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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Mrs. Whitman ask Dupin to do in front of her guests?
(a) Pose for her.
(b) Keep a picture of her in his wallet.
(c) Have a type of photograph of his face made.
(d) Do a drawing of her face.

2. What does Dupin NOT tell Edmund about Arnold's classified ad?
(a) It was placed by Peterson.
(b) It was intended to get a reaction from Edmund's aunt.
(c) It brought Rachett and Peterson together.
(d) It was placed by Rachett.

3. What does Poe's style of courting Mrs. Whitman reflect?
(a) His fierce determination.
(b) His fear of failure.
(c) His lack of inner drive.
(d) His careful weighing of his options.

4. What is in the prologue of Poe's story?
(a) The same prologue that begins Edmund's story.
(b) The beginning of Poe's life.
(c) An apology to Edward for his behavior.
(d) A note to Mrs. Whitman.

5. According to Dupin, from whom did Rachett learn about the gold in the vault?
(a) Arnold.
(b) Peterson.
(c) A newspaper.
(d) Throck.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the style of the novel mimic?

2. What does Edmund realizes about the meaning of the word "Sunrise" in the decoded message?

3. What does Dupin remind Edmund that Edmund first noticed about his aunt's body?

4. What does Poe believe about Edmund's sister's ultimate fate?

5. When Poe arrives at the scene where Edmund is trying to rescue his sister, how does he say he figured out the meaning of the decoded message?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the final chase scene in Chapter 21 differ from the rest of the novel?

2. What does Dupin mean in Chapter 16 when he tells Edmund that "lies have their own truth"?

3. Why is it significant in Chapter 14 that Edmund first begins to doubt Dupin's detective skills after talking to Captain Elias?

4. What is the symbolism in Chapter 19 of Poe's belief upon seeing Edmund and his mother that his characters have come to life?

5. If you were Edmund, how do you feel about Poe's assertion that Sis lives on longer in Poe's story than she does in real life?

6. Do you think Poe is a coward for giving up on marrying Helen because, as he says, too many timid people feel threatened by his power as a writer?

7. Why do you think the author has Edmund's mother demand both the divorce and her money, rather than just being satisfied with a divorce, when she first encounters her husband?

8. What is the symbolism in Chapter 19 of Edmund's grabbing Poe's story and threatening to rip it up if Poe does not help him?

9. Do you think Poe is able to make up his own mind whether or not to root for Edmund's happiness, or does his nature force him to hope for the worst?

10. What is the symbolism, in Chapter 13, of Dupin's imagining that Helen's mothers guests are demons wearing masks of black death?

(see the answer keys)

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