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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. Who is the first person called to testify from Mitya's family during his trial?

2. Who does Grushenka say Mitya is obsessed with that is causing them problems in Book 11?

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

4. Who is not sympathetic to the prosecuting attorney when he objects the defense's final speech?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Lise described in Part 4, Book 11, Chapter 3?

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

3. How does the judge react when Kirillovich begins quoting from the Bible loudly during Mitya's trial?

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

5. What is the nature of Ivan's testimony in Mitya's trial?

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

7. What is the nature of the discussion between Ivan and Smerdyakov in Part 4, Book 11, Chapter 6?

8. How is Grushenka's testimony in Mitya's trial described?

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

10. What points of contention does the defense lawyer introduce in Part 4, Book 12, Chapter 11?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The role of religion is one that is very pronounced throughout much of the book. Part 1.) How does Alysosha represent religious values in the book? Part 2.) What about the author's depiction of Zosima brings religion to the forefront in the book? Part 3.) In what way could you argue that the author presented his own voice about religion by including Zosima's teachings and speeches in the book?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the controversy surrounding the presentation of Zosima's dead body. What about the description of Zosima's body is telling of the religious traditions of the time period?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the irony of the chapter titles in the book. What reason might the author have to impart such irony?

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