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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 Alafair say about her upbringing?

2. What does their new daughter do at the church?

3. How many passengers are in the plane?

4. Where has a man run a boat aground?

5. What does Dave decide to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Minos P. Dautrieve.

2. What is an indication of Robin's possibly over drinking?

3. What does Dave find out from Robin?

4. Where does Dave go after a phone call from Batist?

5. Describe Dave's visit to Bubba.

6. What do Dave and Annie witness as they are about to have lunch?

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

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

9. What does Dave conclude about the incident in the bayou?

10. What happens to Dave in the bayou?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Claudette murders her husband, Bubba, in a seemingly cold, calculated way. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze the relationship between Bubba and Claudette. Why do you think the two marry initially? What goes wrong in their relationship?

2. How do you think Claudette is able to murder someone with whom she has lived and been involved with sexually? Do you think Bubba brings the murder on partly because of his abuse of Claudette?

3. Does Bubba get what he deserves? Should Claudette receive the death penalty? Do you think she could use the battered wife syndrome as a defense? (You may need to research that term).

Essay Topic 3

Dave rescues a little girl from the submerged plane and after taking her to a hospital for a checkup where they say she is their daughter they take her home and decide to keep her. Discuss the following:

1. How likely is it that in the "real" world a couple could get away with taking home a "stray" child and just deciding to keep her?

2. Do you think Dave and Annie are doing the right thing in keeping the girl (who they name Alafair)? Why or why not?

3. Is it ethical to keep a child when she could have blood relatives who might be concerned about her and would want to keep her as part of the family?

4. How will Dave and Annie produce the necessary documentation for school attendance and other legalities? Do you think Dave will forge the necessary documents and how could Dave justify breaking the law given that he was a police officer and returns to police work during the course of the story?

(see the answer keys)

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