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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. Why does Marge not want to go to San Remo with the two boys?

2. When does Dickie say he will fly back home for a few days?

3. What Henry James book does Tom ask for?

4. What is the name of Herbert Greenleaf's son?

5. What kind of firm does Tom say Rothenburg, Fleming and Barter's is?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Tom have a long conversation with a painter called Carlino?

2. What lie does Tom tell Mr. Greenleaf?

3. In what way is Tom's new cap versatile?

4. Why does Carlo want two people to ride to Paris in a coffin?

5. How does Dickie anger Tom in Chapter 10?

6. What does Tom write in a letter from Dickie to Marge?

7. How does Tom know Bob Delancey?

8. What does Tom rehearse in his hotel room?

9. How does Tom know Charlie Schriever?

10. What has Tom been doing while alone in his hotel room?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine violence in the novel.

1) How do the characters in the novel view violence? Are there are character that would think twice before shooting or hitting someone?

2) Do the characters need to be violent to cope in the world that Highsmith portrays?

3) How do the students think the public reacted to the novel's violence when it was first published? How would the public react to such a book today?

Essay Topic 2

The Ripley books greatly influenced modern literature and, in particular, crime books. Choose a book written after the novel that you think was influenced by it and discuss their similarities in terms of:

a) Plot

b) Character

c) Themes

Essay Topic 3

Look at the structure of the novel.

1) How does Highsmith use character and dialogue to drive the narrative?

2) Discuss elements of the narrative structure: Exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the novel's themes?

3) Aside from the main character ,examine the way Highsmith uses the other characters in the story. When does she introduce and take them away from the story? What effect does it have on the story?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 765 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample