View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Marlowe put in his pocket before he leaves?

2. Who does Marlowe say he was trying to protect?

3. Where do Carmen and Marlowe go to practice shooting?

4. What does Marlowe report to the butler?

5. What color is the Plymouth?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The novel is set mostly in Los Angeles.

1) What meaning does Los Angeles bring to the novel? What would you automatically presume about a novel that was set in Los Angeles?

2) How different do you think today's Los Angeles is to the Los Angeles in the novel? How do you think the novel's meaning would change if it were set in today's Los Angeles?

3) How do you think the Los Angeles settings of the novel contributes to the novel's spirtual meaning?

Essay Topic 2

What does Eddie Mars presence add to the book? How and why does Marlowe deal with Mars to get the information he wants? In what way is Mars a typical character from thirties popular culture?

Essay Topic 3

The Big Sleep is written in the first person and with Marlowe as narrator. Why do you think Chandler chose to write the story in the first person? How do you think the meaning of the story would of changed if it was written in the third person?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 262 words (approx. 1 page at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample