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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. What happens after Dave has been in jail for three weeks?

2. What is Dave's response to Dixie Lee's request?

3. How does Dave's daughter like to speak?

4. Why does Dave have to spend the night there?

5. Why is Dixie Lee arrested?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to Dave the day after his encounter with Mapes and Vidrine and do you think he is a responsible parent in that incident?

2. What does Dixie Lee do that is perhaps a typical manipulative action of an alcoholic?

3. What do you think the package in Dave's mailbox means?

4. Describe and evaluate the character, Dixie Lee.

5. What horrific event has happened not to long ago to Dave and how is he handling it?

6. Why do you think Dave refuses to help his old friend, Dixie Lee?

7. Describe Cletus Purcel.

8. What evidence is there that Purcel is still on the wrong side of the law?

9. What does Dave find in his mailbox and what is the Sheriff's response to it?

10. How does Dave accidentally alert Mapes and Vidrine that he is looking into the fire at Dixie Lee's place? Why do you think the Sheriff allows this to happen?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Dreams play a significant role in BLACK CHERRY BLUES. Discuss the following:

1. How much (if any) do you think Dave's Cajun background contribute to his valuing his dreams?

2. Discuss Dave's three significant dreams and their interpretations.

3. Can Dave be taken seriously as a detective when he puts stock in such things as dreams? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 2

It is obvious Dave dearly loves Alafair, his daughter, but at times, he seems to make decisions that are perhaps not in her best interest. Discuss the following:

1. Dave goes to the Sheriff who cannot help Dave when Dave first receives the letter with the implied threat against Alafair. Because the Sheriff says he cannot help Dave, does this mean it's the wises thing to do to beat up these men when getting thrown in jail will perhaps leave Alafair vulnerable?

2. Is it wise for Dave to given in to Alafair's pleading and take her with him to Montana? Would it have been more harmful to be separated from her father when her mother's death is still not in the too-distant past?

3. Is there anything Dave could have/should have done differently concerning Alafair throughout the story?

Essay Topic 3

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of James Lee Burke.

2. What in Burke's background may have helped Burke in writing BLACK CHERRY BLUES? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

(see the answer keys)

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