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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What truth does Edmund demand of Poe before they part ways?
(a) Whether he is really a writer.
(b) Whether his name is really Poe.
(c) Whether he really had a wife named Sis.
(d) Whether he was really trying to save Sis.

2. What happens to the ship Edmund's sister was on?
(a) It hits a rock.
(b) It overturns.
(c) It gets away.
(d) It plows into Edmund's boat.

3. What does another of the notices say?
(a) Arnold can be reached at the Providence Bank.
(b) Arnold is demanding a ransom for Edmund's sister.
(c) Arnold resides at the Hotel American House.
(d) Arnold is demanding a ransom for Edmund's mother.

4. What does Throck ask Edmund about Poe?
(a) If he is getting the reward money for finding Edward's aunt.
(b) If he is getting the reward money for finding Edward's mother.
(c) If he is looking for Edmund's sister.
(d) If he is a drunkard.

5. How does Edmund convince Poe to help him find his sister?
(a) Withholding his liquor.
(b) Offering to help him write his story.
(c) Complimenting him on his detective skills.
(d) Threatening to tear up his story.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Poe tell Edmund about his sister at the end of the story?

2. What does Edmund see in the mausoleum?

3. What does Edmund see on the tavern wall?

4. Who does Dupin tell Edmund that Rachett has killed?

5. Why is the decoded message Edmund found at Mrs. Whitman's house unclear?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do you think Edmund makes the final decision to tear up Poe's story before going to the docks to rescue Sis?

2. Why do you think Dupin decides that his work is done after summing up the details of the solved mystery in Chapter 17?

3. Why is it significant in Chapter 14 that Edmund first begins to doubt Dupin's detective skills after talking to Captain Elias?

4. If you were Edmund, how do you feel about Poe's assertion that Sis lives on longer in Poe's story than she does in real life?

5. What does Dupin mean in Chapter 14 when he tells Edmund that "the story is over"?

6. How does the final chase scene in Chapter 21 differ from the rest of the novel?

7. Do you think Poe is a coward for giving up on marrying Helen because, as he says, too many timid people feel threatened by his power as a writer?

8. How do you think Edmund felt upon reading the beginning of Poe's story, and seeing the name "Edgar" changed to "Edmund"? Do you think it made him regret having torn up the rest of the story?

9. What is the symbolism in Chapter 19 of Poe's belief upon seeing Edmund and his mother that his characters have come to life?

10. Why do you think Poe drops the remainder of his story on the ground before walking away from Edward for the last time?

(see the answer keys)

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