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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 does Prejean used to think nuns were not?

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

3. Where is Helen at the beginning of Chapter 5?

4. Where does Kimellen travel to on Christmas Day?

5. Why does Patrick say his mother rarely comes to visit him?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Why does Helen think Patrick heeds her word and not leaving life with hatred in his heart?

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

5. What similar crimes were Eddie and Patrick accused of?

6. What was Patrick's upbringing like?

7. Why does meeting Patrick make Helen realize how lucky she has been?

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

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

10. What is Helen's opinions of Patrick after her first visit with him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What was Helen's upbringing? How does Helen's upbringing differ from Robert's and Patrick's? How is a person's upbringing responsible for the person he/she becomes?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

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?

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This section contains 737 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample