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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 Raskolnikov do on his return from the police station?

2. Who does Raskolnikov ask to look after his mother and sister?

3. What kind of job does the old lady have?

4. What does Nicolas confess to?

5. Why does Porfiry not follow proper procedure?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Raskolnikov feel after the murder?

2. In what way does Dunya and Mrs. Raskolnikov's new situation aide Razumikhin?

3. In way can the reader sympathize with Raskolnikov?

4. In way does Raskolnikov show a weak will?

5. What do you think Raskolnikov's dream in this chapter represents?

6. Why do you think Raskolnikov visits Sonia?

7. What does the letter show about Raskolnikov's relationship with his family?

8. What does Sonia symbolize to Raskolnikov?

9. Why do you think Dunya and Mrs. Raskolnikov are not so pleasant to Luzhin in chapter 2?

10. What does the first chapter say about Raskolnikov's character?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the class distinctions below and describe their living conditions in 19th century Russia.

1) Working class

2) Middle class

3) Upper-class

Do you think Dostoevsky portray a severe inequality in Russian society?

Essay Topic 2

As Raskolnikov wanders around St. Petersburg, he feels tremendous guilt for his crime. What is it about Raskolnikov's character that prevents him from overcoming his guilt? Describe what kind of character could overcome such guilt and move on with their lives? What do you think would of happened to Raskolnikov if he did not confess?

Essay Topic 3

Crime and Punishment is translated into English from the Russian. How much meaning do you think a novel loses through translation? What aspects of the novel do you think would be the most difficult to express in English? In what way do you think a translator tries to overcome these difficulties?

(see the answer keys)

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