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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. Where does Khlestakov think the Governor wants to take him?

2. What newspaper does the Postmaster say some letters are more edifying than?

3. What is Ivan Kuzmich's position?

4. What does Anna say the Postmaster probably does as soon as Marya turns her back?

5. What institutions does Khlestakov say he wants to visit?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do the Chief of Police and the Mayor talk about?

2. What does the Mayor ask the Postmaster to do?

3. Why does Khlestakov refuse the Mayor's offer of better accommodation?

4. How does the Judge react when he overhears the Mayor telling the Postmaster to steam open letters?

5. Summarize the play.

6. How does the Mayor react when the Chief of Police tells him he is wearing a hat box on his head instead of his hat?

7. How does Dobchinsky describe the inspector?

8. What does Khlestakov brag to the women about?

9. What does the Inspector of Schools say in an aside about gambling?

10. What food does Mishka have available for Osip?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the values of the 1830s.

1) In what ways are the characters a product of their time?

2) How does the play express the changes Russian was going through at the time?

3) Does modern society share any values with 1830s Russia?

Essay Topic 2

What are the differences between a play and a film in terms of the following:

1) Language

2) Character

3) Structure

Essay Topic 3

THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR is translated from Russian into English. How much meaning can a play loses through a translation? What aspects of the play do you think would be the most difficult to express in English? How do you think a translator can overcome these difficulties?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 734 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample