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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 does Patrick apologize to before he dies?

2. How does Patrick say he wants to talk to Helen?

3. Where is Bill Quigley from?

4. What part of their body did the Heel String Gang slit?

5. What does Patrick mouth to Helen before he dies?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Patrick do just before his death?

2. How does Helen say her views on Patrick's execution have changed since ten years ago?

3. What does Helen point out about executions in America?

4. Why does Helen refuse Colon's offer to write to another prisoner?

5. What mistakes does Millard say Patrick's lawyer made?

6. Why does Helen think Patrick says another to Mr. Borque?

7. What does Patrick say his and Eddie's plan was once they were arrested?

8. Why does the governor refuse to interfere with Patrick's execution?

9. What problems does Helen have with the priest who interviews her before she visits Patrick?

10. What was Patrick's upbringing like?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In 1994, Tim Robbins directed a film version of DEAD MAN WALKING starring Sean Penn. Why do you think the themes and ideas in the book were still relevant 6 years later? How did the filmmakers adapt the themes to fit in with the new environment? How did these changes affect the meaning of the story?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the author's writing style. How would you describe the author's prose style? What kind of vocabulary does she use? What meaning does the author's style give to the story?

Essay Topic 3

What was Partick's upbringing? How do you think his upbringing contributed to his life in crime? Do you think such an upbringing should be taken into consideration by the court?

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