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. Dr. Lecter offers his "insight" on Buffalo Bill in return for what from Clarice?

2. How does Jame Gumb speak to his poodle?

3. Whom does Dr. Lecter thank as he is leaving in the ambulance to be taken to Tennessee?

4. In Chapter 6, Clarice receives permission to explore what?

5. What does Bella's spouse do to make her bedroom as normal as possible?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Dr. Lecter called "Hannibal the Cannibal"? Give an example. Does his viciousness tell you anything about his psychoses?

2. Do you think Clarice sees Crawford as a father figure? Why or why not?

3. What happens to frustrate Clarice after she learns of Catherine Martin's abduction by Buffalo Bill?

4. What benefits comprise the proposal package that Clarice puts together for Dr. Lecter in Senator Martin's name, and what is unique about the vacation spot?

5. What factors might have combined to make Catherine Martin vulnerable to attack?

6. What does Crawford think about Dr. Lecter's eerily accurate prediction that the girl would be scalped? How does Crawford feel about Dr. Lecter's other, unsubstantiated prediction?

7. In Chapter 27, what does Chilton tell Dr. Lecter about the FBI to instill doubt in their honesty with Dr. Lecter?

8. What might the Black Witch Moth symbolize to Buffalo Bill?

9. As Catherine Martin examines her situation, what does she see, and what does she come to realize?

10. Why would Dr. Lecter be offended by being interviewed by a FBI trainee? How does he control the environment around him? How does he control the conversation with Clarice?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapters 12 and 13, Crawford's treatment of Clarisse at Potter's Funeral Home while inspecting the body of Buffalo Bill's latest victim is carefully scripted, though this is not apparent to Clarisse at the time. How does Clarisse feel when Crawford asks to see the sheriff to speak "man-to-man"? How does Clarisse find out that Crawford had ulterior motives in getting the deputy to speak to him alone? What is her reaction to this? Does Clarisse have a point, and do you think that point is taken?

Essay Topic 2

Dr. Lecter defends Clarice when Miggs insults her by throwing semen at her. Miggs is found dead in his cell shortly thereafter, having swallowed his tongue. It is suspected that Dr. Lecter had a hand in Miggs' death. Dr. Lecter is a master manipulator, but do you think he could actually convince someone to swallow his own tongue? Why or why not? If so, how do you think he would go about that? Do you believe Clarice would look at this defense of her as a woman and a professional as a backhanded compliment? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

One theme of this book is control and the loss or lack of it. Which characters seem to have control over their own situations, if any? Which characters are defined by their lack of control, and how do they work to gain control? Does control seem to be important to the FBI? The senator? Jame Gumb? Dr. Chilton? Clarice? Dr. Lecter? Jack Crawford? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,360 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample