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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. Whom does Tchitchikov tell Nozdroyov he wants to impress?

2. What does Tchitchikov accuse Selifan of in Part 1, Chapter 3?

3. What happens to Plyushkin's son?

4. Where is Tchitchikov going when he runs into Manilov?

5. How old does Plyushkin say he is?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Tchitchikov make himself feel better about not going after the young girl he meets?

2. Why does Petrushka smell bad?

3. Why does Plyushkin sell his dead souls to Tchitchikov?

4. Why does Madame Korobotcha sell her souls to Tchitchikov?

5. How does Tchitchikov feel when looking at his list of acquired souls?

6. Why does Tchitchikov need to go to the government building?

7. How does Tchitchikov end up at Madame Korobotcha's house?

8. Describe Tchitchikov's hotel room.

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

10. How does Sobakevitch speak about the people with whom Tchitchikov has become friends?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast Manilov and Nozdroyov. How are they alike? How are they different? How would the novel be different without them? Who has more of an effect on the plot of the novel? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Explore Plyushkin's role in the book. What is his significance? How is his character more believable than Gogol's other landowners? Do you think he is meant to be a caricature? Why or why not? How does his presence enhance the reader's understanding of Tchitchikov? What can be learned about Tchitchikov by examining his treatment of Plyushkin?

Essay Topic 3

Explore the character Madame Korobotcha. What role does she play in the story? What is interesting about the way Tchitchikov treats her? How does Madame Korobotcha's role in the story help the reader to get a better idea about the motives and true nature of Tchitchikov?

(see the answer keys)

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