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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. Where did Roger Loudermilk serve his prison sentence?

2. Which relative did Lila kill at the age of fifteen?

3. What is Loudermilk eating when he is murdered?

4. How did Billy Holtner embezzle $375,000 form the film studio?

5. Who telephones Robicheaux at the beginning of Chapter 25?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the character of Rodney Loudermilk.

2. What does Robicheaux think of Megan Flynn's photographs?

3. What does Robicheaux see on the movie set that is suspicious?

4. Describe the meeting between Scruggs and Robicheaux in Chapter 29.

5. What problems does Cisco say he is currently having with his film?

6. Why did Ricky Scarlotti hire Scruggs?

7. Why does Lila feel guilty about her cousin's murder?

8. Why does Robicheaux think Scuggs killed Boxleiter?

9. How does Purcel beat up up Scarlotti and his men?

10. What happens to Father Mulcahy on the house boat?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What does it say about Harpo's role in the murders that he feels so guilty and eventually murders himself?How does Harpo's guilt tie in with the novel's overall theme of power?

Essay Topic 2

Compare Robicheax's character to the person he was at the beginning of the book to the he is at the end.

1. What did Robicheaux hope to achieve at the beginning of the book?

2. What events changes Robicheaux ideas about life?

3. How has Robicheaux's character changed by the end of the book?

Essay Topic 3

Away from the main character, examine the way the author uses the other characters in the book. When does he introduce and take them away from the story? What effect does it have on the story?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 670 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample