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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 Marya dream of at night?

2. What does Marya imagine she would do for Hanov if she was his sister or wife?

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

4. Why do people like Marya have little time to think of their work?

5. What does Marya think it would be terrible for her to do?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay examining the cart as a symbol in "The Schoolmistress." In what scenes does the cart seem most important? What is the context? Could the cart be a metaphor for something else? In what ways does the cart move the storyline and develop the narrative?

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.

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