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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. Why does Sonia disappear for a while?

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

3. Who interrupts the funeral dinner?

4. What does Razumkhin ask his friend?

5. What kind of guests turn up at the funeral?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Raskolnikov finally find salvation?

2. How does Raskolnikov view a public confession?

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

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

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

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

7. What does Chapter four show about Svidrigaylov's character?

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

9. What do you think Dunya represented to Svidgaylov?

10. How does Luzhin make Sonia look guilty?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

Dostoevsky introduces Svidrigaylov quite late into the novel. Examine Svidigaylov's character.

1) What do you think are the aims and conflicts of Svidrgaylov's character?

2) Why do you think Dostoevsky introduces Svidrigaylov into the story? What difference do you think he makes to the story?

3) What affect do you think his suicide has on the other characters? Does it change their outlook?

(see the answer keys)

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