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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. How many souls does Tchitchikov say his uncle owns?

2. What does Nozdroyov tell the men in town he helped Tchitchikov do?

3. Whom is Tchitchikov going to meet at the beginning of Part 2, Chapter 5?

4. What is Andrey's housekeeper fond of?

5. Where do Platon and Tchitchikov go during Part 2, Chapter 3?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Andrey stop pursuing Ulinka?

2. Describe Ulinka's appearance.

3. How does the general react when Tchitchikov tells him that Andrey is sorry for their disagreement?

4. How does Tchitchikov feel about General Betrishtchev when he meets him?

5. What does Nozdroyov tell the other men about Tchitchikov?

6. Why does Nozdroyov go to visit Tchitchikov?

7. Why does Tchitchikov spend time in prison prior to coming to N?

8. What does Skudronzhoglo tell Tchitchikov about getting rich?

9. Why do the men of N. decide they do not want to be associated with Tchitchikov?

10. Why does the postmaster of N. think Tchitchikov might be Captain Kopeykin?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why is it significant that the narrator waits until the end of Part 1 to reveal the true nature of Tchitchikov? How does he try to make the reader feel sorry for Tchitchikov? Is he successful? Why do you think the narrator is so intent on making Tchitchikov out to be a hero when he has done so many horrible things?

Essay Topic 2

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.

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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