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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 happened when the watchman hit the schoolboys?

2. What season has not fully ended in "The Schoolmistress"?

3. How many horses does Hanov have for his cart?

4. What is the Marya's last name?

5. What time of day does "The Schoolmistress" take place?

Short Essay Questions

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

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 Hanov as their cart follows his?

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

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

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

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

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

10. What does Marya think of the school inspector?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay about the author of “The Schoolmistress.” Who is he? What else has he written? How is “The Schoolmistress” similar or different from his previous works?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay describing the imagery used in “The Schoolmistress.” Describe examples of imagery in the text and identify possible meanings.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay analyzing the symbolic significance the character’s economic status has on the story. Why is this important and how does it develop the themes of the story? What would be different if Marya were wealthy or if Hanov were not? Use examples from the text to support your viewpoint.

(see the answer keys)

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