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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 gives Mavers the item Rutledge finds in his home in Chapter 5?

2. What is the Victoria Cross?

3. Who is in charge of the murder investigation, as Rutledge learns at the end of Chapter 1?

4. Who answers the door when Rutledge arrives at Helena Sommers' cottage in Chapter 7?

5. Which veterans of the war does Wilton suggest are the worst off?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Daniel Hickam? Why is he not considered a reliable witness in the murder of Colonel Charles Harris?

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

3. Why was Scotland Yard called in to investigate the murder of Colonel Harris?

4. What does Rutledge think of the reunion between Lettice Wood and Captain Wilton in Chapter 9?

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

6. Who does Rutledge give money to at the end of Chapter 6? For what reason?

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

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

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

10. What is revealed when the author switches point of views at the beginning of Chapter 7?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Discuss one of the following in detail:

1) writing style

2) theme

3) irony

4) symbolism.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss irony. How many examples of irony are there in this novel? How is the death of Hamish McLeod filled with irony? Is this part of what causes Rutledge to become obsessed with Hamish? What is ironic about the change in relationship between Lettice and her guardian? What is ironic about Harris' death? How could Harris' death been prevented? How did Harris' death prevent the death of another character?

(see the answer keys)

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