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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. What does Dr. Lecter say in his note to Dr. Chilton?

2. What does Clarice tell Catherine Martin when she begs Clarice to get her out of the pit?

3. What type of dog is Precious?

4. What tragic event takes place in Chapter 45?

5. What happened to Buffalo Bill's victims who were kept in the back rooms of his basement?

Short Essay Questions

1. At what point is it apparent to Clarice that Jame Gumb is Buffalo Bill?

2. Do you think Clarice's obsession with Buffalo Bill's victims is beneficial or harmful. Why?

3. Do you think that Jame Gumb would be judged criminally insane or just plain evil?

4. How does Dr. Lecter avoid suspicion after his escape?

5. How does Dr. Lecter escape?

6. What happens after Clarice realizes that Jame Gumb is Buffalo Bill, and he realizes she knows?

7. What price did Clarice pay to stay on the Buffalo Bill investigation, and do you think she feels the price was too high?

8. Do you think that Clarice overstepped her bounds by visiting Dr. Lecter without going through the proper channels?

9. Do the Memphis guards underestimate Dr. Lecter? How do you know?

10. What happens/happened in Jame Gumb's basement, and what aspects of the basement add to the terror of his victims?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Dr. Lecter defends Clarice when Miggs insults her by throwing semen at her. Miggs is found dead in his cell shortly thereafter, having swallowed his tongue. It is suspected that Dr. Lecter had a hand in Miggs' death. Dr. Lecter is a master manipulator, but do you think he could actually convince someone to swallow his own tongue? Why or why not? If so, how do you think he would go about that? Do you believe Clarice would look at this defense of her as a woman and a professional as a backhanded compliment? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

One theme of this book is control and the loss or lack of it. Which characters seem to have control over their own situations, if any? Which characters are defined by their lack of control, and how do they work to gain control? Does control seem to be important to the FBI? The senator? Jame Gumb? Dr. Chilton? Clarice? Dr. Lecter? Jack Crawford? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Clarice's childhood is an important part of the story. What events occurred to lead her to a career with the FBI? Do you think if her father had not been in "law enforcement" and had still died at the hands of criminals that Clarice would have chosen the same career path? Why or why not? How do you think her time at the horse (glue) farm affected her future choices? Why? Do you think Clarice will be able to let go of her past and let the "lambs stop screaming"? Why or why not?

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