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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. With whom does Hanov live?

2. Which worker is said to have received his position through influence?

3. Where does Marya feel Hanov should move to rather than live in such a "God-forsaken, dreary place" (6)?

4. Where does Marya's driver say he heard of the recent murder in Moscow?

5. Which worker at Marya's school has she tried to have dismissed for two years?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Marya think of Hanov as their cart follows his?

2. Describe Hanov.

3. What do readers learn of Marya's past at the start of "The Schoolmistress"?

4. Which of Marya's coworkers does she try to get dismissed and what comes of it?

5. What does Marya think of on the cart at the start of "The Schoolmistress"?

6. What did Hanov do at Marya's school the year before the story takes place?

7. What is the only thing Marya keeps from her past?

8. What does Marya think of the school inspector?

9. What does Marya Vassilyevna do for work? How long has she had the occupation? Where is she going at the start of "The Schoolmistress"?

10. What news from Moscow does Semyon tell Marya he heard at Ivan Ionov's tavern?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay exploring the theme of corruption and mistrust in the story “The Schoolmistress.” Which characters are mistrusted? Why? What characters are thought to be corrupt? Which characters are mistreated and by whom?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay analyzing Marya’s inner thoughts while riding in the cart. What does she think about? Why? What does this say about Marya and her life?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay examining the ending of “The Schoolmistress.” How did the ending fit into the storyline? Do you think the ending was effective? What theme might the ending represent? What might the author have done differently?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 621 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample