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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 does the blood on the snow outside of Mikulitsyn's house remind Yuri of?

2. Why is Yuri's tree more noticeable that all the other trees?

3. What eases Pamphil's symptoms?

4. What type of tree does Yuri discover growing near the camp on a piece of high ground?

5. Why does Lara fear arrest?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do Yuri's writings both inspire and threaten the characters in the book?

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

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

4. What could the rowan tree symbolize?

5. Lara and Yuri discover they share a common nemesis. Who is this person and what has he/she done to them?

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

7. Describe Yuri's behavior after Lara leaves for Vladivostok.

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

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

10. Describe what happens when Yuri breaks Red Cross rules and uses a rifle.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the revolution and Yuri's affair from Tonya's perspective. How might each event have changed her character? How does it differ from Lara's perspective of the same events?

Essay Topic 2

How does Yuri's relationship with Tonia differ from his relationship with Lara? What are his motivations in developing each relationship? What influence does each relationship have on his life?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 791 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample