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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. Why is Floyd dangerous?

2. On whose behalf is Cairo acting?

3. What does Spade tell the police about his relationship with Iva?

4. Who does Brigid say hid the statue?

5. What does Spade tell Brigid to do to get more money?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Spade rid Cairo of his weapon?

2. Describe the story Gutman tell in the Russian's Hand.

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

4. What does Brigid tell Spade about her part in the falcon in the ninth chapter?

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

6. What does Sid Wise reveal about Iva in the twelfth chapter?

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

8. What does horse feathers mean in terms of the eighth chapter?

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

10. How was the falcon made?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the novel's dialogue. How does Hammett's dialogue contribute to the following areas:

1) Character

2) Setting

3) Plot

Essay Topic 2

Identify the main themes of the story. Why do you think these themes are so important to the story? How does Hammett use character and setting to express these themes?

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?

(see the answer keys)

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