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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 Dave ask to keep an eye on Annie and the house?

2. What does Dave surmise about the occupants of the plane?

3. Who is Alafair?

4. What does Alafair say about her upbringing?

5. Why is Dave admitted to the hospital?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Dave begin his investigation?

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

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

4. Where do Dave and Annie go when they dock their boat?

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

6. What does Dave learn from Robin before she leaves town?

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

8. Describe Minos P. Dautrieve.

9. Briefly describe Robin Gaddis.

10. Describe Dave's visit to Bubba.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Annie wants Dave to live a life resigned of all involvement in the shady side of life. She wants him to remain sober and entirely detached from any police-type involvement--and she is very verbal and increasingly forceful about her desires in this regard. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze Dave and Annie's relationship. Is it stable? Loving? What causes the problems in the relationship when there are problems?

2. Do you think it is fair of Annie to ask Dave to stay out of the situation that revolves around the plane crash? Does she expect him to be someone he is not?

3. Annie meets Dave after he has already resigned from the police force in New Orleans; therefore, she marries a man who is not engaged in police operations. Do you think she would have married Dave had he still been a police officer?

Essay Topic 2

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Burke chooses the symbols he does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Burke chooses the metaphors he does?

3. Discuss James Lee Burke's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, clifthangers, deux ex machina, etc.), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Burke use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme).

Essay Topic 3

In most fiction, readers would like all the loose ends to be neatly "tied up." Discuss the following:

1. Do you think HEAVEN'S PRISONERS is successful as a detective novel? Why or why not.

2. What about this book would motivate you to read another of James Lee Burke's Robicheaux series? What would discourage you from doing so?

3. Were all the "loose ends" satisfactorily settled for you? Why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,141 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample