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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 the name of the man Miss Wonderly sister left New York with?

2. Where did the man find a new family?

3. Who is waiting for Spade when he arrives back at his office?

4. How old does Spade think the man is following him?

5. What does Brigid confirm about Cairo?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Spade react to Iva's apology in the eleventh chapter?

3. In what way does the sixteenth chapter express the problems of its time?

4. How does Spade rid Cairo of his weapon?

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

6. How does Spade react to Iva's presence in the second chapter?

7. How was the falcon made?

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

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

10. Whay does Miss Wonderly pay the men $200?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the values of 1920s.

1) Why was greed and loyalty such an issue during this time?

2) In what ways are the characters negative characteristics are product of their time? Do you think America was going through a transitional phase in the the 1920s? What significant changes do you think occurred during this period?

3)Does modern society share any values with 1920s America?

Essay Topic 2

Examine Hammett's writing style. How would you describe Hammett's prose style? What kind of vocabulary does he use? Does he use any specific writing techniques? What meaning does Hammett's style give to the story?

Essay Topic 3

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?

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This section contains 752 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample