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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 air does Tom think his cap gives him?

2. Where did Richard buy his black woolen socks?

3. Where does Tom tell Marge Dickie is staying?

4. What Henry James book does Tom ask for?

5. What is the name of the restaurant the hotel manager recommends?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Tom think is an average day for Dickie and Marge?

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

3. How does Tom know Bob Delancey?

4. How does Tom know Charlie Schriever?

5. Why does Carlo want two people to ride to Paris in a coffin?

6. How does the morning Tom sets sail start off badly for him?

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

8. In what way is Tom's new cap versatile?

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

10. How does Tom kill Dickie?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How could Tom get rid of his loneliness? How does killing Dickie and Freddie make Tom even lonelier? How much has Tom's loneliness affected his mindset?

Essay Topic 2

How does Tom suffer from being a homosexual in the Fifties? What do you think would happen to Tom if he openly admitted he was gay? How does Partricia Highsmith use the novel to comment on attitudes towards homosexuals in the Fifties?

Essay Topic 3

Identify the main themes of the story. Why do you think these themes are so important to the story? How does Highsmith use character and setting to express her themes?

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This section contains 700 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample