View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who is traveling with the cardinal?

2. When does Ivan say religiously themed plays, chiefly from the Old Testament, stopped being performed in Moscow?

3. What is the grand inquisitor's manner with Jesus?

4. What is the first thing the visitor does when entering the prisoner's cell?

5. Why does the cardinal think Jesus' appearance will harm humanity?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the subject of Ivan's Literary Preface?

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

3. What is the grand inquisitor's judgment about Jesus' response to the temptation?

4. Why does God find it hard to spare the sinners in hell despite Our Lady's pleas for mercy?

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

6. Why does the crowd ask to be healed by the stranger?

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

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

9. Why does the cardinal come to the prisoner's room alone and in the night?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does the grand inquisitor let Jesus go after promising to kill him? Why does Jesus kiss the Grand Inquisitor? Is the release of Jesus a result of the kiss? Does the grand inquisitor change his mind at the end of the story or continue to believe as he did.?

Essay Topic 2

Would the inquisitor be happy or unhappy that Jesus has returned? Take into account the historical setting of the story and the popular viewpoints of the time.

Essay Topic 3

How is the church in this story deceiving the people? Are they working truly in the people's best interest?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 722 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample