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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. Who is Marya's cart driver in "The Schoolmistress"?

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

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

4. What does the principal tell Marya when she tries to discuss her grievances about the watchman?

5. How old is Hanov?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Describe Hanov.

4. What does Marya think of the school inspector?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay exploring the narrative arc in Chekhov ’s "The School Mistress." Using examples from the story, include the following elements of narrative arc: Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay analyzing Chekhov's commentary on aging in "The Schoolmistress" How is Marya and Hanov's aging discussed in the story? How does it affect the narrative? Use textual evidence to explain your analysis.

Essay Topic 3

Write a brief essay analyzing the Chekhov's choice to write "The Schoolmistress" in past tense. Do you agree with this choice? How would the story be different if written in a different tense?

(see the answer keys)

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