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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 Claudette want of Dave?

2. What does Dave ask Robin?

3. What does Monroe offer to Dave?

4. Who is described as dim-witted?

5. What does Dave learn about Keats from Dautrieve?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Dautrieve question Dave about dead men turning up?

2. Why is Dave's new boss angry and what does the boss do as a consequence?

3. Describe the confrontation between Dave and Romero.

4. What does Victor Romero attempt?

5. What does Romero tell Dave when he calls Dave and what is Dave's reaction?

6. What is the ongoing argument between Annie and Dave and what does Dave try to do to please Annie about the issue?

7. How does Dave ferret information out of Jerry?

8. Describe the night of Annie's murder.

9. What happens that Dave is able to start his new job?

10. Why does Claudette come to Dave's home and what does she do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter 9, Dave continues his job but begins to drown in unwanted paperwork. He is good street cop but the administrative side of the job is definitely not his strong point. Discuss the following:

1. What does Dave have to do administratively that is so consuming and onerous for him? What aspects of his personality make this paperwork so difficult for him to deal with?

2. Do you think there should be some way for men and women who are really good beat cops but lousy on paperwork to have assistance with the paperwork aspect of the job? Why or why not?

3. What could be some advantages in filling out paperwork? Disadvantages?

4. Is there too much paperwork in general in the American culture? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

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 James Lee Burke.

2. What in Burke's background may have helped Burke in writing HEAVEN'S PRISONERS? 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.

Essay Topic 3

Heaven's Prisoners is considered a crime/murder mystery, a sub-genre of fiction. Discuss the following:

1. Define genre and then specifically crime/murder mystery.

2. What do you think is the difference between a suspense novel and a murder mystery?

3. Many in the world of academe do not see mystery as a serious genre, that its primary purpose is entertainment and not "worthy" of being studied by serious students of literature? Respond to that idea.

(see the answer keys)

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