Chapter 52
1. What does Monte Cristo want Ali to take to his notary?
 2. What weapons are they to use in the duel?
3. What does Monte Cristo reveal about his ability with pistols?
4. Why does Monte Cristo say to Maximilien, “...don’t forget what you just saw here”?
5. What does Albert reveal that astonishes the spectators?

Chapter 53
1. What do Albert and Mercedes decide to do?
2. What does the letter from Bertuccio reveal?

Chapter 54
1. What is meant by the phrase, “He had recently begun to realize something which he had not dared
believe before: that there was another Mercedes in this world...”?
2. What is Morcerf’s purpose in visiting the Count in this chapter?
3. How does Dantes tell Morcerf who he really is?
4. What happens to Morcerf at the end of this chapter?

Chapter 55
1. What happens to Valentine in this chapter?
2. What is the Count’s reaction when Maximilien tells him who he loves?
3. Why doesn’t Valentine die?
4. Who moves in next door to the Villefort residence?

Chapter 56
1. Why is everyone at the Danglars’ residence in the opening of this chapter?
2. Who do the police come for at the Danglars’ residence and why?

Chapter 57
1. What does Eugenie Danglars do in this chapter?

Chapter 58
1. How does Andrea leave Paris?
2. Explain how Andrea is eventually captured?

Chapter 59
1. Explain how the Count protects Valentine from being poisoned again.
2. Who does Valentine realize is trying to poison her?
3. What is the reason she is being poisoned?

Chapter 60
1. What does the Count do with the poison before he leaves Valentine’s room?
2. What does Madame Villefort do first thing in the morning?
3. What does the doctor find in Valentine’s room?
4. What does Maximilien do when he is told Valentine is dead?
 5. Why does Nortier want to be alone with Villefort?
6. What does Nortier and Villefort ask the doctor and Maximilien to do?

Chapter 61
1. What would “be bearable for a millionaire”? Would you agree or disagree with that statement if
you were in Danglars’ position? Explain.
2. What does Monte Cristo take from Danglars? How does Danglars react?
3. What does Monsieur de Boville, Commissioner of Hospitals, want from Danglars?
4. What do Madame de Morcerf and her son do with the fortune of the late General de Morcerf?
Why do they do this?
5. What agreement does Danglars make with Monsieur de Boville?
6. After Monsieur de Boville leaves, what does Danglars plan to do?

Chapter 62
1. How does Monte Cristo enter Maximilien’s room? Why does he enter this way?
2. What is Maximilien planning on doing?
3. What is Maximilien’s attitude toward Monte Cristo? Why does he feel this way towards him?
4. What news does Monte Cristo reveal that “staggered” and “overwhelmed” Maximilien?
5. What wisdom does Monte Cristo give to Maximilien when he says that, “suffering is like
__________________”. Explain the significance of this statement.
6. What does Monte Cristo get Maximilien to agree to?

Chapter 63
1. Who is the unknown man that comes to the motel?
2. Who is the woman?
3. What is their purpose for being there?
4. Why do they conceal their identities?
5. What is Debray’s advice to Madame Danglars?

Chapter 64
1. What is the Court of Saint Bernard?
2. Why is it called the “Lion’s Den”?
3. Who came to see Andrea Benedetto?
4. Why is Andrea in prison?
5. What does Andrea want to know?

Chapter 65
1. Why is Villefort locked in his study?
2. What is Villefort’s concern about the chocolate?
3. What does Villefort accuse his wife of doing?
4. What does she do it with?
 5. What is Villefort’s wife supposed to do before he returns?

Chapter 66

1. By what name is Andrea known is Paris society?

2. What is Andrea’s birth date?
3. Who is Andrea’s father?
4. What does his father do to him when he was born?
5. What was his mother told?

Chapter 67
1. What are Villefort’s plans as he rushed home?
2. What has happened to Heloise?
3. What has happened to Edouard?
4. What other names are Abbe Busoni know by?
5. What finally happens to Villefort?

Chapter 68
1. Why does the Count of Monte Cristo come to Julie’s house?
2. Where is the Counts destination?
3. What does the Count say about friends?
4. Who does the Count see in Marseilles?
5. What is the one thing Mercedes wants?

Chapter 69
1. What doubts does the Count have?
2. Where does he have the boat owner take him?
3. What story does the guide tell the Count?
4. What does the guide give the Count?

Chapter 70
1. Who does Danglers want to see in Rome?
2. How much money does he withdraw?
3. How does Danglers pass the time on the way out of Italy?
4. Where does Danglers end up?

Chapter 71
1. How much is Danglers to pay for the chicken?
2. How much is the bread?
3. What does Danglers have to do before he can eat anything?
4. How does he finally get his chicken?

Chapter 72
 1. How much does a bottle of wine cost Danglars?
2. How much money does Danglers have after buying all his meals?
3. What does Danglers have to do before he is released?
4. What happens to Danglers on the road out of town?

Chapter 73
1. Why does Maximilien go to the Isle of Monte Cristo?
2. Who is there to see Maximilien?
3. What does Dantes leave Maximilien and Valentine?
4. Who does the Count leave with?

BIGGER QUESTIONS/POSSIBLE ESSAY TOPICS

-The transformation of Edmund Dantes
-Revenge
-Appearance versus Reality
-Edmund Dantes as a hero or a villain
-Power