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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 food does Mrs. Venables serve Lord Peter and Bunter when she first meets them?

2. To whom does Hilary Thorpe send the French paper she finds in the church belfry?

3. What is the weather like in the opening chapter of the book?

4. From what illness does Nobby Cranton suffer?

5. What is James Thoday's profession?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Suzanne Legros meet her husband Jean Legros and what lies do she and Jean tell about Jean's history?

2. Why is the unknown man's corpse in Lady Thorpe's grave suspected of being Nobby Cranton?

3. What unique narrative techniques does Dorothy L. Sayers use in The Nine Tailors?

4. What does the sluice-keeper complain about in the chapter entitled "Tailor Paul is Called Before With a Single," and what does his complaint foreshadow?

5. In what ways is Mrs. Venables a foil to the character of her husband, Reverend Venables?

6. Why is Mrs. Gates unhappy with Mrs. Coppins over a wreath?

7. Why does Sir Henry Thorpe end up broke due to the theft of Lady Wilbraham's emerald necklace?

8. Why does Lord Peter end up going to France to make inquiries about Paul Taylor instead of Superintendent Blundell or the Chief Constable?

9. What story does Jenkins tell Lord Peter about a stolen emerald necklace?

10. What is the Fens, the novel's setting, like?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Several people in The Nine Tailors turn out not to be who or what they initially seem. Discuss the novel's motif of hidden identities and public masques. Cite examples form the text to support your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

Each chapter in The Nine Tailors begins with an epigraph. Discuss the author's technique of using epigraphs to introduce her chapters. How do the epigraphs relate to the chapters they introduce? What do you think Dorothy L. Sayers intends to convey or accomplish through this technique? Cite examples from the text to support your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast the following secondary characters in the novel: Reverend Venables, Bunter and Hilary Thorpe. Cite examples from the text to support your arguments.

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