View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is lying open on the table?

2. Who is Paul Middlemass?

3. How is the man dressed who was cavorting around on the graves at the village concert?

4. What does Mrs. Bidwell explain to Dalgliesh?

5. About what can Director Howarth not offer accurate answers?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Howarth do after Dalgliesh arrives and what does Dalgliesh learn about the case?

2. How helpful is the interview with Cliff Bradley for Dalgliesh?

3. Describe Adam Dalgliesh.

4. How does the interview between Dalgliesh and Easterbrook go and what does Dalgliesh learn?

5. What does Paul Middlemass tell Dalgliesh and about what does Middlemass lie?

6. Why does Blakelock go up to Dr. Lorrimer's lab and what does he tell Director Howarth when coming back downstairs?

7. What does Nell do after her father has left the house?

8. Describe the conversation between Brenda Pridmore and Adam Dalgliesh.

9. How is the staff at Hoggatt's Lab sorted for who needs to stay and who may go home?

10. What upsets Director Howarth about Dr. Lorrimer?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Death of an Expert Witness belongs to the literary genre of mystery/detective fiction. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly define the term genre and offer examples of it from your own reading experience. Why do you think it is useful to categorize fiction into genres? What could be a disadvantage of doing so?

2. What do you think is the main motivation for a person to read a mystery and detective novel? Is entertainment a good enough reason? Are there any other reasons to read this genre? What? Explain fully.

3. In "academe," mystery/murder novels are often thought of as less literary than some other genres and for that reason are sometimes "snubbed" in the study of literature. Why do you think this is so? Do you agree with this "snobbery"?

Essay Topic 2

Probably one of the most important literary techniques in a detective novel is foreshadowing. However, much of the foreshadowing is only obvious by the end of the book. P.D. James gives plenty of clues as to the outcome of the main plot and so the reader should not be totally in the dark by the end of the book. Discuss the following:

1. Find ten instances of foreshadowing in earlier parts of the book and discuss how they are fulfilled later in the book.

2. Besides foreshadowing, many mysteries contain many devices sometimes called "red herrings." Define red herring and then discuss five examples of that in the book.

3. Why do you think foreshadowing is inherent in a murder mystery? What would be the effect on the story if there were no foreshadowing? What if there were no red herrings?

Essay Topic 3

Death of an Expert Witness is one book in a series of novels involving Adam Dalgliesh. Discuss the following.

1. What are two advantages of writing and reading a series of novels about the same characters? Use examples.

2. What are two disadvantages of writing and reading a series of novels about the same characters? Use examples.

3. Do you prefer to read a standalone book, or a series of books with the same main characters? Explain your response.

4. Do you think it is easier or more difficult to write a standalone book versus one in a series? Explain your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,339 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample