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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 has Nozdroyov been doing when he meets with Tchitchikov?

2. Why are the townspeople interested in Tchitchikov?

3. What is Plyushkin sad about?

4. What does Selifan do for Tchitchikov?

5. Where does Sobakevitch tell Tchitchikov he should not go?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do the people at the police captain's house treat Tchitchikov at the end of Part 1, Chapter 7?

2. How does Tchitchikov make himself feel better about not going after the young girl he meets?

3. Why do the people of N. take such an interest in Tchitchikov?

4. What does Nozdroyov do when he arrives at the ball?

5. Describe Madame Korobotcha's house.

6. How does Tchitchikov end up at Madame Korobotcha's house?

7. Describe Plyushkin's estate.

8. Why is everyone in town talking about Tchitchikov at the beginning of Part 1, Chapter 8?

9. What does Tchitchikov ask the servant at the hotel?

10. Why does Manilov decide to sell his dead souls to Tchitchikov?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast Manilov and Nozdroyov. How are they alike? How are they different? How would the novel be different without them? Who has more of an effect on the plot of the novel? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

What is the significance of gossip in the story? How does gossip drive the plot? Which characters gossip? What does the author seem to be saying about gossip?

Essay Topic 3

Why is it significant that the narrator refuses to quote Sofia and Anna speaking in French to each other? How does Gogol use his novel to call for a change in Russian society? What is he critical of? Use examples from the text to support your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

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