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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 Tom say he fears has happened to Dickie?

2. How does Alvin McCarron travel to Rome?

3. What is Tom's middle name?

4. What kind of drink is Tom drinking with Marge and the Franchetti brothers?

5. Who do Marge and Tom meet for dinner?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do the police tell Tom on the phone?

2. Why does it frighten Tom that he has to go to Naples to verify Tom's signature in person?

3. Why does Tom hate being himself?

4. What does Marge say in her letter to Dickie?

5. Why does Tom think Marge is so friendly to Mr. Greenleaf?

6. How does Tom try to hide that Freddie is dead when he takes him outside?

7. What does Tom tell Marge on the phone?

8. What does Tom read in the newspapers in Chapter 30?

9. How is being Dickie different from what Tom expected?

10. What information does McCarron want from Tom?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does Highsmith set the novel in Europe? How different was Europe to America in the fifties? How does Highsmith express these differences in the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the novel's dialogue. How does Highsmith's dialogue contribute to the following areas:

1) Character

2) Setting

3) Plot

Essay Topic 3

Pick two characters from the novel and discuss their goals and motives. Do they achieve their motives? Do they share similar goals and motives with other characters? Do their goals clash with other characters? How do the characters' goals and motives affect their interaction with each other?

(see the answer keys)

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