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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 kind of person does Cool Breeze suggest is behind the two brother's murders?

2. What does Robicheaux find out that one of Lila's ancestors had been?

3. What is James Mulcahy's role in the community?

4. What drug does the narrator think Geraldine is addicted to?

5. What does the author compare Clete's neck to?

Short Essay Questions

1. What photograph of Flynns does Robicheaux see in this section?

2. What does Cobb tell Robicheaux about Harpo Scruggs?

3. Why does Megan Flynn get so upset about the Hanged Man card in this section?

4. How do the two white men pester Mout' in Chapter 9?

5. What does Robicheaux find out about the Terrabonne family in this section?

6. What trouble does Robicheaux say Cool Breeze is in in this section?

7. What does Maddux say he knows about Harpo Scruggs?

8. What does Cool Breeze tell Robicheaux about the two brother's murders in Chapter 10?

9. What has Purcel found out about the Giacono family?

10. What problems is Lila Trombonne causing in Chapter 10?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Identify the main themes of the story. In what way are these themes relevant to the period? How does the author use character and setting to express these themes?

Essay Topic 2

What kind of family life does Robicheaux have? How is the different to the family lives of other fictional detectives? In what way does Robicheaux's family life have a positive affect on his life and work?

Essay Topic 3

What does it say about Harpo's role in the murders that he feels so guilty and eventually murders himself?How does Harpo's guilt tie in with the novel's overall theme of power?

(see the answer keys)

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