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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. How many minutes were the prisoners not in isolation allowed to walk outside?

2. What does Ivanov call Rubashov’s emotional state?

3. What does No. 402 call No. 406?

4. What does the officer handing out breakfast tell the warden is missing in Rubashov’s cell?

5. What happens in the trade delegation library shortly before the second great trial of the opposition?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ivanov say is the reason Rubashov will not capitulate with Gletkin’s method?

2. What does Rubashov daydream about on his seventh day in prison?

3. How is Rubashov given a chance to exercise? How is that carried out?

4. Where does Rubashov take the taxi when he leaves Richard? What does the driver do when they arrive there?

5. Whom does Rubashov watch the guards escort down the hallway after Rubashov’s flashback? What does the man look like?

6. Why did Ivanov want to commit suicide at one point and how did Rubashov help him?

7. Why does Rubashov feel guilty about Arlova’s death?

8. How does Rubashov pass his time in the his cell?

9. What does Rubashov see the last night of the two weeks given to Rubashov by Ivanov? Who arranges it?

10. What does Ivanov tell Rubashov the day after Bogrov is killed?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the Second Hearing, Rubashov writes of an agriculturist who was killed because he believed nitrate artificial fertilizer was superior to potash.

Discuss how Rubashov relates the above to the communist government’s tendency at that time to kill anyone who disagrees with the government about any subject and how Rubashov believes only the future will know who is right. Use examples from Darkness at Noon to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

Analyze and discuss what you think are the characteristics of a successful novel and why Darkness at Noon is or is not a successful novel based on your criteria. Do you think the criteria for a successful novel should be different if it is written for adults versus young adults?

Essay Topic 3

Often, authors will write about what they know. Sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Arthur Koestler. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Koestler's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Koestler's probable agenda concerning that idea.

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