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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 was the cast-iron skillet that hurt Benny Grogan filled with?

2. What kind of shop does Scarlotti own?

3. From which country have people been sent to kill either Cool Breeze or Scarlotti?

4. Who phones Robicheaux in Chapter 26?

5. Which relative did Lila kill at the age of fifteen?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Robicheaux find out about Ida's body in this section?

2. Why do the two detectives say they want to arrest Breeze?

3. How does Ruby help Robicheaux in this section?

4. What does Robicheaux find suspicious about the photograph he finds in Chapter 23?

5. Describe the photographs Robicheaux finds in the glass jar.

6. Describe the meeting between Lila, Archer and Robicheaux in Chapter 29.

7. Describe the meeting between Scruggs and Robicheaux in Chapter 29.

8. Why does Lila feel guilty about her cousin's murder?

9. Describe the character of Rodney Loudermilk.

10. How does Purcel beat up up Scarlotti and his men?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What does the novel say about race relations during this period? Why do the blacks still seem to struggle to get on in New Iberia?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the author's writing style. How would you describe the author's prose style? What kind of vocabulary does he use? What meaning does the author's style give to the story?

Essay Topic 3

Compare Robicheax's character to the person he was at the beginning of the book to the he is at the end.

1. What did Robicheaux hope to achieve at the beginning of the book?

2. What events changes Robicheaux ideas about life?

3. How has Robicheaux's character changed by the end of the book?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 695 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample