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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 Walter Dunphy invite Stephanie to do?

2. What does Munson do to Mitchell and Habib?

3. What does Stephanie ask Vinnie to do for Moon Man?

4. What happens after Ranger leaves Homer?

5. Who is at Stephanie's front door while she is on the phone to her mother?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Stephanie's on-again off-again boyfriend know about Stephanie and Ranger and what do you think his response is to that?

2. Why is Ranger suspect in a recent homicide, but why does Stephanie think he is not guilty?

3. Why does Stephanie call Morelli and what does his response to imply about Morell's attitude towards Stephanie?

4. What is Stephanie's occupation and does this seem a likely one for her?

5. How does the interrelationships in this story suggest a sense of community?

6. How would you feel if someone like Ranger could easily enter your house and sit beside your bed at 3 a.m.?

7. Munson can probably be characterized as a misogynist--what do you think that word means based on what you have read about Munson?

8. What are one or two ways Stephanie demonstrates a piece (flaw?) in her personality as far as rescuing people?

9. What is ironic about Lula's former life to her current job?

10. How is the presence of Mooner sitting with Grandma when Stepahine is getting ready for work farcical?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In any detective novel, there are clues that point both to the real criminal(s) versus those that are designed to mislead the readers in order to add suspense. Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze 5 clues that are designed to let the astute reader figure out who is the criminal(s).

2. Trace and analyze 5 clues that are designed to mislead even the astute reader in figuring out who is the criminal(s).

3. Do you enjoy being mislead in a mystery/suspense novel? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 2

This novel belongs to the general literary category of fiction and the genre of detective fiction, although it has characteristics of other genres also. Discuss the following:

1. Define the term genre.

2. Why do you think books are categorized by genre? What are the advantages? The disadvantages?

3. Discuss in what ways you think Hot Six belongs to the detective fiction genre.

4. To what other genres could this book possibly belong?

Essay Topic 3

Death occurs several times throughout this rather lighthearted novel. Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of death throughout the story.

2. In a somewhat farcical novel such as Hot Six, can death be a serious topic? Why or why not? Discuss fully with examples from Hot Six and other literature.

3. Is death more tragic when someone dies unexpectedly young versus someone who dies unexpectedly in their 7th or 8th decade of life? Discuss fully with examples from the book and your own experiences.

(see the answer keys)

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