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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 does Marlowe park his car?

2. what does Mars order his men to do?

3. Why does Marlowe insist that the Kid has a key?

4. Where does Ohls say one of the Sternwood's cars is located?

5. What does Marlowe demand from Brody?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Marlowe hear when he eavesdrops on the conversation in chapter 26?

2. In what way has the woman threatened Vivian?

3. How does Marlowe find out what he wants to know at the bookstore?

4. What does Marlowe find out about Eddie in chapter 13?

5. What points to the fact that Marlowe has no money?

6. What new light is shed on Carmen's character in chapter 15?

7. How does Marlowe make the woman in Geiger's store nervous?

8. Describe the fight that takes place in chapter 15?

9. Describe Vivian Regan.

10. What does Brody need to run Geiger's business successfully?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare the characters of Marlowe and Vivian:

1) In what way are their morals different?

2) What is their relationship to each other?

3) Do you think they are the perfect match?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Chandler's life. In what way do you think his life and personality is reflected in the book?

Essay Topic 3

The Big Sleep is written in the first person and with Marlowe as narrator. Why do you think Chandler chose to write the story in the first person? How do you think the meaning of the story would of changed if it was written in the third person?

(see the answer keys)

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