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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 does Raskolnikov ask Sonia to make a choice between?

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

3. What does Profiry say the murderer regards himself as?

4. How much longer does Raskolnikov have to serve of his prison sentence?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. In what way does Svidrigaylov's suicide confirm to the reader the complexity of his character?

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

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

4. In what way does Dostoevsky show Dunya to be different to her brother?

5. How does Luzhin make Sonia look guilty?

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

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

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

9. In the epilogue how does Dostoevsky distance the reader from Raskolnikov?

10. What effect does Raskolnikov's decision to confess have on his mental state.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Sonia attempts to preach Raskolnikov the bible. In what way is religion the antithesis of Raskolnikov's high ideas? Do you think Dostoevsky represents religion as the only way Raskolnikov can overcome his guilt? What do you think is Dostoevsky's own views on religion?

(see the answer keys)

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