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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 does Hanov call Semyon when they discuss the road conditions?

2. What does the driver tell Marya periodically when the cart is not riding very smoothly due to road or weather conditions?

3. What did Marya collect money from her students to pay for?

4. What does Marya smell on Hanov as he nears the cart?

5. The story describe Marya's life as aging her, "making her ugly, angular, and awkward, as though she were made of" (8) what?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Marya feel about her role as schoolmistress?

2. Describe what Marya would do in her class on days the Zemstvo or school guardian were present?

3. Where do Marya and Semyon go when they stop at Nishneye Gorodistche and how is it described before they enter?

4. What does Marya think about when she smells alcohol on Hanov as they ride their carts?

5. What are three of the obstacles Semyon encounters on their journey despite trying to find the "driest and shortest way" (9)?

6. What does Marya collect money from her students to pay for?

7. What happens when Semyon hears a man swearing at the tavern?

8. What do Hanov and Semyon discuss after riding through a very wet road?

9. How is the inside of the tavern in Nizhneye Gorodistche described?

10. How is Marya's school described on cold, winter mornings?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay analyzing Chekhov's language style and word choice in "The Schoolmistress." What are some words that stand out to you and why? What words are repeated? What words are most impactful? Explain your answers.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 641 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample