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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. Why does Mrs. Bidwell not have to do much in Director Howarth's office?

2. How is Angela during her initial interview with Dalgliesh?

3. Who is Paul Middlemass?

4. Who witnesses the exchange between Middlemass and Lorrimer?

5. Who first arrives at the lab in Book 2, Chapter 1?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Adam Dalgliesh.

2. What is the situation with Mawson and Foley's need for money and how is Dr. Lorrimer mentioned in regards to money?

3. How does the interview between Dalgliesh and Easterbrook go and what does Dalgliesh learn?

4. What does Mrs. Bidwell show Dalgliesh?

5. What does Nell do after her father has left the house?

6. Describe the conversation between Brenda Pridmore and Adam Dalgliesh.

7. Why does Blakelock go up to Dr. Lorrimer's lab and what does he tell Director Howarth when coming back downstairs?

8. How is the staff at Hoggatt's Lab sorted for who needs to stay and who may go home?

9. What does Howarth do after Dalgliesh arrives and what does Dalgliesh learn about the case?

10. Describe Dr. Kerrison.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Most of the action of the story is based upon the main plot--that of finding Dr. Lorrimer's murderer. However, there are a couple minor sub-plots in the novel. Discuss the following:

1. What is a sub-plot? Do you think most works of fiction have at least one sub-plot? Why or why not?

2. Identify 2 subplots in Death of an Expert Witness. Identify the parts of the sub-plots you examine such as exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution and whether the sub-plot contains all these elements.

3. What do you think is the purpose of the 2 sub-plots you identify? Discuss with examples from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Brenda Pridmore's character serves at least two functions in the novel. Discuss the following:

1. Analyze Brenda Pridmore's character. What are her strengths, weaknesses and personality? Is she a sympathetic character?

2. One of Brenda Pridmore's function in the story is to be as "ignorant" as the reader about criminal investigations and evidence gathering in order to ask questions that the reader might ask and thus educate the reader. How well does Brenda Pridmore serve in this function?

3. A second function for the character of Brenda Pridmore is to serve as a literary foil to several of the character. Define the term "literary foil" and analyze how Pridmore serves as a foil and to what characters and how she does so.

Essay Topic 3

There are a number of interesting questions raised by this book. Discuss the following:

1. Name two ideas/concepts you think may have been a part of the author's agenda. Analyze those ideas throughout the book and discuss whether you think P.D. James has an agenda concerning those ideas.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

(see the answer keys)

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