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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. Of what does the tattoo remind Dave?

2. What sport does Dautrieve play in college?

3. What happens when Dave turns his back on a man he is helping?

4. Why does Dave rough up Jerry?

5. What does Dave conclude about the local sheriff?

Short Essay Questions

1. Briefly describe Robin Gaddis.

2. Who does Dave ask to watch Annie and the house and give a brief description of the person.

3. What do Dave and Annie tell Alafair about her mother and what do they do to help Alafair start healing emotionally?

4. What happens to Dave in the bayou?

5. What are Dave and Annie doing when the novel opens?

6. Describe Dave Robicheaux.

7. What do Dave and Annie do in response to the event they witness?

8. Describe Dave's visit to Bubba.

9. How do Dave and Annie learn more about Alafair?

10. What police department did Dave work for and why is he no longer employed there?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Dave begins working as a deputy for the Layfayette Parish Sheriff's Department. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think Dave goes back to police work? Are we told why Dave quit police work with the New Orleans police department? Why?

2. What personality traits of Dave's might make him a good police officer? What would make him a ineffective or less-than-desirable police officer? Which in balancing the two seems to be stronger--his ability to be a good or not-so-great cop? Explain your rationale.

3. Why do you think the Sheriff of Layfaette Parish hires Dave when Dave is obviously drunk when he applies for the position? Is this a responsible thing to do on the Sheriff's part? Do you think the sheriff understands why Dave wants the position?

4. What motivates Dave to quit his job as a police officer at the end of the story? Is this a good decision on his part? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter 3, after Dave is beaten rather severely and spends the night in the hospital, he talks with the local sheriff. During the interview with the local sheriff, Dave quickly concludes that the sheriff has no intention of doing anything. Discuss one of the following:

1. Why do you think the sheriff seems uninterested in following up on a person being beaten? Do you think this is common law enforcement practice? Do you think if the sheriff had taken action and arrested Eddie Keats, Dave would not have taken punishment into his own hands and not sparked off a chain of violence? Does violence beget violence in other works and in a sense is Dave partly responsible for Annie's death and perhaps even the sheriff who declines to take the first act of violence seriously.

2. It seems many people in the "real" world expect a lot of police officers when it comes to protecting them and their property, but when it comes to enforcing laws that the people themselves break, they think the police are unfair to too zealous. (for example, the way many people respond to a ticket for a driving violation). Is this fair to the police officers? Is it just human nature to respond when "caught"? Discuss fully using examples from the book and your own experiences.

3. Trace and analyze the actions of enforcement officers, both local police and the INS and DEA agents. Are they all ethical? Humane? Competent? What are their motives for police work? Use specific examples to illustrate your statements.

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 HEAVEN'S PRISONERS? 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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