The Man Who Was Poe: Study Guide Questions Name: ______

The Man Who Was Poe: Study Guide Questions Name: ______

ENG III

Mr. Miles

Prologue

• Prologue—
• Tenement—
• Frail—
• Weary—
• Decrepit—

1. Describe Edmund.

1. What does Edmund call his sister?

1. Describe Sis.

1. Identify and write down one simile on p. 3.

1. Where are the children’s aunt and mother?

1. Identify and write down one metaphor from p. 4.

1. Where are the children from? Where do they live now?

1. Why does Edmund leave the apartment?

1. Why does Edmund feel guilty at the end of the prologue?

Chapter 1

• Scowl—

• Contempt—

1. Identify a simile, metaphor, and personification on p. 13.

1. Describe the man on p. 13.

1. What happened to the children’s father?

1. How old is Edmund?

1. What does the man ask Edmund to do?

1. On p. 18, what does the man want to do with Edmund’s “circumstances”? What do you think of this?

1. What is the man’s name?

1. What is the last name mentioned in Ch. 1?

Chapter 2

• Apprehension—
• Silhouette—
• Quay—

1. On p.21, Mr. Dupin “wonders if Edmund was desperate enough to shade the truth.” What does this phrase mean?

1. On p. 22, Edmund tells Dupin “Aunty says we’re not to talk of family things.” Why do you think she would say such a thing?

1. What do Edmund and Dupin find at the dock?

Chapter 3

• Convulsive—
• Impenetrable—
• Providential—

1. What surprises Dupin about Edmund’s sister’s name?

1. Where is Dupin going to stay?

1. What kind of stuff is Dupin writing in his notebook?

1. Who does Edmund think he sees on the street?

1. What are Mr. Throck and Mr. Fortnoy up to?

1. What is Mr. Throck’s job?

1. Identify and write down a simile on p. 35.

1. What happens at the end of Ch. 3?

Chapter 4

• Dreary—
• Berate—
• Courtship—
• Voracious--
• Squalor—
• Feign—

1. What does Dupin “berate” himself for on p. 37?

1. What does Dupin want with Mrs. Whitman?

1. Why is Dupin filled with “self-loathing” on p. 39?

1. What is Dupin’s dilemma on p. 40? Why, if he chooses to, will Dupin continue to help Edmund?

1. Why does Edmund’s “aunty” bring him and his sister to America?

1. Why does Edmund’s aunt think his mother is in America?

1. How old is Edmund’s sister? What is she to Edmund?

1. How is it explained that Edmund’s sister disappeared from the tenement?

Chapter 5

• Quell—
• Insinuate—
• Duress—
• Idle—

1. What does Edmund find on the floor?

1. Who does it belong to?

1. Identify a simile on the bottom of p. 46?

1. Who does Dupin impersonate when talking to the elderly woman?

1. What does the elderly woman tell Dupin?

1. What revelation does Edmund have on p. 49?

1. What does Dupin say about the killer(s) on p. 50?

1. Who is Throck?

Chapter 6

• Composure—
• Portly—
• Florid
• Admonition

1. What do Throck and Edmund have in common?

1. Dupin claims that Throck enjoys what?

1. What does Throck say that makes Dupin grow “pale”?

1. What similarities do Dupin and Edmund share?

1. What are some differences between Dupin and Edmund’s lives?

1. What directions does Dupin give Edmund regarding the letter to Mrs. Whitman?

Chapter 7

• Vestibule—
• Providence—
• Torpor—
• Tart

1. Describe Mrs. Whitman.

1. How does Mrs. Whitman describe Dupin?

1. Find a metaphor in the first paragraph on p. 66.

1. Find a simile on p.66.

1. What do Throck and Fortnoy say in court?

1. What is foreshadowing? Provide an example of foreshadowing on p. 68.

Chapter 8

• Fretful--
• Chide—
• Loiter—
• Plight—

1. What is the name of the other man who is courting Mrs. Whitman?

1. What instructions is this man giving regarding Mr. Poe? What is he to do?

1. On p.71, Dupin believes Edmund was right. What was Edmund right about?

1. What happened on the same night as the murder?

1. On p.73, how does Mrs. Whitman feel about Dupin? What does she like? What does she not like?

1. What other name does Dupin go by?

1. What message does Mrs. Whitman want Edmund to relate to Dupin?

1. While investigating the bank robbery, Dupin figures out how the criminals broke in? What is his explanation?

1. On p. 78, Peterson describes the vault by saying, “It would make a perfect tomb, now wouldn’t it? What Poe story involves someone being buried alive in a tomb?

Chapter 9

• Loath—
• Intone—

1. What does Edmund look through at the beginning of the chapter? What kind of stuff is in there?

1. How does Edmund feel about what he sees?

1. What does Mr. Peterson claim he really wants to do?

1. What has happened to Edmund’s tenement? What is missing? Why is this strange?

1. What is the connection between Mr. Peterson and Mr. Rachett?

Chapter 10

• Stymie—
• Stifle—

1. In the beginning of Ch. 10, what is wrong with Mr. Dupin?

1. What is Mrs. Whitman’s first name? What does Dupin want to do with her?

1. On p.91, Dupin claims,”I am a creator of the future.” What do you think he means by this?

1. How does Dupin insult Edmund? What does Dupin say to him?

1. How did people get into Edmund’s tenement? Where did they get what they used?

1. What surprising piece of Edmund’s past do we learn about? What is his name? Have we seen this character before?

1. Why does Edmund’s mom really come to America?

1. Who does Dupin believe killed Edmund’s mother?

Chapter 11

• Plod—
• Mourn—
• Meticulous—
• Dismay—

1. In the beginning of Ch. 11, how does Edmund plan on “testing” Dupin?

1. Is someone following Dupin? How do we know?

1. What is Dupin’s explanation for how the robbers got into the bank?

1. Dupin states that only a child could fit in the bank’s air shaft. Predict who was probably forced into sneaking through the air shaft.

1. Identify a simile and a personification on p. 105.

1. Why does Dupin think marriage is a good idea? What things will he gain from it?

1. What supernatural thing happens to Dupin at the graveyard. Whom does he think he sees?

1. At the end of the chapter, who is physically restraining Dupin?

Chapter 12

• Antagonize—
• Monotonous—
• Lumber (V)—

1. Which two people does Edmund see going into Mrs. Whitman’s house at the beginning of the chapter?

1. On p. 109, what metaphor is used to describe Throck’s strength?

1. Who saves Dupin from Throck at the graveyard?

1. Where does Mrs. Whitman want Mr. Dupin to go? What does she claim he will be “surrounded” by?

Chapter 13

• Masque—
• Flounder—
• Bestial—

1. What is odd about the people at Mrs. Whitman’s house?

1. How is Mr. Arnold described on p. 115?

1. What is the real identity of Auguste Dupin? (his real name).

1. Identify two metaphors on the top half of p. 116?

1. From what Poe story does the name Auguste Dupin come from?

Chapter 14

• Oblige—
• Ghastly—
• Desolate—

1. What does Edmund lie about to Captain Elias? Why?

1. Whom does the Captain think he sees?

1. Whose ship was The Lady Liberty?

1. How long was Fortnoy on the boat?

1. What does Edmund notice as he is walking along the dock?

1. On p.125, identify an alliteration.

1. Identify a metaphor (hint: “blackness”) on p. 126.

1. Why does Edmund jump off the wharf?

1. Whom does Edmund think is following him? How does he know it is this particular person?

Chapter 15

• Dank—
• Placate—
• Haggard—

1. What does Edmund see in the graveyard?

1. Find a metaphor on p.131 (hint: light)

1. What does Dupin want Edmund to do regarding the cemetery?

1. Where does Dupin want to go after the graveyard and what does he want done there?

1. What do we learn about Edmund’s mom and aunt?

1. At the end of the chapter, what does Dupin find in the cemetery?

Chapter 16

• Aghast—
• Galvanize—

1. At the top of p. 141, what does Dupin claim about Edmund’s mother and aunt?

1. On p. 143, what kind of writer does Dupin claim to be?

1. Who is Mrs. Rachett in relation to Edmund?

1. Who is officially handling the case of Edmund’s missing mother?

1. Who tries to shoot Dupin?

1. Dupin (or Poe) claims that the story “The Gold Bug” contains what?

1. What does the code say? Who do you think the “girl” is?