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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. Who does Tom want the police to believe killed Freddie?

2. Where does Tom hide Dickie's passport?

3. What is Alvin McCarron's job?

4. What part of Italy is Palermo in?

5. Who does Tom say he was with on the 2nd of February in Rome?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Tom try to hide that Freddie is dead when he takes him outside?

2. What does Tom tell Mr. Greenleaf about Dickie's murder?

3. How does Tom exaggerate the Tom Ripley persona?

4. What does Marge think about the situation with Dickie?

5. How do the police think Freddie was murdered?

6. Why does it frighten Tom that he has to go to Naples to verify Tom's signature in person?

7. How is being Dickie different from what Tom expected?

8. What does the countess tell Tom in Chapter 29?

9. How does Tom fake Dickie's will?

10. What does Mr. Greenleaf write in his letter to Tom?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the novel's chronological setting.

1) What were the main concerns during the 1950s? How does Highsmith express these concerns?

2) In what ways do you think the novel's meaning would change if it were set in today's society?

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

What modes of communication are open to Ripley? How do the modes of communication Highsmith represents give the novel a sense of place and time?

(see the answer keys)

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