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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 do townspeople worry will happen with Tchitchikov's new souls?

2. What does Manilov serve Tchitchikov for dinner?

3. What is the name of Sobakevitch's wife?

4. How many of the servants of Madame Korobotcha died?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Petrushka smell bad?

2. Why does Tchitchikov decide to try his scheme on Manilov even though he has just met him?

3. Why does become Nozdroyov become angry with Tchitchikov and attacks him?

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

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

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

7. Why does Tchitchikov think Nozdroyov would be a good person to buy dead souls from?

8. Why does Plyushkin sell his dead souls to Tchitchikov?

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

10. What happens when Tchitchikov asks the clerk to complete his sales?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore the character Madame Korobotcha. What role does she play in the story? What is interesting about the way Tchitchikov treats her? How does Madame Korobotcha's role in the story help the reader to get a better idea about the motives and true nature of Tchitchikov?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

What is the importance of the public prosecutor's death? What does his death symbolize? How does Gogol use the ridiculousness of the sudden death to prove a point?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 624 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample