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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 do Stepanych and his wife discuss every morning?

2. What brought Gusev away to the Far East?

3. What causes Pavel Ivanych in "Gusev" to be more irritable than usual?

4. What does Kovrin seem to hate the most?

5. Why is Varka happy to fetch the firewood?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the black monk make Andrei Kovrin feel good?

2. When a fellow soldier asks Gusev if he is not afraid to die, what is his response? How does his response reflect his character?

3. What causes Father Grigory to be so angry with Andreich?

4. How does real life affect Varka's sleep at night?

5. Compare Nikolai Stepanych's (A Boring Story) public name to the real person.

6. What stops Nevyrazimov from moving up in the world?

7. What does the Tartar think of Vassily and the Explainer? Who does he respect more and why?

8. How does Ieronym invite the narrator of "Easter Night" to ask about Ieronym's sorrows? How does he hint at his current sorrow?

9. Describe Maria's upbringing under Andreich. What is Andreich's role in her life?

10. What happens to officials who deal with people's suffering, such as judges, policemen, and doctors? How does this affect the innocent?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Dr. Andrei Yefimych (Ward No. 6) speaks about the difference between man and other animals. How does this character differ from Chekhov's character the Explainer in "In Exile". Imagine a dialogue between the two persons and how they are likely to interact. Why would each of them come to such polar conclusions about life?

Essay Topic 2

Although Andrei Kovrin from "The Black Monk" knows the black monk is a hallucination it makes him feel good. What is the driving force of these hallucinations? How does the black monk make Andrei feel better about life?

Essay Topic 3

Based on Chekhov's stories, write about what his philosophy might be.

(see the answer keys)

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