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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. Where does the butler take Marlowe?

2. What color hair does Eddie Mars have?

3. What kind of car do the Sternwood's own?

4. What kind of car does Brody say he saw outside of Geiger's house?

5. What was Vivian doing when Owen died?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what way has the woman threatened Vivian?

2. Why is the Sternwood's butler happy in chapter 21?

3. Describe what Marlowe does when he gets back to his apartment in chapter 30.

4. What does Marlowe tell Eddie on the phone?

5. Why does Canino think Marlowe is dead?

6. What two important people do Marlowe and Ohls meet in chapter 18?

7. How does Marlowe react to Vivian's anger in chapter 32?

8. What does Marlowe find in his apartment on his return home?

9. Why does Marlowe think that Rusty disappeared?

10. How does Mars react to the fact that there maybe a gray Plymouth on Marlowe's tail?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The women in Chandler's book are mostly negative characters with a lack of morals. Discuss the negative way that Chandler represents women. Was this negative representation common during this period? How does this representation affect his portrayal of the male characters? In what ways would Chandler have to change his portrayal of women for the novel to have the same if it was published today?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the character of Rusty Regan:

1) What is the significance of Rusty Regan to the story? Why does the reader never see him?

2) Why do the other characters seem to be encouraging Marlowe to find Rusty?

3) In what way does Rusty Regan add intrigue to the plot?

Essay Topic 3

Why did Chandler chose to examine pornography in the Big Sleep? What is his view is on the industry? Does he communicate this view through the character of Philip Marlowe? What was the perception of pornography in thirties America compared to what it is today?

(see the answer keys)

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