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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 does Sonia say is God's domain?

2. What does Raskolnikov worry about?

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

4. What is the name of Luzhin's younger roommate?

5. Who does Raskolnikov ask Sonia to make a choice between?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Raskolnikov view a public confession?

2. How does Dostoevsky still create suspense even as he winds down his story?

3. How is Mrs. Marmaladov different to Raskolnikov?

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

5. Do you think Raskolnikov has finally accepted his guilt?

6. Describe Svidrigaylov's character?

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

8. How do you think not confessing to the murder will affect Raskolnikov?

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

10. How does Luzhin use his wealth?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Dialogue plays an important part in the novel and one chapter consists of just a dialogue between Raskolnikov and Porfiry. Using example from the novel discuss the important part dialogue plays in the following areas.

1) Character development.

2) Plot development

3) The development of the novel's themes.

In what way do you think dialogue can be overused?

Essay Topic 2

It seems that the goals for many of the character, particularly the women, is to get married, even if they do not love he person they are marrying. Why do you think marriage was so important in the mid-nineteenth century? What were the benefits of marriage for men? What were the benefits for women? How do you think society viewed people who were not married?

Essay Topic 3

Identify the main themes in the novel and describe how Dostoevsky expresses each theme in the book. What do you think the themes say about his opinions as a writer and intellectual?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 691 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample