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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 happens a few months after Fyodor goes for reintegration?

2. At what is hinted in this chapter about Fyodor?

3. What was the nickname of Nicholas II at the time the narrator is in school?

4. Who does the narrator curse at a dinner party?

5. What characteristic about women does the narrator recall in his own life?

Short Essay Questions

1. What story captures the narrator's imagination concerning Tsar Nicholas II?

2. Why does the narrator break into his grandmother's Siberian Suitcase?

3. What impresses the narrator about his maternal grandfather?

4. About what do others continue to speculate?

5. What is the other childhood memories of Charlotte's that has left an impact on the narrator?

6. What does the narrator say his grandmother does when the narrator looks at the photo of the scruffy woman?

7. What happens each time Albertine and Charlotte return to Russia from France?

8. What is Charlotte's relationship to Gavrilych?

9. What memories of women does the narrator think about?

10. What does Charlotte do during the war and how does she react to her work?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as "Dreams of My Russian Summers" help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading "Dreams of My Russian Summers"? Why or why not.

3. Choose one specific incident in "Dreams of My Russian Summers" to discuss and compare one of the characters' response to how you think you would respond.

Essay Topic 2

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of "Dreams of My Russian Summers" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why "Dreams of My Russian Summers" is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. Who is/are the protagonists of the story and why?

2. Who is/are the antagonists of the story and why?

3. Which 3 secondary characters have the greatest impact on the plot?

4. Are any of the characters dispensable and which ones? Why or why not?

5. Do you think this is a character-driven plot or an action-driven plot? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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