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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 Zverkov say he would do if the peasants in his countries protested?

2. What does the writer write to Simonov as an excuse for his dinner behavior?

3. How does the writer feel about the time of his arrival at the dinner party?

4. What is the writer certain Liza will do with a letter she receives?

5. How does the writer feel about his dreams in this section?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Zverkov's reaction to the writer's complaint about not being informed of the change in time for the dinner party?

2. How does the writer try to cover up his feelings about Liza being at his apartment?

3. At the end of Part 2, Chapter 5, the writer is in the room with the prostitute and glances in the mirror. What does he see and how does he feel about it?

4. What does the writer want to do when the others arrive and what does he actually do?

5. What does the writer find when he arrives at the dinner party and how does he feel about it?

6. When Liza visits the writer at his home, the situation seems rather intense. What does the writer say that people often do in such situations?

7. After the writer has finished his speech to Liza, he turns to leave. Before he goes, she gives him a letter to read. Who was the letter from and what did it say?

8. The writer continues to ridicule Liza and her work and describes a rather somber death. What does the writer say a prostitute's death will be?

9. In Part 2, Chapter 7 the writer is having a conversation with Liza and describes her duties to men. What does he say she must do if he whistles at her?

10. The writer describes some office clerks that repulse him. Discuss these characters.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Part 1, Chapter 5, the writer states that he participates in self-degradation in lieu of boredom. Provide examples of this. Do you think the writer does this to fight his boredom or could there be other reasons? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss who the writer is writing to. Does he anticipate others to read his notes? Does he withhold any information in fear that someone will read his notes? What does this style of narration add to or take away from the story?

Essay Topic 3

In your opinion, do you think the writer is a "Hero" or a "Coward"? Provide examples to support your answer.

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This section contains 875 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample