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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 accompanies Razumikhin and Raskolnikov to see Porfiry?

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

3. Where did the craftsmen hear Nicolas's confession?

4. Who else does Raskolnikov kill?

5. What kind of business does Razumikhin propose to start?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Raskolnikov think of his sister's fiance Luzhin?

2. In what way does Luzhin's letter put the women in a difficult position?

3. How seriously is Raskelnikov thinking about his unnamed idea?

4. In way does Raskolnikov show a weak will?

5. How does Raskolnikov feel after the murder?

6. In what way is Raskolnikov beginning to question himself and his theories?

7. Why do you think Raskolnikov leaves the room so abruptly in chapter three?

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

9. How does Dostoevsky create so much drama in the murder scene?

10. What do you think it says about Razumikhin that he is so close to guessing the truth of the murder?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The painter Nicolas falsely confesses to the old lady's murder. What meaning do you think Nicolas's character brings to the novel? In what way do think Nicolas's social standing contributes to his false confession? What do think would have happened to Nicholas if he were found guilty? Do you think his punishment would of been more severe than Raskolnikov's?

Essay Topic 2

The novel is set in the Russian city of St. Petersburg.

1) What meaning does St. Petersburg bring to the novel? What would you automatically presume about a novel that was set in St. Petersburg?

2) How different do you think today's St. Petersburg is to the St. Petersburg in the novel? How do you think the novel's meaning would change if it were set in today's St. Petersburg?

3) How do you think the interior settings of the novel contribute to the novel's dark atmosphere?

Essay Topic 3

The main themes in the novel are crime, poverty and justice. Take one of these themes and discuss how Dostoevsky expresses them in the book? Why do you think these themes were important concerns in nineteenth century Russia?

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