Quotations part 1

Question 1

1.Capote describing the effects of the murders on the village of Holcomb at the very start

Answer 1

Afterwards, the townspeople, theretofore sufficiently unfearful of each other to trouble to lock their doors… viewed each other strangely and as strangers

Question 2

2. Description of Mr Clutter

Answer 2

Always certain of what he wanted from the world, Mr. Clutter had in large measure obtained it…

Question 3

3. Description of Mr Clutter part 2

Answer 3

The master of river valley farm, Herbert William Clutter was… in first- rate condition.

Question 4

4. Description of Mr Clutter and his river valley farm

Answer 4

The little collection of fruit bearers growing by the river was his attempt to contrive… a patch of the paradise, the green apple-scented Eden, he envisioned.

Question 5

5. Phrase used to describe Nancy Clutter

Answer 5

Town darling

Question 6

6. Mrs Clutter talking to Joleene Katz about her children

Answer 6

They don’t need me

Question 7

7. Description of Nancy Clutter

Answer 7

She felt it her duty to be available when younger girls came to help

Question 8

8. Description of Nancy Clutter part 2

Answer 8

Each moment was assigned; she knew precisely at any hour, what she would be doing

Question 9

9.Capote describing Bonnies bouts of depression

Answer 9

she suffered little spells

Question 10

10. Bonnie Clutter describing herself when talking to Susan Kidwell’s mother

Answer 10

Like a ghost

Question 11

11. What Kenyon’s friends say about him

Answer 11

He lives in a world of his own

Question 12

12. The first description of Perry, which comes straight after a description of Mr Clutter

Answer 12

Like Mr Clutter, the young man breakfasting in a cafe called the little Jewl never drank coffee

Question 13

13. Dick talking to Perry about murdering the Clutters

Answer 13

I promise you, honey, we’ll blast hair all over them walls

Question 14

14.Capote describing Dick

Answer 14

The imperfectly aligned features were the outcome of a car collision… his eyes not only situated at uneven levels but of uneven size, the left eye being truly serpentine, with a venomous, sickly- blue squint that… seemed to warn of bitter sediment at the bottom of his nature.

Question 15

15.Capote describing Dick’s view of Perry

Answer 15

Dick became convinced that Perry was that rarity, “a natural killer…such a gift could be profitibaly exploited”.

Question 16

16.Capote descrining Dick’s aspirations

Answer 16

Dick wanted a regular life with a buisness of his own, a house, a horse to ride, a new car and plenty of blonde chicken

Question 17

17.Holcomb teacher Larry Hendricks giving his reaction to the clutters’ deaths

Answer 17

I’d been dazed, too numb, to feel the full viciousness of it. The suffering. The horror. They were dead. A whole family. Gentle, kindly people, people I knew- murdered. You had to believe it, because it was really true.

Question 18

18. Capote describing how the people of Holcomb no longer tust each other after the Clutter murders

Answer 18

This hitherto peaceful congregation of neighbors and old friends had suddenly to endure the unique experience of distrusting each other; understandably, they believed that the murderer was among themselves

Question 19

19. Capote describing the effect on Holcomb that the Clutter murders had

Answer 19

The crime confronted the townsfolk of Holcomb with their own isolation. Neighbourliness evaporated.