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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. Where is Tom sailing to?

2. What city has Mr. Greenleaf gone to on business?

3. What is Tom afraid of?

4. What does Tom think about pushing Dickie off of?

5. What kind of alcohol does Bob give Tom?

Short Essay Questions

1. What brings tears to Tom's eyes?

2. What does Tom say to the Greenleafs in the postscript?

3. How does Tom know Bob Delancey?

4. How does Tom want to prepare for meeting the Greenleafs for dinner?

5. Why does Tom feel proud of the work he has done for Mr. Greenleaf?

6. What has Tom been doing while alone in his hotel room?

7. What does Marge say in her letter to Dickie, dated January 4?

8. What does Tom rehearse in his hotel room?

9. Who does Tom meet in Rome?

10. What does Tom write in a letter from Dickie to Marge?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the novel's dialogue. How does Highsmith's dialogue contribute to the following areas:

1) Character

2) Setting

3) Plot

Essay Topic 2

Look at the structure of the novel.

1) How does Highsmith use character and dialogue to drive the narrative?

2) Discuss elements of the narrative structure: Exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the novel's themes?

3) Aside from the main character ,examine the way Highsmith uses the other characters in the story. When does she introduce and take them away from the story? What effect does it have on the story?

Essay Topic 3

Why does Highsmith set the novel in Europe? How different was Europe to America in the fifties? How does Highsmith express these differences in the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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