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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. Who does Nikita's serving girl resemble?

2. What is the state of the Mongols in 1237?

3. What does Sviatopolk try to do?

4. What is the goal of the Mongols?

5. Where does Ivan see Shchek for the second time?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the controversy over the icons in Russka.

2. What is the political situation in Russia when the novel leaps forward to 1647?

3. Describe the opposition between Ivan and his brother.

4. Why does Bobrov have a grudge against Stephen the monk?

5. What happens when Bobrov's wife gets pregnant in his absence?

6. Describe Yanka's interactions with Peter.

7. Who is Yanka and what is her story?

8. What problem is Boris Bobrov having with his estate and how does he solve it?

9. Describe the lifestyles of Lebed and her people.

10. Where does the novel begin?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What influences led to the end of serfdom in Russia? Were these influences naturally Russian influences, or were the imported from without?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the overall form of the novel "Russka". Is it one overarching story, or is it a series of discrete stories that don't necessarily add up to a master narrative.

Essay Topic 3

What contemporary cultural problems or cultural questions does "Russka" shed light on? What questions about an ongoing cultural situation does "Russka" help you understand?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 744 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample