"In Cold Blood" Part 2 Test Review

On pages 96-100, what is significant about the way Dick gains the store clerk's confidence when attempting to pay with a check? How is this ironic?

He gains the confidence of the store clerk by tricking the clerk into thinking that Perry was getting married. This is ironic because of the concept that they like each other.

On pages 89-93, what effect is achieved through the simile that likens Dick's confidence to a "kite that needed reeling in"?

He's aiming for something that isn't achievable (Dick feels like they're off scot free but Perry thinks there's still something to worry about), so he feels like he needs to reel Dick back in.

On pages 94-96, what does Susan Kidwell find most disturbing about her visit to the funeral parlor? Why?

Nancy had a red dress on and it was the red dress Susan helped her make, and there's also gauze on the faces of the family.

On pages 117-120, what does Perry's behavior at the beach and swimming pool reveal about his character?

On pages 117-120, Perry's behavior at the beach and swimming pool revealed that he is insecure, but also talented and somewhat proud.

On pages 123-147, what is Barbara's (Perry's sister's) motivation for suggesting that "we all were very adaptable" in her letter? (Get to see Barbara's view on her brother, Perry)

On pages 123-147, Barbara's motivation for suggesting that "we all were very adaptable" in her letter was to show how they would do what they needed to do to get something done.

On pages 123-147, why does Capote include the lengthy letter written by Perry's father? What theme does the letter reinforce? (IMPORTANT!!!) (Paints a pretty important picture of Perry)

On pages 123-147, Capote includes the lengthy letter written by Perry's father to show how his own father, someone that knows him well, thinks and feels about him. The letter reinforces the theme of the complexity of Perry's character.

On pages 152-154, how are police investigators able to determine the order in which the Clutter family members were murdered?

On pages 152-154, police investigators are able to determine the order in which the Clutter family members were murdered by the "appreciable difference in the body temperatures of the victims" as reported by the coroner.

On pages 154-155, how are Dick and Perry planning to return to the United States? What does their plan reveal about their state of mind following the Clutter murders?

On pages 154-155, Dick and Perry are planning to return to the United States by pretending to be hitchhikers, waiting for a traveler who is alone in a decent car and has money in his wallet to rob, strangle, and discard in the desert. This reveals their state of mind after the Clutter murders as either psychotic or uncaring.

On pages 79-87, what aspect of the crime scene, as observed by Al Dewey examining the photographs, foreshadows the eventual capture of the suspects?

The aspect of the crime scene, as observed by Al Dewey examining the photographs, foreshadows the eventual capture of the suspects by Dewey finding footprints in the pictures.

How do the opening pages of this section serve to establish In Cold Blood as an important forerunner of the True Crime (a non-fiction literary and film genre in which the author examines an actual crime and details the actions of real people) genre?

The opening pages of section two establish "In Cold Blood" as an important forerunner of the True Crime genre by describing the main detectives assigned to the crime and what the crime scene looked like. (Take a look at psychology, the crime scene, and the characters/people involved)

On pages 100-105 what conclusion does Alvin Dewey draw about the murderers when he studies the crime scene photos once again? What leads him to this conclusion?

There's an element of compassion in the way that they were killed. For example, Kenyon's head was laid against a pillow and there was a bed - for comfort.