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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 does an American invite Marge?

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

3. Who is under suspicion for Freddie's murder?

4. Where does Tom hide Dickie's passport?

5. Who does Dickie receive a long letter from?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Mr. Greeleaf react when Marge tells him about Dickie's rings?

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

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

5. Why does Tom hate being himself?

6. What do the police tell Tom on the phone?

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

8. Why do the police want to know where Tom Ripley is ?

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

10. What lies does Tom tell McCarron?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

The Ripley books greatly influenced modern literature and, in particular, crime books. Choose a book written after the novel that you think was influenced by it and discuss their similarities in terms of:

a) Plot

b) Character

c) Themes

Essay Topic 3

Why does Tom hate himself? How much is this self-hatred responsible for Tom's actions so far in the book?

(see the answer keys)

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