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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. When Luzhin comes back to his family's house, where in the house does he hide?

2. Why have Luzhin's parents put off telling him that they've enrolled him in a school?

3. During the beginning of the chess game with Turati, who seems to be winning?

4. Who sketches Luzhin and Turati at the chess tournament in Berlin?

5. Who does Luzhin play chess with at his aunt's house?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Luzhin behave on walks with his future wife and her mother?

2. Before playing with his son, how does Luzhin's father consider his own chess abilities?

3. What does Luzhin resent while he is working on a puzzle?

4. What ability does Luzhin compare his ability to read chess notation with?

5. How does Luzhin's father compare his son to fictional characters?

6. How does Luzhin react to being caught cutting school?

7. How does Luzhin feel about playing chess blind?

8. How does Luzhin's father die?

9. What problem does Luzhin have getting to his game with his final rival?

10. How does Luzhin respond to his fiancee's parents' home?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss fulfillment in the novel.

1) What motivates characters to pursue the activities they pursue? What motivates Luzhin? What motivates his wife?

2) Where do characters in the novel find fulfillment? Are any of the characters successful in feeling fulfilled?

3) What prevents fulfillment? How do characters perceive others' desires for or quests for fulfillment? How do characters conflict over what makes them fill fulfilled?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss social norms and expectations in the novel.

1) How does Luzhin fit into society, and how do the norms and expectations of society affect him?

2) How are the normal, everyday tasks that people undertake different for Luzhin? How does this affect his ability to fit into society?

3) How do Luzhin's in-laws represent social norms and expectations, and how do they perceive Luzhin?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss identity and personhood in the novel.

1) Luzhin's identity is wrapped up in chess. Why and how?

2) Does Luzhin fit the definition of a person, as other characters perceive it? How does Luzhin not fit into others' ideas of a "person"?

3) What gives Luzhin identity besides chess playing? What elements add to his identity?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 773 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample