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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 the narrator say Mout is built like?

2. What does the narrator say Cisco's attention can wander like?

3. Who does the sheriff say Cool Breeze has complained to?

4. Where does Robicheaux say he has seen a dawn like this one before?

5. What war did Jimmy fight in?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why happened to Elijah's slave Lavonia?

2. What do Robicheaux and Purcel find out about the two brothers in Chapter 6?

3. How did the two brothers eventually die?

4. What does Geri tell Robicheaux about Cisco Flynn?

5. What does Glazier think about Megan Flynn?

6. Why is Mulchaly confused about the term break the seal?

7. What does Maddux say he knows about Harpo Scruggs?

8. Why did Sunshine drop the charges of rape against the two brothers?

9. What problems is Lila Trombonne causing in Chapter 10?

10. How does Cool Breeze say things started to go downhill for Ida?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the following and discuss how it affects the tone of the book and helps to express character and theme.

1. Setting

2. Point of view

3. Structure

4. Language

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the motives for the deaths of one of the following characters.

1. Anthony Powell.

2. Lila Terrebonne.

3. Jack Flynn.

4. The two brothers.

Essay Topic 3

In what way could most of the characters be described as immoral? In what is this a typical theme of hard-boiled detective stories?

(see the answer keys)

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