View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What kind of puppy sits at Redwing's feet?

2. Who does Butler blame for the death of the seance ladies?

3. In the cryptic conversation with the mystery caller contacted by Evenroe, who died in childbirth?

4. Who steals the information from Edith's Rolodex about Redwing's address?

5. What does Mallory realize about the tea she drank that gives her hallucinations?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Mallory's relationship with Butler different from that of other men?

2. How does Butler meet Fanny Evenroe and what do they discuss?

3. What is Redwing charged with when Mallory's associates round her up from her apartment?

4. When Mallory goes to visit Redwing, what does she notice about Redwing's apartment?

5. What is Butler told is the reason for his presence in the hospital?

6. When Butler goes to Edith's house, how does he determine changes that help him as clues to the investigation?

7. Why is there a cop outside Margot's window?

8. When Butler realizes how powerful Edith is, what does he blame her for?

9. What is unusual about the puppy at Redwing's feet in the park?

10. Why is Riker alarmed by the change in Mallory as she pursues the investigation?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the detecting techniques of the four sleuths of Mallory, Coffey, Riker, and Butler; cover how they each approach the murder and whether their intuitions were correct. Who actually solves the murders and how?

Essay Topic 2

O'Connell uses more than one iteration on the motif of life-death-life. Identify at least two motifs about life-death-life in the book. Then cite an example to support each answer.

Essay Topic 3

Mallory's Oracle is a detective fiction novel. What does that classification entail? Why does this novel fit into this category?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 651 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample