THE MALTESE FALCON

Hammett was born in 1894 in St. Mary’s County, MD.He grew up on his family farm called Hopewell and Aim.He enjoyed reading, but was forced to quit school to

begin working at 14 years old to help his family. In 1915, he got a job fi ling case reports on the Pinkerton

Detective agency.He joined the Army in 1918, but was honorably

discharged due to illness. While in the military hospital, he met his future wife Josephine Dolan, who was a nurse.

They moved to San Francisco and their fi rst daughter was born.

After a year there, Hammett began writing short stories for magazines.

ABOUT DASHIELL HAMMETT

Josephine and Hammett separated in 1929.After he published The Maltese Falcon, Hammett moved to

New York. In 1934, Hammett stopped writing and became focused on

politics.He re-entered the Army in 1942 and edited the newspaper

on his Alaskan base. In the 1950’s Hammett was accused of being a Communist

and spent six months in jail. Copies of his books were also removed from state libraries, but these were later restored by Pres. Eisenhower.

Hammett died in 1961 and is buried in the Arlington National Cemetery.

In all during his career, Hammett had written 80 short stories and 5 novels.

HAMMETT CONTINUED

The Maltese Falcon is set in San Francisco in 1928. The action takes place from Wednesday, December 5 through Monday December 10.

Since the story is set prior to the stock market crash of 1929 and the Great Depression, at the time, San Francisco experienced growth and wealth.

In 1920, more than a half a million people lived in San Francisco (the 12 th largest city in the US).

During this time, the bay bridges did not exist, so people would have had to ferry around the bay.

San Francisco was an important shipping port.At the time, there was a lot of political and judicial

corruption.

BACKGROUND

Suspense is a feeling of uncertainty about the outcome of events, which keeps you interested in a story’s plot. Writers create suspense by hinting at an outcome or delaying an event that you know is coming. In other words, suspense is a kind of game that writers play with you, showing you some things and hinting at others.

Motivation: The reason why a character thinks, acts, feels, or says what they do.

Archetype: A character, setting, elements of plot, or image that reoccurs in diff erent works of literature.

Symbolism: When something stands for another thing beyond itself.

Setting: The time and place in which the story takes place.Theme: a perception about life or human nature that the

writer wants to share with the reader.Dialogue: When characters speak. This is usually set off by

quotation marks.

LIT TERMS

Point of view: the vantage point from which the story is told. First person: The narrator is a character in the story, and he/she

uses first person pronouns such as I. Third person limited: The narrator is looking in observing the

action of the story. Narrator does not refer to himself or herself. Third person omniscient: The narrator is looking in observing the

action of the story. Narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all characters; readers get insight into several characters.

Protagonist: the main characterAntagonist: The character who opposes the protagonistFoil: A character that has traits which are opposite from

ones of the main characters, in order to highlight various features of that main character's personality.

Flashback: A way for the author to present material that happened earlier before this point of the story.

Foreshadowing: The author gives hints about future events.

LIT TERMS…CONT

Sam Spade: Private detective (archetypal); cool and strong; in his mid-thirties; Spade’s personal code drives him to avenge his partner’s murder.

Miles Archer: Spade’s partner; in his mid-forties; not very observant or bright.

Brigid O’Shaughnessy aka Miss Wonderly: Compulsive liar; beautiful; manipulative; dangerous.

Joel Cairo: a polished but flawed crook.Effi e Perine: Spade’s secretary; trusting and devoted.Casper Gutman: Cairo’s employer. He is obsessed

with the falcon.Wilmer: Works for Gutman; is a smart-mouth, but is

not too smart intellectually.

THE MAIN CHARACTERS