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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 Rutledge run into in Chapter 5 after leaving Mavers?

2. Who first mentions Mavers to Rutledge while he is doing interviews?

3. Why does Rutledge become angry in Chapter 7 while talking with Lettice Wood?

4. What motive does Lettice Wood suggest Catherine Tarrant might have had to kill the murder victim?

5. Who is Redfern?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. Who is Helena Sommers? What is unusual about her living arrangements?

5. Who does Rutledge learn that Catherine Tarrant blamed for the death of her German lover?

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

7. Who is Bowles? Why does he dislike Rutledge?

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

9. Who is the prime suspect as supported by the evidence in Chapter 10?

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

Who is the main suspect in the murder of Harris? What does Rutledge think about the evidence he has gathered against this suspect? Does Scotland Yard support Rutledge's conclusions? Does Rutledge have the full support of his superiors at Scotland Yard? Explain. What could potentially happen to Ian Rutledge if he fails to solve this case in a satisfactory manner? Why do many people complain that Rutledge is taking too long to solve the case? Is he? How does Rutledge respond to this pressure?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following in detail:

1) writing style

2) theme

3) irony

4) symbolism.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss each of the following in detail, citing examples from the novel to support your conclusions:

1) Setting

2) Point of view

3) Metaphor and symbolism

4) Structure.

(see the answer keys)

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