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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 the prosecutor's speech appear to be to the peasants and Russians in the courtroom?

2. What has Lise abandoned when Alyosha visits her in Book 11?

3. What is Grushenka's old Polish lover asking her for during Mitya's trial?

4. Who is Alyosha planning to meet with to discuss Mitya's planned escape at the beginning of the Epilogue?

5. Who tries to create doubt in the minds of the jurors in Book 12, Chapter 12?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the nature of Alyosha and Grushenka's discussion in Part 4, Book 11, Chapter 1?

2. How does Mitya react just after he is arrested for the death of his father?

3. How is Kolya described when he is first seen in Part 4, Book 10, Chapter 1?

4. Why does the court refute the possibility of Smerdyakov killing Fyodor in Part 4, Book 12, Chapter 9?

5. How is Alyosha and Kolya's first interaction described?

6. Describe Mitya's plea to the court in Part 4, Book 12, Chapter 14.

7. How are the medical experts that are used in Mitya's trial described?

8. What does Mitya agree to being guilty of at the beginning of his trial?

9. How are Fetyukovich's attempts to accuse Smerdyakov received in Part 4, Book 12, Chapter 12?

10. How does the audience react while the jurors go into deliberation in Mitya's trial?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One theme that is present throughout much of the book is the portrayal of friendship. Part 1.) What might the author be saying about the importance of having friendship in sibling relationships based on his portrayal of the Karamazov brothers? Part 2.) What is telling of the importance of friendship based on the author's portrayal of Kolya and the other boys?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the nature of Ivan's insanity. What might the author be saying about the implications of going insane?

Essay Topic 3

Alyosha's role as the representation of good is clear from the beginning to the end of the book. Part 1.) What reason does the author have for portraying Alyosha as the only representation of good? Part 2.) What might the author be saying about religious and spiritual people in relation to goodness based on his portrayal of Alyosha? Part 3.) Are there other characters present in the book that can be deemed good?

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