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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. When Poe had tea with the Marquis household, how many others from Artemus' class were present?

2. How many years are covered by the diary Mrs. Fry gives Landor?

3. How large is Artemus' quarters?

4. Where did Poe ask Lea Marquis to meet him?

5. In Chapter 25, what is Landor attacked with at the Marquis house?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Landor have Captain Hitchcock call Artemus into his office in Chapter 27?

2. Where does the Marquis family live?

3. Whose uniform does Dr. Marquis say was in the back of Artemus' closet?

4. What complaints does Poe have about Mr. Allan, his guardian?

5. What arrangements are made at Benny Havens' establishment for times when one of Thayer's men would come looking for cadets?

6. Who is Gouverneur Kemble?

7. What lies does Landor learn that Poe has told?

8. Who is escorting Lea Marquis to Gouverneur Kemble's gathering in Chapter 30?

9. What does Landor find in Artemus' closet, and what happens when someone comes in the room while he is investigating?

10. What does Dr. Marquis say about the heart Hitchcock and Landor find in Artemus' woodbox?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Occasionally Landor directly speaks to readers. This is called “breaking the fourth wall.” How does it seem that the narrator is having conversations with readers throughout The Pale Blue Eye? How do these conversations provide information to readers that characters may not be privy to? What is the purpose of breaking the fourth wall?

Essay Topic 2

Poe is heard to say that he wants to kill Ballinger. What is the relationship between Ballinger and Poe? Why does Hitchcock suspect Poe when Ballinger dies?

Essay Topic 3

Idioms are words that have a figurative, rather than a literal meaning. How are idioms used in The Pale Blue Eye to help characters communicate? How do idioms help create word pictures and mental images for readers in a concise manner? How do idioms help readers understand characters, emotions, and ideas?

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