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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 visits Raskolnikov in this chapter?

2. Who interrupts the funeral dinner?

3. What does Raskolnikov think makes him a failure and a criminal?

4. What does Svidrigaylov say is his main interest>

5. What does Mrs. Marmaladov spend half of Raskolnikov's twenty rubles on?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Raskolnikov finally find salvation?

2. How does Luzhin use his wealth?

3. How does Luzhin make Sonia look guilty?

4. How does Dostoevsky portray Raskolnikov's conflicting emotions in chapter four?

5. Why do you think Mrs. Marmaladov loses control?

6. What does chapter two show about Sonia's upbringing?

7. Why do you think Dostoevsky distances the reader from Raskolnikov?

8. Why is making a public confession so difficult for Raskolnikov?

9. Why do you think Luzhin is so angry at Raskolnikov?

10. In what way does Raskolnikov's confession sound different to what he had earlier claimed to think?

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

Porfiry is probably the cleverest character in the book and quickly works out Raskolnikov.

1) What do you think are Porfiry's goals? How does he achieve his goals?

2) In what way do you think Porfiry wins Raskolnikov's respect and ultimately his trust? Do you think that Porfiry has sympathy for Raskolnikov?

(see the answer keys)

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