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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. How much money does Sonia return?

3. Whose funeral is taking place in chapter 1?

4. What has happened to Mrs. Marmaladov?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What do you think chapter two means in context of the novel?

3. How does Raskolnikov finally find salvation?

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

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

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

7. What do you think Dunya represented to Svidgaylov?

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

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

10. How is Mrs. Marmaladov different to Raskolnikov?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Raskolnikov and Sonia form a strong bond that Dostoevsky suggests will lead into a lasting relationship. What similarities do you think Sonia and Raskolnikov share? Why do you think Sonia is so important to Raskolnikov's character? What do you think would happen to Raskolnikov if Sonia did not try to help him?

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

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)

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