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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 is Miss Wonderly's first name?

2. Who does Effie say has tried to contact Spade?

3. What does Brigid want to know about Spade's meeting with Cairo?

4. What is the young doing?

5. Why did Brigid agree to come to San Francisco with Thursby?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what way does Brigid show her desperation for Spade services in the sixth chapter?

2. How does Spade react to Miss Wonderly's presence?

3. Why is the thirteenth chapter titled Paloma?

4. What problems has Gutman had trying to get the falcon?

5. What does Spade work out about Miss Wonderly in the second chapter?

6. How does Spade react to Brigid not being able to afford his services?

7. How has Spade approached the case so far?

8. What plan do Spade and Archer make in the first chapter?

9. Why does Gutman want to keep Spade on his good side?

10. What does Spade say Brigid, Cairo and Gutman do aboard the La Paloma?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In 1942 The Maltese Falcon was made into a famous film noir film starring Humphrey Bogart and directed by John Huston. Why do you think the themes and ideas in the book were still relevant ten years later? Do you think the ideas are timeless and universal? What is it about the novel that enabled it to be made into one of the finest examples of film noir?

Essay Topic 2

The main themes in the novel are greed, loyalty and crime. Take one of these themes and discuss how Hammett expresses them in the book? Why do you think these themes were important concerns in 1920s America?

Essay Topic 3

Examine the novel's chronological setting.

1) What were the main concerns during the 1920s. How does Hammett express these concerns?

2) In what ways do you think the novels meaning would change if it was set in today's society?

(see the answer keys)

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