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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Nozdroyov tell everyone at the police chief's ball?

2. What type of pest does Tchitchikov see on the clock in Plyushkin's house?

3. What does the narrator note is unusual about Tchitchikov's hotel room?

4. Where is Tchitchikov invited to dine after becoming popular?

5. How have many of Sobakevitch's souls died?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Tchitchikov see as he approaches Sobakevitch's house?

2. Describe Plyushkin's appearance.

3. How do the people at the police captain's house treat Tchitchikov at the end of Part 1, Chapter 7?

4. How does Madame Korobotcha react when Tchitchikov wants to buy her dead souls?

5. What does Tchitchikov ask the servant at the hotel?

6. Why does the narrator not go into detail about Selifan?

7. Why does become Nozdroyov become angry with Tchitchikov and attacks him?

8. Why is Plyushkin so miserable?

9. Describe Madame Korobotcha's house.

10. Why do the people of N. take such an interest in Tchitchikov?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the importance of the public prosecutor's death? What does his death symbolize? How does Gogol use the ridiculousness of the sudden death to prove a point?

Essay Topic 2

What role does Sobakevitch play in the novel? How is he described? What is his significance? Why is it important that he sell his souls to Tchitchikov so easily? What does that say about him? What does it say about Tchitchikov?

Essay Topic 3

What is the significance of gossip in the story? How does gossip drive the plot? Which characters gossip? What does the author seem to be saying about gossip?

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