THE MALTESE FALCONChapters 1-5 study guide

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

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

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

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

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

In what city does the story take place?

San Francisco

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

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

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

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

What do we find out about Sam and Miles’ wife, Iva?

That they were having an affair

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

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

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

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

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”

What happened the night before involving Thursby and Miles?

Brigid claims that Thursby shot Miles because he found out Miles was tailing him

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

Who is Sid Wise?

Sam Spade’s attorney

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

What does Sam do to Cairo?

He knocks him unconscious when Cairo pulls a gun on him. He then rifles through Cairo’s belongings

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