These first nineteen questions are mostly comprehension and analysis based questions. I will follow up with more passage and literary technique based questions as soon as my group finishes the last of our novel. We are scheduled to have it done by the end of this week. Until then, I will update and add more questions as they come along. I also would like to thank the several other resources I used in helping me create these questions.
1. Based on the author’s description and elaboration of Raskolnikov’s
thoughts and Alyona Ivanovna death, which word best describes Raskolnikov’s why
killed Alyona Ivanovna?
a)
Entitlement
b)
Anger
c)
Apathy
d)
Resentment
e)
Somnolence
2. With what instrument does Raskolnikov commit the murders?
a) A knife
b) Poison
c) A gun
d) An axe
e) A sword
3. Which word best describes the symbolism of the axe in the
murder of Alyona Ivanovna and her sister?
a) Resentment
b) Apathy
c) Entitlement
d) Both A and C
e) None of the
above
4. Early in the novel, how does Raskolnikov describe himself?
a) As a student
b) As a teacher
c) As a laborer
d) As a pilgrim
e) All of the
above
5. Raskolnikov has a horrifying dream in which an animal is
brutally beaten to death by its owner with the assistance of a crowd. What does
this dream represent?
a) Guilt
b) Shame
c) Terror
d) Both A and B
e) All of the above
6) Raskolnikov initially believes that he is among a
special class of people who are superior to others and for whom any crime, even
murder, is acceptable if it assists them in reaching an ultimate goal. At which
point does Raskolnikov feel this sense of superiority?
a) Prior to the murder
b) During the murder
c) Immediately after the murder
d) Both B and C
e) Both A and B
7) With whom does Raskolnikov say he identifies?
a) Napoleon
b) Alexander the Great
c) Genghis Khan
d) Pontius Pilate
e) None of the above
8) When Raskolnikov receives his mother’s letter about
his sister’s impending marriage, Raskolnikov
a) Rejoices that she is engaged
b) Fears she is in a dangerous
marriage
c) Suspects she does it to save him
from
poverty
d) Worries that his mother will be
casted
out by the fiancé
e) Regrets that he has not yet met
her
fiancé
9) Raskolnikov commits murder for several reason
except
a) He is deeply frustrated by how
impoverished he is
b) He plans to use the stolen goods
to
support his mother
c) He believes he’s being led
towards
murder by a series of coincidences
d) He has formulated a theory that
some men have a right to kill
e) He wants to prove himself
capable
of taking decisive action
10) In their investigation, the police first suspect
_________ of the murder; they later believe the false confession of
___________.
a) The painters; a pawner
b) Raskolnikov; the painter
c) The painters; Raskolnikov
d) Men visiting the pawnbroker; the
painter
e) Raskolnikov; a pawner
The following
five questions will be in regards to the passage below.
“Raskolnikov himself is in the scene himself, and his
speech is not presented normally, attributed to his irritability. There are
ellipses quite often between many of the words he says. Certainly, this is an
indication of some type of inability to express thought clearly, whether
Raskolnikov is unable to think clearly at this time, or he is hesitant to say
them, or maybe is struggling to find a way to communicate the explicit message
in the most subtle manner possible. For example, Raskolnikov’s dialogue has two
ellipses in the following sentence: “Perhaps . . . I will come . . . if I can”
(Dostoevsky 265). It really does not seem necessary to take those pauses.
Nevertheless, no matter the real reason for such speech, it does hint at
Raskolnikov’s unnatural mental state, and from information about Raskolnikov
derived from other parts of the book, it would be accurate to conclude that he
is bothered. Another aspect of the dialogue besides the overuse of ellipses in
Raskolnikov’s speech is the abruptness of the manner in which he speaks as
well. He says a few things to his dear friend Razumihkin, and ends with a
simple “Good-bye!” (265). Raskolnikov attempts to cut this line simply in this
simplified, undignified manner. As an extension of his abrupt speech, his
actions are likewise. By singling a certain line out by creating it as an
entire paragraph, the narration gives special emphasis to the fact that after
declaring his goodbye, Raskolnikov neglects to even shake his friend’s hand.
While the omittance of these traditional courtesies may contribute to
Raskolnikov’s complicated character, the importance placed on this raises the
possibility that Raskolnikov may have intentionally not offered his hand, as
the narration’s style is assumed to reflect Raskolnikov. Thus, it can be
further seen the extent of Raskolnikov’s attitude towards life.
After Razumihkin has made the realization of the dark
secret that Raskolnikov was the murderer, their actual parting is hasty as
well, emphasized once again to create Raskolnikov’s character. Raskolnikov
repeats one last time “Go back, go to them [Raskolnikov’s family]” (265), after
which he “turned away and hastily left the house” (265). It is emphasized that
Raskolnikov forced the situation to be this way, to be concluded without rites.
Once again, this speaks to his character, what he desires as far as isolation
goes.”
11) Why does Razumihkin grow “as pale as a corpse”?
a) He realizes that Raskolnikov
hates his
family
b) He realizes that Raskolnikov is
the
murderer
c) He realizes that Raskolnikov is
a
cheater
d) He realizes that Raskolnikov is
in love
with his own sister
e) None of the above
12) What is the purpose of the many ellipses in
Raskolnikov’s speech?
a) It emphasizes that Raskolnikov
is in an
irritable state of mind
b) Because of his recent accident,
Raskolnikov experiences
difficulties in
Speech
c) Raskolnikov is intoxicated, and
thus is
speaking incoherently
d) It emphasizes that the narrator
holds
little respect for Raskolnikov
e) It emphasizes the daunting
appearance
for Razumihkin
13) What is meant by, “In a word, from that evening
Razumihkin became a son and a brother to them?”
a) Razumihkin is able to assume a
familiar
role in Raskolnikov’s family that
wasn’t
being satisfied by the latter
b) Razumihkin had Raskolnikov
excommunicated from the family on
behalf of the mother
c) Raskolnikov has fallen deathly
ill and
asks that his friend, Razumihkin,
has a
watchful eye over his mother and
sister
d) Raskolnikov, wracked with guilt
and
paranoia, abandons his family and
leaves
Razumihkin with the obligation of
taking care of his family
e) None of the above
14) What does Razumihkin realize in the corridor?
I. Raskolnikov has become
“extraordinary”
II. Raskolnikov is the murderer
III. Raskolnikov needs to go
correct his
wrongdoing, thus leaving his family
a) I
b) I and II
c) II and III
d) I and III
e) None of the above
15) Raskolnikov insists that
Razumihkin not “leave them”. What does them
refer to?
a) Raskolnikov’s pets
b) Raskolnikov’s brothers
c) Raskolnikov’s sister and mother
d) Raskolnikov’s loyal servants
e) Raskolnikov himself
16) When comparing the method of murder of Alyona
Ivanovna and her sister, there is a clear discrepancy in the murders
themselves. Which words best describes the discrepancy in feelings that were
exhibited in the murder?
a) Loathing; Panicked
b) Determined; Indifferent
c) Calculating; Surprised
d) Angered; Distressed
e) None of the above
17) Which of the following words best describes the
symbolism of the axe in regards to Raskolnikov’s personality?
a) Brutality
b) Apathetic
c) Loathsome
d) Desperation
e) Both C and D
18) Fyodor Dostoevsky structured Crime and
Punishment in a way that allows his protagonist, Raskolnikov, to
intermittently and almost sporadically have internal thoughts that interrupt or
distract the reader from Raskolnikov’s surroundings. Which word best describes
this literary technique?
a) Stream of Consciousness
b) Anaphora
c) Simile
d) Shift
e) All of the above
19) If Raskolnikov were to be divided and then defined
in its mother language, “raskol” being
the first part and “nikov” as the
second part, the name would mean split nickname. Which literary term best
describes the definition of the name?
a) Anaphora
b) Metaphor
c) Voice
d) Allusion
e) Both C and D
