The Maltese falcon

1. The Maltese falcon Chapters 1-5 study guide

2. Sam Spade • The story’s protagonist • A private detective • He looks like a “blond Satan.” he is a tall, thickly built man (physically imposing), and he is in his 30s • He seems shady and more concerned about his own well-being than others • He presents a rough exterior; unsympathetic to others • He’s a womanizer who is having an affair with his partner’s wife

3. Effie Perine • A lanky, sunburned girl with a boyish face (almost childlike) • She is Spade’s trusted secretary • She appears kind and conscientious, and worries over Spade

4. Miss Wonderly • A young woman with blue eyes, red, curly hair and very attractive. She’s 22 years old • She lies about her identity (her name is actually Brigid O’Shaughnessy) • She pretends she is innocent and in need of help, but, in reality, she appears to be a manipulator who uses her sexuality to get what she wants

5. Miles Archer • A private investigator and Sam Spade’s business partner • He’s of medium height, solidly built and in his 40s • He also appears to be a womanizer, although he is married

6. Why has Ms. Wonderly come to Spade and Archer’s agency? • She is supposedly looking for her sister, who ran off with a man named Floyd Thursby. She’s hoping they can find her before her parents realize she’s gone

7. In what city does the story take place? • San Francisco

8. Who is the first person found dead in the novel? How did he die? • Sam’s partner, Miles Archer • He was murdered - shot through the heart with a Webley-Fosbery automatic revolver

9. How would you describe Sam’s feelings toward his partner? • He appears unsympathetic and unmoved by Miles’ death. For him, it’s business as usual

10. Who is the second person to die in this chapter? How did this person die? • Floyd Thursby • He was shot down in front of his hotel 35 minutes after Sam Spade left Miles’ murder scene

11. Who comes to visit Sam? Why? • Two police officers: Tom Polhaus and Lieutenant Dundy • They want to question Sam over the murder of Floyd Thursby

12. What do we find out about Sam and Miles’ wife, Iva? • That they were having an affair

13. What does Iva suspect Sam of doing? Why? • She suspects Sam of having killed Miles • She naively believes that Sam wanted to get Miles out of the picture so she and Sam could be together

14. What are Sam’s feelings toward Iva? • He doesn’t appear to love her. He only seems to have been using her sexually. Now he doesn’t appear to want any part of her

15. What kind of man is Sam in terms of his relationship with women? • He doesn’t become emotionally involved with them. • He uses them for his own sexual gratification and treats them as inferiors • He doesn’t trust their motives or instincts

16. What do we find out about Ms. Wonderly? • That her name is actually Brigid O’Shaughnessy and that she really wasn’t looking for her missing sister • Also, she had known Floyd Thursby and that they arrived in San Francisco together from Hong Kong

17. Does Sam appear to trust her? Explain. • No • He constantly scowls in disbelief and reacts with impatience at her stories and even tells her that she “is dangerous”

18. What happened the night before involving Thursby and Miles? • Brigid claims that Thursby shot Miles because he found out Miles was tailing him

19. What does Sam do that surprises Ms. O’Shaughnessy? • He asks her how much money she has, then takes almost all of it for his services

20. Who is Sid Wise? • Sam Spade’s attorney

21. Describe Joel Cairo? And what is he searching for? • A small, dark-complexioned man with Levantine features • He is very stylish in his attire, wears a perfume, and acts in an effeminate way • He’s searching for a black figurine of a bird

22. What does Sam do to Cairo? • He knocks him unconscious when Cairo pulls a gun on him. He then rifles through Cairo’s belongings

23. Why has Cairo come to Sam’s office? • He’s come to hire Sam to help him find the black statuette. He also has come to search Sam’s office to see if he is, in fact, hiding it