View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who is Ivan talking about when he says, "He comes on the scene in my poem, but He says nothing, only appears and passes on"?
(a) Alyosha.
(b) Jesus.
(c) God.
(d) Archangel Michael.

2. What doesn't the inquisitor say is brought to together by the spirit's questions to Jesus?
(a) Fact and imagination.
(b) The people's philosophy.
(c) Contradictions of human nature.
(d) The history of mankind afterward.

3. What is like "lightning flashing from east to west"?
(a) The end of time.
(b) The wrath of God.
(c) The return of Jesus.
(d) Jesus' eyes.

4. What breaks Ivan's Narrative?
(a) Alyosha has to leave.
(b) Alyosha asks a question.
(c) He pauses to question Alyosha.
(d) He gets tired.

5. Why is Jesus' appearance deemed a visit?
(a) It is a vacation.
(b) He comes to Spain.
(c) It is not his final return.
(d) It is not really him.

Short Answer Questions

1. Before he is arrested in the story, what doesn't Jesus do?

2. Who in the crowd does Jesus Heal?

3. What play was performed in the Hotel de Ville of Paris in the reign of Louis XI in honor of the birth of the dauphin?

4. What does Ivan mean when he says, "It was customary in poetry to bring down heavenly powers on earth"?

5. What happened at the auto de fe the day before the prisoner is arrested?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Ivan's manner the first time Alyosha stops to question him.

2. Why does the inquisitor think the three questions are important?

3. What does the grand inquisitor believe is most important about Jesus' temptation?

4. How are the literary examples in Ivan's preface related?

5. Why does Ivan suggest some people's connection in Jesus began to dwindle?

6. What does Alyosha think of the old man's behavior?

7. How is Jesus tempted in the story?

8. What does the grand inquisitor believe about people's freedom?

9. Who is the spirit that talks with Jesus in the wilderness?

10. Why does the crowd get excited when they recognize Jesus?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 809 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample