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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 does Degarmo call the other cop at the scene of the murder Marlowe is framed for?

2. What does Patton say about his stomach?

3. What does Miss Fromsett say when Degarmo and Marlowe ask her where Kingsley is?

4. What color is Captain Webber's hair?

5. How do Marlowe and Degarmo leave the murder scene?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Marlowe notice happening on the street as he tries to talk to Mrs. Talley?

2. After Patton shoots at Degarmo, what does Degarmo do?

3. How does Degarmo react to Marlowe mentioning the idea that Almore murdered his wife and then used his influence to get it hushed up?

4. What does Marlowe say about Muriel's explanation of why she went back to Lavery's the morning after the murder?

5. Why is Marlowe surprised that Mrs. Kingsley would need money from her husband?

6. What does the parking attendant at the Grenada assume Marlowe is there for?

7. Who is in the Peacock Lounge when Marlowe comes in?

8. As Degarmo seemingly gets away, what sentiment does Marlowe utter twice?

9. Where and in what condition do Marlowe and Patton find the car that Degarmo escaped in?

10. What does Degarmo do when Patton makes it clear that he can't let Degarmo go?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the treatment of women and the idea of the femme fatale in the novel.

1) What are the women in the novel like? Are there positive and negative women characters, and what are their qualities? How do they compare to real women?

2) Who in the novel is a femme fatale? How is any femme fatale in the novel similar to and different from the archetype of the femme fatale?

3) How do women treat men in the novel? How do men treat women?

Essay Topic 2

The novel is full of clues and implications inherent in events that Marlowe must interpret in order to find the truth. Discuss clues and implications in the novel.

1) How are clues that Marlowe finds deceptive? How do they give hints to the truth? How does Marlowe discern one from the other?

2) What does Marlowe infer from others' behavior? How is he able to make these inferences?

3) What does Marlowe infer from activity that he observes around him? How is observation and inference related? What skills does Marlowe use to make these inferences?

Essay Topic 3

The Lady in the Lake is written in the first person narrative point of view, from the perspective of Marlowe. Discuss the novel's point of view.

1) Why does the author choose the first person narrative point of view? Why is the story told from Marlowe's perspective?

2) What does Marlowe reveal to the reader, as narrator, and when? What does Marlowe keep hidden from the reader, though he may know it himself?

3) How does the first person narration affect the tone of the novel? How is it appropriate to the genre?

(see the answer keys)

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