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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 revolts in 1067?

2. What causes the Boyar to have pains in his chest and feet when he leaves the house?

3. Who is Purgas?

4. What does Yanka get a woman to help her do?

5. What does Ivan do when his journey is interrupted?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the revolution that kills Sviatopolk.

2. What is the Bobrov family up to in 1647?

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

4. Describe Yanka's pregnancy and marriage.

5. Who are the Raskolniki?

6. Who has the most power in this earliest chapter?

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

8. Describe the setting and story being told when the story shifts to 1237.

9. How does Stephen die?

10. Who is Yanka and what is her story?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the price of historical progress as Russia develops from the 1600s to the 1900s? What is gained? What is given up, or lost? For example, is brutality the price of progress, as under Tsar Peter? Was culture lost as Russia Westernized?

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

Evaluate your own reading of "Russka"--did you resist it, or were you compelled by the story? What does your reading tell you about yourself and your interests? Use specific examples from the book to describe yourself as a reader.

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This section contains 714 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample