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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. How old was Dexter when his biological mother died?

2. Who is Deborah speaking to in Chapter 23, when she says, "I'm leaving you in charge of determining if this evidence is relevant."

3. Who does Dexter say was really terrible at screaming?

4. Harry wanted Dexter to stop the nurse like the ______.

5. The statement, "and there I was out over the city like a boneless bird, flowing and swift and the cold air moved around me..." comes from where?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is the first person Dexter ever killed? How old was he at the time? Who choose Dexter's first victim? Explain.

2. How does Dexter feel about people at the Metro-Dade police force saying he has a feeling for serial homicide? Explain.

3. What is the name of Dexter's latest kill in Chapter 14? What crime did this person commit? How does Dexter's victim feel about the crime he has committed?

4. Describe the dream Dexter has in Chapter 19. What does this dream foreshadow?

5. Who is the first person Deborah and Dexter interview at the ice rink? What information does this person reveal to them? Why is this information important to the crime scene?

6. How does the Metro-Dade police react to the crime scene in Chapter 20. How is this different from their usual response to crime scenes? How Does Dexter respond to the crime scene?

7. Who does LaGuerta invite to the crime scene in Chapter 20? What does she tell these people? What is the result of her invitation?

8. Who calls Dexter in the beginning of Chapter 24? Why is this person calling? What conclusion does Dexter come to with this phone call?

9. What three gifts does the Tamiami Trail Killer leave behind? What do these three gifts represent?

10. Who follows Dexter to the docks? Why does this person follow him? Who warned this person of Dexter's illicit behavior?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose a death scene from the novel that reveals the values of the main character and the society in which he lives. In a focused essay, discuss the contribution the scene makes to the meaning of the work as a whole.

Essay Topic 2

Choose a character found in Darkly Dreaming Dexter that can be considered morally ambiguous, behavior which discourages readers from identifying them as purely evil or purely good. Explain how the character can be viewed as morally ambiguous and why his or her moral ambiguity is significant to the work.

Essay Topic 3

In a critical essay, analyze the main conflict in Darkly Dreaming Dexter and discuss the moral and ethical implications for both Dexter and the society in which he lives.

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