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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. In what city does the story take place?

2. What is the name of the Russian?

3. When will the Wonderly's parents be back from Europe?

4. What have Polhaus and Dundy come to question Spade about?

5. What does Spade do immediately after the call?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what way is the novel's attitude towards women demeaning?

2. What does Spade say Brigid, Cairo and Gutman do aboard the La Paloma?

3. Why is the sixth chapter called the undersized shadow?

4. What do Spade and Tom Polhaus discuss in the second chapter?

5. What does Brigid tell Spade about her part in the falcon in the ninth chapter?

6. Why is the thirteenth chapter titled Paloma?

7. What are the district attorney's theories about who the killer is?

8. How does SPade calm Brigid down in the tenth chapter?

9. How does Spade react to seeing the young man in the tenth chapter?

10. Why does Spade usher Iva out of his office?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss whether you think this statement is true or false: The Maltese Falcon depicts women in a negative light. Use two examples from the novel to support your argument.

Essay Topic 2

The main themes in the novel are greed, loyalty and crime. Take one of these themes and discuss how Hammett expresses them in the book? Why do you think these themes were important concerns in 1920s America?

Essay Topic 3

The Maltese Falcon is written in the first person. Why do you think Hammett chose to write the story in the first person? How do you think the meaning of the story would of changed if it was written in the third person?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 709 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample