View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. For whom does Catherine Tarrant beg Rutledge to be sure of the evidence in Chapter 17?

2. Who does Rutledge nearly run over in the rain at the beginning of Chapter 17?

3. Who does Rutledge learn in Chapter 14 features prominently in Mavers' speeches?

4. What is Mrs. Davenant's opinion of the relationship between Catherine Tarrant and Rolf Linden?

5. Why was the murder victim, as discovered by Rutledge in Chapter 14, riding his horse near the houses of ill repute on the lane?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Lettice Wood surprised to learn was the source of Mavers' pension?

2. How does Rutledge react when Catherine Tarrant shows him a portrait of her German lover in Chapter 17?

3. Why does Rutledge attend church in Chapter 15? What happens afterward?

4. In Chapter 16, Rutledge learns that Harris ate lunch at the inn often. What is unusual about Harris' lunch the Tuesday before his death?

5. What information does Mrs. Davenant give Rutledge about Wilton in Chapter 11 that could provide a motive for murder?

6. Why does Rutledge interview the two women of ill-repute who live on the lane?

7. Why does Catherine Tarrant admit she paid Hickam after the murder?

8. Why does the author switch point of view in a series of vignettes at the end of Chapter 17?

9. What new information does Rutledge get when he is finally able to interview Hickam in Chapter 15?

10. What major regret does Lettice Wood confess she has in the death of her guardian?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Who is Hamish McLeod? How did he die? How did this death cause Rutledge to have something of a mental break? Why does Rutledge often hear Hamish's voice in his head? How does this change the way Rutledge looks at the world and does his job? What does this say about Rutledge's mental state? What does it say about the way in which Rutledge deals with stress? What might happen is anyone learns the truth about Rutledge's mental state?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following in detail:

1) writing style

2) theme

3) irony

4) symbolism.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 946 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample