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Who was Charles Baudelaire?
Model-written, not yet read by a native reader.
Correct answer: A great French poet of the 19th century. Baudelaire was a great French poet of the 19th century. He modernised poetry. His best-known collections are Les Fleurs du Mal and Le Spleen de Paris. Source: the Ministry of the Interior sheet “Patrimoine français : des artistes emblématiques parmi les auteurs (2/3)” (in French).
Sources: Sheet “Patrimoine français : des artistes emblématiques parmi les auteurs (2/3)” (French), read on 21 October 2026. Answer written by Hexaciv from this source. Hexaciv is an independent preparation tool. It is not an official website, is not linked to any government body and does not give legal advice. The authoritative source is the Ministry of the Interior's, cited on this page.
The four choices and why
- ✗ A fable writer of the 17th centuryUn fabuliste du 17e siècleThat is not the right answer: the fact sheet says Baudelaire is a major poet of the 19th century (1821-1867).
- ✓ A great French poet of the 19th centuryUn grand poète français du 19e siècleCorrect answer. Baudelaire was a great French poet of the 19th century. He modernised poetry. His best-known collections are Les Fleurs du Mal and Le Spleen de Paris.
- ✗ A theatre author of the 17th centuryUn auteur de théâtre du 17e siècleThis option does not match the fact sheet: Baudelaire is a great French poet of the 19th century.
- ✗ A novelist known for the book La Mare au DiableUn romancier connu pour La Mare au DiableLa Mare au Diable is a novel by George Sand.
What the source says
« Baudelaire est un grand poète français. »
Sentence copied word for word from the source, in French, read on 21 October 2026.
How it reads on exam day
The exam is in French, so this is the question you will see: « Qui était Charles Baudelaire ? ». Learn the English idea above and the French words in the options.
This question is on the official list for the multi-year residence card (CSP) and on the naturalisation list (PDF read on 14 October 2026). The Ministry's wording: “Qui était Charles Baudelaire ?”.
Where the Ministry explains it
Sheet “Patrimoine français : des artistes emblématiques parmi les auteurs (2/3)” (French).
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