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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. Who remains Rutledge's prime suspect in the investigation as Chapter 12 draws to a close?

2. Who seems to be the main topic of conversation in the beginning of Chapter 17?

3. Rutledge returns to the meadow in Chapter 12 and finds what object?

4. What is the primary thought on Lettice Wood's mind in the end of Chapter 17?

5. Who is the real Helena Sommers?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the author switch point of view in a series of vignettes at the end of Chapter 17?

2. What does Rutledge fear will happen should he arrest Captain Wilton for the murder of Colonel Harris?

3. How does Rutledge react when Catherine Tarrant shows him a portrait of her German lover in Chapter 17?

4. Who tells Lettice Wood that he once was involved in a car accident that resulted in a child's death in a way to comfort her in her grief?

5. What does Rutledge discover in Chapter 20 when he goes into Helena Sommers' bedroom the morning of the funeral?

6. What new information does Rutledge get when he is finally able to interview Hickam in Chapter 15?

7. What information does Mrs. Davenant give Rutledge about Wilton in Chapter 11 that could provide a motive for murder?

8. Why does Rutledge go to the Sommers' home the morning of the funeral?

9. Who does Rutledge learn was a nurse during the war? What does this say about this particular character?

10. What does Lettice Wood say about her thoughts on Wilton's possible motives for murder?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is split personality? What causes it? Who in this novel suffers split personality? How did it come about? What trauma brought it on? What are the personalities in this fractured person's mind? How does this character deal with this? Why does this character take an ax to Royston? Why does this character kill him/herself? What confession does this character make before dying?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following characters and their motives for murder in detail, citing examples from the novel to support your conclusions:

1) Wilton

2) Mavers

3) Royston

4) Hickam.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss irony. How many examples of irony are there in this novel? How is the death of Hamish McLeod filled with irony? Is this part of what causes Rutledge to become obsessed with Hamish? What is ironic about the change in relationship between Lettice and her guardian? What is ironic about Harris' death? How could Harris' death been prevented? How did Harris' death prevent the death of another character?

(see the answer keys)

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