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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. Which other policeman arrives with Tom Poulhaus?

2. Who do the police take to the station?

3. How much is Cairo willing to pay Spade?

4. Where is the Ambassador Hotel?

5. What is Brigid's excuse for not telling Spade about the Falcon?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Spade's excuse for Cairo and Brigid's behavior at the beginning of the eighth chapter?

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

3. How are Spade suspicions about Cairo's sexual orientation confirmed by Brigid?

4. Why does Gutman want to keep Spade on his good side in the seventeenth chapter?

5. Describe the story Spade tells Brigid at the beginning of the seventh chapter?

6. What has happened to Miss Wonderly's sister?

7. What is Spade's relationship with the three women he has met so far in the novel?

8. What does the final chapter say about Spade's character?

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

10. How does Spade rid Cairo of his weapon?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Maltese Falcon is written in the first person. Why do you think Hammett chose to write the story in the first person? How do you think the meaning of the story would of changed if it was written in the third person?

Essay Topic 2

The Maltese is a famous book which has greatly influenced popular culture. Choose a film or book written after The Maltese Falcon that you think was influenced by the novel and discuss there similarities in terms of:

a) Plot

b) Character

c) Themes

Essay Topic 3

Discuss whether you think this statement is true or false: The Maltese Falcon depicts women in a negative light. Use two examples from the novel to support your argument.

(see the answer keys)

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