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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. At the end, what does Edmund come to realize about Poe's agenda?

2. What does Dupin see from the bell tower?

3. How do the kidnappers plan to use Edmund's sister?

4. What is Dupin surprised to learn that Captain Elias told Edmund?

5. What does another of the notices say?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

6. What is the significance, in Chapter 16, of Edmund throwing himself at a man with a gun?

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

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

10. What does Dupin mean in Chapter 16 when he tells Edmund that "lies have their own truth"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contract Edmund and Dupin/Poe. Use specific examples from the novel relating to their circumstances, life events, and reactions to these circumstances and events.

Essay Topic 2

Keeping in mind that this novel is a work of fiction, do you agree with Poe when he tells Edmund that Sis would have "lived longer" in his story than she could in reality? Do you think Poe himself has in a sense lived longer because of his presence in this novel?

Essay Topic 3

Why do you think the characters frequently think they see ghosts throughout the novel? What do the ghosts symbolize? What is the significance of the fact that these characters generally realize immediately that ghosts don't really exist?

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