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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 century does Ivan's Legend take place in?

2. Who in the crowd does Jesus Heal?

3. Why does Ivan say that Jesus appears in his tale?

4. What does the the grand inquisitor tell Jesus his fate will be the next day?

5. What do the guards do with the prisoner?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Our Lady feel when she sees sinners in the burning lake?

2. What does the cardinal do once he is shut in the room with the prisoner?

3. What is the "new heresy" Ivan refers to in the "north of Germany?"

4. Why doesn't the grand inquisitor want Jesus to add to his teachings?

5. Why does Ivan repeatedly mention Dante in his preface?

6. Why didn't Jesus use his powers to control man?

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

8. Why does Jesus appear at the specific time and place in Spain?

9. Why does Ivan call Jesus' appearance a visit?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Is the grand inquisitor's motivation to help the prisoner? Does he care about the prisoner or have any sympathy for him? What is his motivation in arresting the prisoner? Why does he come to the prisoner's cell and why does he come secretly at night?

Essay Topic 2

Does the grand inquisitor believe in the prisoner's guilt or is he arresting him for another reason? What are the reasons the grand inquisitor might arrest a prisoner for? Does the grand inquisitor need to guard his motives for arresting prisoners? Why and how might he guard them?

Essay Topic 3

Write about the relationship between the Ivan and Alyosha, do they agree with each other's thinking? Is there love and respect between the brothers?

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