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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 walks up the drive while Marlowe is on the phone?

2. How many men does Eddie have in his car?

3. What color hair does Eddie Mars have?

4. Which edition of Ben Hur is Marlowe looking for?

5. What is missing from the camera?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe what Marlowe does when he gets back to his apartment in chapter 30.

2. Why does Marlowe kiss Mrs. Mars?

3. Describe Vivian Regan.

4. How does Mars react to the fact that there maybe a gray Plymouth on Marlowe's tail?

5. What has Marlowe figured out about the case in the final chapter?

6. How does Marlowe know that Jones has been poisoned?

7. How does Marlowe get Brody to lower his gun?

8. What does Harry Jones want from Marlowe?

9. What will Eddie do if Marlowe does not stay in the house?

10. How does Harry claim Mars killed Regan?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Big Sleep is a famous book which has greatly influenced modern literature. Choose a book written after the novel that you think was influenced by it and discuss there similarities in terms of:

a) plot

b) character

c) themes.

Essay Topic 2

Examine Chandler's writing style. How would you describe Chandler's prose style? What kind of vocabulary does he use? Does he use any specific writing techniques? What meaning does Chandler's style give to the story?

Essay Topic 3

In what way is Vivian Regan the typical femme fatale? What do the students think that Vivian's role will be in the story? What will her relationship be like with Marlowe? Why do the students think a femme fatale is important to the story?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 672 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample