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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. Andrew has been taken prisoner by the French. What do they do with him?

2. What engrosses Pierre after the duel?

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

4. Prince Vasili in the beginning of Part 3 is described as...

5. What does Pierre reflect upon after the duel with Dolokhov?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the obvious differences between Prince Andrew and Pierre that is illustrated at the start of the story?

2. Why does Kutuzov not push his troops into combat?

3. Dolokhov was last seen at Austerlitz talking back to a superior officer. What has happened since that time?

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

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

6. What goes through Andrew's mind during the New Years Eve ball?

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

8. How does Pierre follow up with his attempts at self-purification and how does he view his fellow Masons?

9. How is Andrew like his father?

10. What does Andrew think about after he is wounded?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Sonya and Mary: Nicholas is drawn to them both. Why? Explore the differences between the two, how they change through the book and how Nicholas' viewpoint changes and why.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Tolstoy's use of minor characters as foils. How is their presence important? List some. What do they illuminate in the more important characters? How do we know they are foils? Are they catalysts in the change or do they merely act to illustrate the change? To write this essay, choose one of the three main characters and those involved mostly with that character and discuss this.

Essay Topic 3

Examine Dolokhov's character. Is he a villain or heroic? Why/why not? Use examples through out the story to defend your point.

(see the answer keys)

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