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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. The volume eventually gets published by which of the following?

2. How old is the narrator?

3. Which character from a previous story is mentioned?

4. What led Carson to the Witch Room?

5. Which author spoke about the gulf between consciousness and matter?

Short Essay Questions

1. After Al and Cissie sail off aboard the yacht, they disappear from the scene. What has happened to Al and Cissie?

2. Who is the protagonist in "The Salem Horror?" What kind of unusual circumstance does the man face when looking for a place to live and work?

3. Paul Lang learns about an ancient manuscript called the Voynich. What does Lang do when he cannot find a copy of the text?

4. What were some of the things that could serve as proof of the threshold and what lay beyond?

5. Why does the quest for Lang and Urquart seem fruitless and hopeless?

6. What happens when Strutt meets the proprietor of the book shop? What is Strutt's reaction?

7. What is the prequel to The Shadow from the Steeple? In The Shadow from the Steeple Fiske arrives on the scene with a specific focus. What is Fiske's focus?

8. What was unusual about Georg Fischer's father? What unusual tragedies have happened to Georg Fischer's family?

9. Who is Dr. Ambrose Dexter? Why is he important in the story? What does Fiske find when he meets Dexter?

10. In the story Cold Print, the main character is Strutt. Who is Strutt? What is his personality?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Time travel is a popular notion in this genre. Time travel allows a character to experience another world, albeit with dangerous or deadly consequences. In "The Hounds of Tindalos," Chalmers claims that he has gone too far when it comes to time travel and that he has alerted the hounds of Tindalos which will ultimately make him pay for his misdeeds. Examine why time travel is a main topic in many horror stories. Explain how it is done in the stories and the characters' motivation for attempting to do it. Also examine the potential dangers in time travel and why the characters choose to ignore the warning signs.

Essay Topic 2

Several of the stories mention ancient and/or forbidden texts, such as the infamous Necronomicon. Which other texts are mentioned? Which is the most referenced? Which is the most powerful? Does the text actually exist? If so, is the text available to the public? Why do the characters feel compelled to locate the texts? The characters often find the need to translate the texts. In which languages were the texts written? How can one be sure that the text is genuine? How can one be sure that the translation is correct? What might happen if a translation is incorrect? Also discuss the purpose and use of the texts in various stories.

Essay Topic 3

In "Beyond the Threshold," "The Dweller in Darkness" and "Notebook Found in a Deserted House," characters disappear after having some interaction with the paranormal. Compare and contrast the situations. What happens just before each character vanishes? Is the character ever found? What do you think happened to each character? Do you think there is evil behind the disappearances? Do you think there are plausible explanations behind the disappearances? Explain.

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