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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 is Stepan Verkhovensky agitated about at the beginning of Chapter 3?

2. How does Nicholas Stavrogin react to his demotion?

3. Why does Stavrogin plan to duel Gaganov?

4. What problem might Stavrogin have with his plan?

5. Who is Shatov?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Peter tell us about why Nicholas Stavrogin treated Miss Lebyatkin the way he did?

2. What happens when Peter mentions that Stepan believes that Dasha has fallen into disrepute in Switzerland?

3. Who dies as a result of Shatov's murder? Who is arrested?

4. How does Stepan Verhovensky feel about Verkhovensky's marriage to Dasha?

5. Where was Shatov's wife, Mary, before she returned to him, and what condition is she in when she returns?

6. How are Stavrogin and Lisa getting along the morning after the night they spent together?

7. What does Mrs. Stavrogin suggest as a result of her sense that she is getting older?

8. What is the purpose of the gathering at Mr. Virginsky's house?

9. What is Kirilov's view of life, and how does Peter respond to it?

10. What does Mrs. Stavrogin find out about Nicholas' relationship with Mss Lebyatikin?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Peter Verkhovensky exploits the blindness, weakness and gullibility of many characters as he works his wiles. Does the action of the book change any of those characters so that they are immune from Peter's machinations? Asked another way--is The Possessed a moral book that teaches a lesson, or a cynical book that teaches that there are no lessons, only different actors with different motivations?

Essay Topic 2

What is the moral of The Possessed? Is conversion to Christianity a real solution to the problems the book presents? Is there a difference between the social problems the book presents us with and the problems of individual morality that the characters face?

Essay Topic 3

How are women depicted in The Possessed? Are they mere symbols of sexual attributes like desirability and innocence and seduction, or are they individuals with complex feelings and thoughts? How are they distinguished from the male characters, or are they treated as similarly-independent, self-reliant souls?

(see the answer keys)

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