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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. About what does Harry worry as he drives home?

2. What makes it difficult for evil supernatural forces to enter a place?

3. Who does Harry decide to ask to be his second in the duel?

4. What question does the spirit Harry summons about the Shroud ask Harry?

5. What does Harry suggest to Murphy?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Ebenezar McCoy and Harry talk about on the phone?

2. What does Harry tell Father Vincent when Harry calls him?

3. What happens when Harry's suppression spell slips?

4. Where and with whom does Harry appear in Chapter 1?

5. Where does Ulsharavas tell Harry the Shroud is and what does she say in addition to giving the location?

6. Who does Harry encounter on the Erlanger and what do they order him to do?

7. Who is Susan and what does Mortimer say about her?

8. What does the spirit of Bob the Skull tell Harry?

9. Who are the other two guests on the talk show?

10. What does Harry discuss with Sanya and Shiro?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

1. What is foreshadow? How many incidences of foreshadow are in Death Masks? How does foreshadow contribute to a book's suspense?

2. Discuss an example of foreshadow in Death Masks including why you believe it is foreshadow. Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

3. How do you think most people react to uncertainty in their lives? Use examples from Death Masks and your own live to support your opinion.

Essay Topic 2

Whenever reading a science fiction or fantasy novel, one must become familiar with new terminology that explains concepts or technology that is not a part of the "real" world. In the case of Death Masks, there is a great deal of new magical terms and familiar words with new meanings. Discuss the following:

1. Find five terms that are a part of the world of Death Masks that are a part of the language but mean something different. Define the words as used in Death Masks and compare those five words as to how they are currently used in the American English language.

2. How does the language of Death Masks from that of real world Chicago? Are there words you did not know in Death Masks? What? How do you learn their meanings? What does it mean to grasp a the meaning of a word through its context? Can you do that in Death Masks? Give an example of several words whose definition are made clear through the context of how the word is used.

3. There are ways of learning about a new world or time when reading a science fiction or fantasy novel. Discuss the ways you were able to understand the world of Death Masks through its vocabulary. Did you have to look up any words?

4. Were there any words you never really understood from Death Masks? Which ones? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Jim Butcher.

2. What in Butcher's background may have helped him in writing Death Masks? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

(see the answer keys)

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