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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Ivan respond to his wife entering his room?

2. How does Ivan react to what his wife wants to do when she returns from the theater?

3. In Chapter 10, how does Ivan feel about his memories of the past?

4. What month of Ivan's illness begins Chapter 7?

5. His memories of the past lead Ivan specifically to where?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose several passages of good description from "The Death of Ivan Ilych" and explain how the descriptions help the reader to experience the events in the novel.

Essay Topic 2

Explain the "black sack" in Chapter 9. What could the black sack represent to Ivan? Why does Tolstoy use the metaphor of the "black sack?" How does Tolstoy use the metaphor? Do you think Tolstoy uses this metaphor effectively? Can you think of a more effective metaphor Tolstoy could have used to make his point clearer?

Essay Topic 3

How is 19th century Russia presented in "The Death of Ivan Ilych?" Be certain to support your claims by using text from the novel as well as independent sources that describe 19th century Russia.

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