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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who does Helena Sommers suggest might be the murderer in Chapter 10?

2. Who shows impatience in Chapter 7 to clear the murder investigation?

3. Who does Mavers ask to leave while speaking with Rutledge so that he might speak openly without fear of judgment?

4. What does Rutledge realize about Lettice Wood that causes Hamish to talk to him about witches?

5. Why does Rutledge find himself forced to shoot McLeod after he faced the firing squad?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Royston tell Rutledge he once borrowed money from Colonel Harris?

2. What does Rutledge see that causes the voice of Hamish to become quite loud for a moment?

3. What does Rutledge learn about Catherine Tarrant that might provide motive for her to kill Harris?

4. Who is Hamish McLeod? What is his connection to Rutledge?

5. Who do the servants at Harris' estate tell Rutledge were fighting the night before Harris' murder?

6. Why did Harris stop Mavers from joining the military as Mavers describes it in Chapter 5?

7. What does Rutledge note as odd in Wilton's behavior toward Lettice in the aftermath of Harris' murder?

8. What does Rutledge feel is unusual about the position in which the body of Colonel Harris was found?

9. What does Wilton deny doing the morning of the murder that goes directly against eye witness testimony?

10. What skill does Rutledge fear he has lost in his experiences in the war?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following characters and their motives for murder in detail, citing examples from the novel to support your conclusions:

1) Wilton

2) Mavers

3) Royston

4) Hickam.

Essay Topic 2

Who is Ian Rutledge? Whose voice does he hear in his head? Why is he often surprised others cannot hear this voice? Why does Rutledge hear voices? Where has Rutledge been? What experience has caused Rutledge to hear this voice in his head? What was he before this experience? Who expects Rutledge to fail now that he has returned? Why? What does Rutledge think of his own chances of success in his current situation?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following in detail:

1) writing style

2) theme

3) irony

4) symbolism.

(see the answer keys)

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