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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. Why does Cooney want to beat up Marlowe, after Dobbs tells him to stop?

2. What evidence does Marlowe have that Degarmo killed his wife?

3. How much does it cost Marlowe to leave his car in the Granada's garage?

4. In Captain Webber's office, where does Degarmo sit?

5. Who does Eddie tell his partner he hasn't called, because he thought homicide would do it?

Short Essay Questions

1. What reason does Marlowe give Mrs. Kingsley that she'll miss him?

2. How does the desk sergeant annoy Degarmo?

3. What is Mrs. Talley's attitude?

4. Who does Marlowe call to verify where Kingsley has gone, once he guesses where it is?

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

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

7. How does Grayson describe Dr. Almore's practice?

8. How does Marlowe get out of the apartment at the Granada?

9. What is the reaction of the younger policeman, Eddie, when he sees the gun on the table?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Lady in the Lake is a hardboiled detective thriller. Discuss the novel's genre and how it is implemented in the novel.

1) In what ways is Marlowe characteristic of a detective in a "hardboiled" detective novel? How does he differ from other detectives in the genre?

2) How is the plot of The Lady in the Lake characteristic of a "hardboiled" detective novel? How does it differ from other examples of the genre?

3) How is the structure of the Lady in the Lake characteristic of a "hardboiled" detective novel? How does it differ from other examples of the genre?

4) What other characteristics of the genre, such as tone, mood, and setting, does the novel exemplify?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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