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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. Does Kingsley say he was in Bay City the previous night?

2. What is Mrs. Grayson doing, when Marlowe comes to visit the Graysons?

3. What color is Captain Webber's hair?

4. What does Marlowe tell Mrs. Kingsley to distract her and make her move?

5. Where does Degarmo write down the information Marlowe gives about his client?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What important information does Marlowe gain from Captain Webber?

4. What does Dobbs say he's going to charge Marlowe with?

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

6. What is the big coincidence that Marlowe identifies in the case?

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

8. What is Mrs. Talley's attitude?

9. What conditions does Marlowe discover in the apartment he enters after leaving the murdered woman's apartment?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Lady in the Lake involves characters changing and hiding their Identities. Discuss the concept of identity in the novel.

1) How is identity obscured in the novel? Who attempts to obscure their identity, and why?

2) How do the characters know others' identities? How do characters create their identities?

3) How does Marlowe formulate his own identity? How do others perceive him?

Essay Topic 2

The story behind The Lady in the Lake is one of relationships: husbands and wives, lovers, and jealous rivals. Discuss relationships in the novel.

1) What do men and women want from relationships in the novel?

2) Discuss Lavery's relationships. Who is Lavery? What do women want from him? What does Lavery expect out of relationships?

3) Do romantic relationships lead to happiness in the novel? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the novel, Phillip Marlowe encounters corruption, both moral and ethical. Discuss corruption in the novel.

1) How are the police in the novel corrupt, and how does Marlowe perceive that corruption?

2) What kinds of moral corruption does Marlowe face among the people he comes into contact with? How is that moral corruption related to the corruption of the police?

3) How does Marlowe deal with temptations to corruption, such as Kingsley offering him money to cover up a murder?

(see the answer keys)

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