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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. When they investigate the room that faces Edmund's room, what do Edmund and Dupin find?

2. When Edmund enters his room with the food for himself and his sister, what state is his sister in?

3. What is the food Edmund buys for himself and his sister wrapped in?

4. In what year does the story take place?

5. After Edmund's room is ransacked, what does Edmund tell Dupin about his stepfather, Mr. Rachett?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do you think Edmund continues to trust Dupin, even after reading in Dupin's notebook in Chapter Nine that Dupin thinks his story should end with Sis' death?

2. Why do you think the author decided to set up a mystery in the style of Edgar Allan Poe?

3. Why do you think the author sets up the prologue so that all of Edmund's female family members are missing?

4. What did Edgar Allan Poe do in his mystery stories that no one had done before, and how does this impact future mystery writers?

5. Why do you think the author has Dupin tell Edmund that he has certain critical information, but refuses to share it with him?

6. When Edmund sees Dupin asleep, surrounded by empty liquor bottles, in Chapter Three, what conflict does it bring about it Edmund's thinking?

7. Do you think the story would be as effective if it were set in a different time period?

8. Based on the prologue, what do you think is the author's opinion of Poe as a writer?

9. What does it reveal about Dupin's character when he tells Edmund in Chapter Two, "There is a difference between what happens and what we would like to have happen"?

10. What does the author accomplish in part one by having Dupin tell Edmund that Edmund already has all the facts he needs to solve the crime?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Dupin/Poe tells Edmund that "lies have their own truth." Do you agree? Do you think this is the case only in fiction, or in real life as well?

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter 13, the guests discuss whether it is possible to read a man's character from his face. Do you think they are accurately describing Dupin's approach to crime solving? For example, does Dupin/Poe attempt to discern whether a man is honest simply by looking at him? Do you think you can generally "judge a book by its cover", or is more probing required to get to the truth?

Essay Topic 3

How do you characterize Dupin/Poe's crime-solving methods? Do you think they are effective? Use specific details from the novel to support your answer.

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