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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. How does Tom discover the body at the mansion?

2. What does Jury ask Vivian when he is questioning her about Beatrice's murder?

3. What does Melrose think of Beatrice?

4. Who is playing music when the guests arrive at Seaingham?

5. Who is Mrs. Krimp?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was Brown's assignment when she was placed at Bonaventure?

2. What is confusing to the guests about Beatrice's murder scene?

3. How is the Margate Hotel described?

4. What does Melrose do with Beatrice's murder scene when he realizes that someone has been killed?

5. How does Jury come to realize that Melrose and Vivian are in the area when he arrives at the Jerusalem Inn?

6. What is going on in the Jerusalem Inn when Melrose, Plant, Vivian, Agatha, and Ruthven arrive during the snowstorm?

7. What arrangements was Brown given for her work at Bonaventure?

8. What does the group discuss over its first dinner at Spinney Abbey?

9. What role does Jury want Melrose to play during his time at Spinney Abbey?

10. What first impression of Parmenger does Melrose offer to Jury?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss 1) at least three ways the novel would change if it were written from the perspective of Melrose as well as 2) at least three literary devices Grimes could use while writing from these different perspectives.

Essay Topic 2

Murder mysteries, and Martha Grimes in particular, are an especially popular type of novel. Discuss at least four aspects of Grimes's writing style that resonates so strongly with such a large audience, citing specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

Describe at least four negative aspects of having a protagonist as brooding as Richard Jury. Make sure to use evidence from the novel to support your position.

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This section contains 750 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample