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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 Anna Pavlovna's guest of honor at her soiree in Part 5?

2. Natasha enjoys going into her mother's room at bedtime to talk with her. What do they talk about?

3. Natasha goes into the conservatory to hide when her family is first introduced. What is she waiting for?

4. Vera and Berg hold their first party. Who comes?

5. Nichols has returned to his regiment. How does the regiment respond to his arrival and how does he react?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Nicholas so keen on sighting the wolf before anyone else?

2. What happens with Andrew at the war council and what leads up to it?

3. What does Pierre's steward think when Pierre goes to his estates and recommends reforms?

4. What strange aspect do readers see in Dolokhov in the chapters following the duel?

5. How do Andrew and his family react to Pierre's surprise visit to Bogucharovo?

6. What happens between Bazdeev and Pierre at the post station?

7. Prince Vasili is described in the beginning at Anna Pavlovna's soiree. What is Prince Vasili's most notable characteristic at this point in the story.

8. How does Pierre end up engaged to Helene?

9. What happens when Boris frequently visits the Rostovs and Natasha in particular?

10. What leads Pierre to challenge Dolokhov to a duel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tolstoy frequently repeats descriptions of people and of their appearance and mannerisms. What is the effect of this on the reader? Is it important and if so why? Please use examples.

Essay Topic 2

Are Tolstoy's characters "black" and "white"? Choose two of the "worst" and two of the "best" and use them to argue whether he looks at them in such a way. For example, how does he describe Helene, Anatole, Dolokhov, Mary, Sonya, or Pierre? Despite their actions, does he see them as acting with malice aforethought, or are their actions motivated by good intentions? You may choose other characters in addition to or instead of the above.

Essay Topic 3

Explore Sonya's character. Is she a generous person or is she selfish? How does Tolstoy change the reader's attitude about her?

(see the answer keys)

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