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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 city is Tom traveling to next?

2. What does Tom think about buying?

3. Where are Dickie's suitcases being held?

4. What part of Italy does Tom think Dickie may be hiding in?

5. Who phones Tom after breakfast?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Marge think that Dickie's signature must have changed?

2. What reason does Tom give for Dickie being despondent?

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

4. How does Tom fake Dickie's will?

5. What does Marge say in her letter to Dickie?

6. Why can Tom not tell Marge what he really thinks about the party?

7. How does Tom exaggerate the Tom Ripley persona?

8. Why does Tom hate being himself?

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

10. What does Tom say to Mr. Greeenleaf in his letter in June?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In 1999 THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY was made into a film starring Matt Damon. Why do you think the themes and ideas in the book were still relevant 54 years later? How did the filmmakers adapt the themes to fit in with the new environment? How did these changes affect the meaning of the story?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Examine Tom Ripley's's character across the whole series.

1) How does Highsmith develop Ripley's character across the whole series?

2) Does THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY add any new elements to Ripley's character? If so, what?

(see the answer keys)

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