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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 does Poe tell Edmund about his sister at the end of the story?
(a) She would have lived longer in his story than in reality.
(b) She will probably not live long.
(c) She did not display courage throughout her abduction.
(d) She is a stronger person than Edmund.

2. Where is Edmund reunited with his mother?
(a) In a cemetery.
(b) In a church.
(c) In a saloon.
(d) In a bank.

3. What is Dupin surprised to learn that Captain Elias told Edmund?
(a) Fortnoy was keeping watch at the time of the murder.
(b) The Lady Liberty does not exist.
(c) The S.S. Freedom does not exist.
(d) Captain Elias was keeping watch at the time of the murder.

4. When they return to Edmund's room after Edmund is attacked, what does Dupin tell Edmund to find?
(a) An encoded message.
(b) His notebook.
(c) The newspaper the food is wrapped in.
(d) His wallet.

5. Who does Dupin tell Edmund that Rachett has killed?
(a) Edmund's aunt, believing her to be Edmund's mother.
(b) Edmund's mother, believing her to be Edmund's aunt.
(c) His partner, Peterson.
(d) Edmund's sister.

Short Answer Questions

1. What happened to Poe in real life?

2. What does Throck ask Edmund about Poe?

3. What does Edmund bring with him to rescue his sister?

4. What does Dupin admit to Edmund about himself?

5. When Poe arrives at the scene where Edmund is trying to rescue his sister, how does he say he figured out the meaning of the decoded message?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do you think the author uses the circular technique of starting Poe's story in a way that is identical to the start of the novel?

2. Why do you think the author has Edmund's mother demand both the divorce and her money, rather than just being satisfied with a divorce, when she first encounters her husband?

3. Why is it significant in Chapter 19 that Edmund decodes an important riddle while all the adults around him sleep?

4. What is the importance of the guests' discussion of whether it is possible to read a man's character from his face?

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

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

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

8. What is the symbolism in Chapter 19 of Edmund's grabbing Poe's story and threatening to rip it up if Poe does not help him?

9. 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?

10. Do you think Poe is able to make up his own mind whether or not to root for Edmund's happiness, or does his nature force him to hope for the worst?

(see the answer keys)

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