View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does 406 say is the reason he is in prison?

2. What does Rubashov say is the one argument the party has to settle a difference of opinion?

3. What does Rubashov decide about Ivanov’s assertion that Ivanov wants to help Rubashov?

4. What does Rubashov want to ask the warden for when they arrive at his cell?

5. What does Rubashov think the barber looks like?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is Rubashov’s flashback about after he is told he will get no breakfast?

3. Who is brought to cell 406? What does he keep tapping?

4. What happens to Rubashov the first time he is imprisoned?

5. What does Gletkin consider to be the best methods for getting confessions out of prisoners? Why does he feel this way?

6. What does Rubashov do after he is told he will get no breakfast?

7. How does Rubashov respond to the evidence and charges Ivanov presents? What is Ivanov’s response?

8. What does Little Loewy tell Rubashov about Loewy’s life?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Rubashov ultimately talks himself into believing he is guilty of crimes against the state.

Discuss Rubashov’s reasoning that leads him to decide he is guilty of crimes against the state. Do you think, with his line of thinking, he is correct? Use examples from Darkness at Noon to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

A prisoner in cell 406 was arrested in his country for communist activities. After 25 years in prison, he is pardoned. He is taken to the station by friends and sent to Russia, his life-long dream. In Russia he is arrested and put in prison. In prison he keeps insisting his friends put him on the wrong train and that someday he will get to Russia and be free.

Discuss the way in which prisoner 406 uses denial of his situation in order to mentally/emotionally survive circumstances which directly oppose what the prisoner has believed most of his life and had spent 25 years in prison for believing. Use examples from Darkness at Noon to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not? Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as Darkness at Noon help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading Darkness at Noon? Why or why not? Use examples from Darkness at Noon to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 980 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample