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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 stops Montgomery from stealing the Portrait of a Woman with Gloves?

2. Who is watching Montgomery as he tries to wrap up the painting and stick it in the car?

3. How does Montgomery view Charlie as he makes him breakfast?

4. Who arrives at Wally's Pub as Montgomery sits there after fleeing his crime?

5. Who embarrasses Montgomery at the dinner party?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Montgomery mean when he says that he can't say he didn't mean to kill her, only that he doesn't know precisely when he began to mean it?

2. How is Montgomery's recurring dream of being falsely accused of murder an example of foreshadowing for the situation he finds himself in at the current time?

3. Montgomery jokes around when he is arrested, but feels intimidated by being confined in possession of the police. What are Montgomery's values?

4. After reading the version of the confession written by the police, Montgomery says "they have made a murderer out of him." What is the irony in this statement?

5. The lawyers on both sides of Montgomery's case want to plead the case out. Montgomery believes this is to protect Charlie French and Max Molyneaux and is against the idea. Why wouldn't Montgomery want to protect these two men?

6. Charlie tells Montgomery that the police brought Charlie into the station and Montgomery thinks Charlie is talking about the train station. What does this tell you about the mindset of Montgomery?

7. As the maid fights back at Montgomery after he shoves her in the car, he says he sees her as a "cornered heroine in a melodrama." Do you think this is an appropriate description of his victim?

8. As Charlie cooks breakfast, Montgomery says he feels a "weepy regard" for Charlie. Why would he feel this way?

9. When Montgomery's mother's will is read, Montgomery is shocked to find out he is disinherited. At first he thinks it's because of the most recent fight they had but later finds out his mother disinherited him years prior. Why did his mother do this?

10. Montgomery speaks of his wife visiting him in jail. He is annoyed with her calm demeanor and ability to make decisions without him. Why might these characteristics upset Montgomery?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

External conflicts happen throughout the novel. Give examples of at least three external conflicts in the novel. How do these conflicts affect the plot? Who is the protagonist in the conflict? Antagonist?

Essay Topic 2

Montgomery is a character who acts spontaneously. Why are the spontaneous characteristics of Montgomery important to the plot? How would the novel be different if Montgomery planned his every move?

Essay Topic 3

Family is a recurring topic in the novel. How does Montgomery feel about family? What are his feelings towards his parents, wife and son? Does Montgomery feel any remorse for the family of the girl he killed? Why does Montgomery feel this way towards the concept of family? How is this important to the story?

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