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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 was the last time Luzhin had been in church before his wedding?

2. What item does Luzhin find in the lining of his pocket?

3. What two events become mixed up in Luzhin's perception?

4. What does Luzhin do when he gets into the cab with his new wife after the wedding reception?

5. What excuse does Mrs. Luzhin leave in a message for Valentinov to explain that Luzhin will not visit him?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Luzhin's fiancee feel about their new apartment as she furnishes it?

2. What does Luzhin think when the lights come on again after Ivan has knocked over the lamp?

3. What does Valentinov want Luzhin to do for him?

4. Why does Mrs. Luzhin find it difficult to locate her husband at the ball?

5. What memory of his father does Luzhin recall when he stops to buy fruit?

6. What letter does Luzhin send to a stranger?

7. How does Luzhin's fiancee's mother react to the idea that Luzhin is drunk?

8. How does Luzhin feel at his wedding reception?

9. Why doesn't Luzhin's fiancee ask him about his tuxedo?

10. How does Luzhin read?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss art and reflections of reality in the novel.

1) How is Luzhin's father's writing a reflection of reality? How is it a projection of his father's desires, a world of wish fulfillment? How does his writing compare to reality?

2) How do Luzhin's drawings reflect reality, and how do they reflect his perception of reality?

3) How is Luzhin's chess playing an art, and how is it not an art? How does it relate and compare to music? How does it reflect reality? How does it show Luzhin's perception of reality and his own wish fulfillment?

Essay Topic 2

Luzhin is only known by his family name throughout most of the novel, and other major characters are never named at all. Discuss the use of names in the novel.

1) Why is Luzhin only known by his family name throughout the novel? Why is his personal name revealed at the end of the novel?

2) Why are the characters closest to Luzhin, like his wife, never named?

3) Why are characters who are relatively unimportant, like guests at a party or people the Luzhins run into on the street, given names? What does this show about the author's perspective?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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