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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 Anisim say that astonishes Varvara, his mother?

2. According to the artist in "The House with the Mezzanine", what is the only thing worth living for?

3. What is the banging that Korolev keeps hearing?

4. What do Lyzhin and Starchenko wish for as they stand next to the dead body?

5. How does Olga support the ones she loves?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is going through Anisim's head as he is getting married? What might this foreshadow in his life?

2. From "The Darling", describe Olga's personality type.

3. What helps Olga keep her youth and what ages her so much?

4. How does the figurative language that describes Aksinya at the wedding reception show her true character?

5. In "At Christmastime", Vasilisa writes a letter to her daughter after four years of not seeing her. Why does Vasilisa take such care in her choice of words?

6. Dr. Starchenko from "On Official Business" mentions old folks disliking this "nervous age." What might this "nervous age" refer to?

7. In "On Official Business", why does the coroner believe the city is the center of Russia? What does he think of the village and countryside?

8. According to Ivan Ivanych, what is the balance of sadness and happiness in the world?

9. What is the Tsybukins' reaction to Nikifor's death?

10. In "The Lady with the Little Dog", how does Dmitri Dmitrich Gurov view women?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does familiarity help those in grieving moments? For example, the woman who might have reminded Ieronym of Nikolai (Easter Night), Vanka (Vanka) writing to his grandfather, or Varka (Sleepy Night) dreaming of her late parents. Why is familiarity consoling? Feel free to use other examples as well.

Essay Topic 2

Everyone in Chekhov's stories is looking for some form of happiness or contentment. For each it is something different. Write an essay about what makes people happy and how much are they willing to give up to reach that happiness? How does one promote happiness in their lives and how do some inhibit their search for happiness?

Essay Topic 3

From "A Boring Story", write an essay about male/male and female/female relationships. Base answers on Stepanych and Mr. Gnekker's relationship for male/male and Varya and Liza's relationship with Katya for female/female. Why is it difficult for Stepanych to like Mr. Gnekker and why is it difficult for Liza and Varya to like Katya and vice versa?

(see the answer keys)

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