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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. Which term describes the narrative tone when Golyadkin encounters his double in the office?

2. Where does Golyadkin Junior end up sitting?

3. Which of these things does Golyadkin NOT shop for?

4. What does Golyadkin insist to Andrey Filippovich when he sees him at Olsufy Ivanovich’s house?

5. Where does Golyadkin find Petrushka when he looks for him?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the scene in Krestyan Ivanovich’s office tell the reader about Golyadkin’s personality?

2. What does the narrator’s rhetoric have to do with Golyadkin’s tale in particular?

3. Describe Golyadkin’s arrival at Olsufy Ivanovich’s house.

4. What blunders does Golyadkin make when he enters Krestyan Ivanovich’s office?

5. What is the meaning and significance of Golyadkin’s statement that “it’s not me at all”?

6. What is Golyadkin’s sense as he chases the stranger?

7. Describe Golyadkin’s entrance into Olsufy Ivanovich’s banquet.

8. Describe the scene of Golyadkin’s waking after chasing Golyadkin Junior.

9. Describe Golyadkin’s interaction with Andrey Filippovich after his interaction with Gerasimych.

10. Describe Golyadkin’s departure from the banquet.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Double is subtitled “A Petersburg Tale”: What makes it particular to St. Petersburg? What can you tell about Petersburg society, from Dostoevsky’ account of Golyadkin’s life and the appearance of his double?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the process of reading The Double. What themes does Dostoevsky weave through the text? What clues does he drop throughout?

Essay Topic 3

Who is the audience for The Double? What is the ideal reader for The Double likely to think about the book’s main topics? How does this book try to affect the reader? What is it trying to teach him or her, or get him or her to do?

(see the answer keys)

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