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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 the trial audience yell when the plot to assassinate No. 1 is revealed?

2. What does Rubashov think Gletkin represents?

3. Why does Wassilij not protest the removal of Rubashov’s picture off the wall?

4. Why does Rubashov ask for a recess for a few minutes?

5. Where does the reader work?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Rubashov confess to in the beginning? What is Gletkin’s response to this?

2. What does Wassilij’s daughter tell him about the petition at work?

3. What does Wassilij’s daughter have to say about Rubashov’s trial and what is his response?

4. When Rubashov begins to address the court, what does he say he will talk about?

5. What does Rubashov ask for when he is taken before Gletkin for Rubashov’s third hearing? What is Gletkin’s response?

6. What does Wassilij say to his daughter about Rubashov’s speech?

7. What does Rubashov say some of his ideas could cause?

8. What verdict is reached on Rubashov's charges? What evidence is presented?

9. How does Rubashov respond to Hare-lip’s accusations?

10. For what does Wassilij interrupt her reading?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Darkness at Noon belongs to the political novel genre. Discuss the following:

Define the literary term "genre" and name three other genres in addition to the political novel genre. What are the advantages and disadvantages of assigning a genre to a novel? What do you think is the difference between a political novel and a historical novel or mystery?

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

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss the following:

Compare/contrast the characters of Rubashov and Ivanov. How are they similar? How are they different? Is there a flaw in each of their personalities? Be specific and give examples. Compare/contrast the characters of Rubashov and Gletkin. How do they seem different? Which do you like more? Why? Which one seems more of a well-rounded character?

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