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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. During the summer, how many jobs does Yuri take in order to make ends meet?

2. How do some of the villagers reconstruct their roofs?

3. What illness does Yuri see developing frequently as a result of the constant warfare?

4. Gordon and Dudorov realize that Tonia is whose daughter?

5. How well do Yuri and Strelnikov get along when they meet in Varykino?

Short Essay Questions

1. Pasternak ties the love story in Dr. Zhivago to a reference to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. How are the two romantic tragedies similar?

2. Why are Gordon and Dudorov interested in Yuri's book of poetry?

3. Describe what happens when Komarovsky shows up at Yuri and Lara's house in Yuriatin.

4. In Chapter 13, while in Yuritan, what does Lara want to have happen to her relationship with Yuri?

5. What might have been done to prevent Pamphil's insanity?

6. The Tania in Epilogue of Dr. Zhivago is not Yuri's wife. Who is she and where did she come from?

7. Describe Yuri's death and funeral.

8. How does Yuri avoid the temptation of considering Lara and her daughter his new family?

9. What could the rowan tree symbolize?

10. Why do you think Yuri stays in Yuriatin for a time instead of leaving immediately to find his wife and family?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe Christina's significance in the story. What could she symbolize? How might her actions have influenced the characters in the story?

Essay Topic 2

How is the story of Dr. Zhivago similar to Shakespeare's play, "Romeo and Juliet"? What themes are common to both stories? What lessons could be learned from each theme?

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the book, Yuri is faced with many choices. Describe three major choices Yuri made and how they affected the outcome of the story. What events or characters motivated those choices? How might the story have been different had those choices not been made?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 815 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample