In Cold Blood Part III

Here's homework! you have a new set of questions related to Part 3! I'll ask you to start working with them so they are ready by the time we need them! Things are getting juicier! I hope you are now enjoying the reading much more than before!

In Cold Blood - Part III

(pages 152-182)

1. Why is Floyd Wells concerned when he hears the news of the Clutter murders?

2. How does fate come up again in Floyd’s encounter?

3. Why doesn’t Floyd want to tell his story to the KBI?

4. How does Marie, Dewey’s wife, react when she sees pictures of Dick and Perry?

5. How do the Hickocks feel about their son? In what way do they “cover” for their son? In what ways do they recognize and admit his mistakes?

6. How do the views about Dick differ between the community and his family?

7. Why do you think the agent does not mention the murders in talking with Dick’s parents?

8. What is the Hickocks’ impression of Perry? Why is this ironic?

9. Why do you think the agent does not take the gun with him?

10. Why had Mr. Bell stopped to pick up Dick and Perry? How is he later saved? (Is this another

example of fate?)

11. What news about Perry does the proprietor of the rooming house tell the detectives?

12. Describe the contents of Perry’s box.

13. What information about Perry does Barbara tell the detective?

14. Back to the Nature vs. Nurture argument. What information does the reader learn about the problems in Perry’s family that may relate to nature? Be specific.

15. What story about Japan does Barbara recall about Perry? Do you believe this story? Explain.

16. About what part of his childhood does Perry seem to be most upset?

17. What “crazy-man stunt” does Dick introduce? Why does he think they should do this?

(pages 182-210)

18. According to Dewey, what is their only physical evidence in the crime?

19. How must the detectives trick Dick and Perry?

20. What new rule does Myrt Clare declare? Why?

21. Why does Perry become so upset at the washateria?

22. What does Perry think Dick will do if he is arrested?

23. Describe Dewey’s dream.

24. Explain Perry’s view of the murder in Florida. Why is this ironic?

25. What do we learn about Dick and Perry from the incident with the young girl on the beach?

26. About what is Perry fascinated? Why?

27. Explain the incident with Dick and Perry and the hitchhikers. What do we learn about both men through this episode?

28. When are Perry and Dick arrested? Why do they think they have been arrested?

29. How do the detectives hope to trap the two men?

(pages 210-242)

30. About what things does Dick boast during his interview? What impression does he make on the detectives? What story does he tell about the night the Clutters were murdered?

31. How does Dick react when the detectives broach the Clutter murder?

32. According to the detectives, what two mistakes had Perry and Dick made?

33. Before ending the interrogation, what information do the detectives give Dick to think about?

34. Look on page 217 find the description of Perry. Compare this description to earlier descriptions of Perry.

35. How does Perry behave during his interrogation?

36. Alone in his cell, what does Dick think about for the first time?

37. What news does Dick tell the detectives the next time they meet? What does this tell us about Dick? According to the detectives, what had Dick called Perry?

38. During the car ride to Garden City, why does Perry finally decide to tell all he knows about the murders?

39. According to Perry, what had happened that night? What news do we learn for the first time? Do you trust Perry’s version? Explain.

40. All along, Dewey had been troubled by the mattress box and bed covers. What does Perry tell him about these items?

41. What causes an argument between Dick and Perry during the murders?

42. According to Perry, how had each family member reacted to the intrusion?

43. How do the citizens of Garden City react when the alleged killers are brought to the courthouse?