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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 Tchitchikov order for dinner in Part 1: Chapter 4?

2. About what time is it when Tchitchikov wakes up when he spends the night at Madame Korobotcha's?

3. What type of pest does Tchitchikov see on the clock in Plyushkin's house?

4. How long does it take Tchitchikov to prepare the paperwork for the official purchase of his dead souls?

5. What does Nozdroyov reveal to Tchitchikov in Part 1: Chapter 4?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do the women at the ball feel about Tchitchikov's interest in the general's daughter?

2. Why does Petrushka smell bad?

3. How does Tchitchikov spend his first day in N?

4. Describe Plyushkin's appearance.

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

6. What does Sobakevitch say about Plyushkin?

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

8. Why does Madame Korobotcha sell her souls to Tchitchikov?

9. Why does Tchitchikov tell Nozdroyov that he wants dead souls?

10. Why does Tchitchikov need to go to the government building?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How are Russian women portrayed in the novel? What is the significance of this portrayal? How are the women used to satirize Russian life? How do the women drive the novel's plot? Cite several examples from the book to support your case.

Essay Topic 2

What point does Gogol make about the important men of Russia? List two characters that Gogol uses as caricatures of Russian noblemen. How are these characters used to make fun of the noblemen? What is Gogol criticizing? Is his attempt at making a point using caricatures effective?

Essay Topic 3

Why do the important people of N. become so interested in Tchitchikov? What is the significance of their interest in him? How does their interest in him drive the plot? What does Tchitchikov do to gain their interest?

(see the answer keys)

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