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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Ivan try to hang onto at the end of his life?

2. For Ivan, what does the thought that he hasn't lived a good life cause?

3. What characters are mentioned in Chapter 9?

4. In Chapter 11, what does his awareness about his deceptions cause Ivan to do?

5. In Chapter 10, where is Ivan for the next two weeks?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the form that foreshadowing takes in "The Death of Ivan Ilych." How is the foreshadowing accomplished? Is the foreshadowing subtle or obvious?

Essay Topic 2

Is there a reason Tolstoy does not give a name to Ivan's disease? How does the unnamed disease relate to the central themes? Why would Tolstoy not name the disease that kills Ivan?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the use of irony in "The Death of Ivan Ilych." How is irony used in novel? Does Tolstoy use one kind of irony more than another?

(see the answer keys)

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