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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 does Golyadkin decide the morning after the banquet?

2. How is Golyadkin used to salving his conscience?

3. How is Golyadkin Junior’s appearance described when he enters the office?

4. How much does Golyadkin spend during his shopping trip?

5. What events are omitted between the end of Chapter 5 and the beginning of Chapter 6?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Golyadkin’s purpose in getting into Olsufy Ivanovich’s banquet?

2. Describe Golyadkin’s first encounter with his double.

3. Describe Golyadkin’s relationship with Petrushka.

4. Describe the chase the stranger leads Golyadkin on.

5. Describe Golyadkin’s feelings on leaving Olsufy Ivanovich’s house.

6. What kinds of goods does Golyadkin go shopping for at Nevsky Prospekt?

7. Describe Golyadkin’s departure from the banquet.

8. Describe Golyadkin’s arrival at Olsufy Ivanovich’s house.

9. What confession does Golyadkin make to Krestyan Ivanovich?

10. What does the scene in Krestyan Ivanovich’s office tell the reader about Golyadkin’s personality?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Double is subtitled “A Petersburg Tale”: What makes it particular to St. Petersburg? What can you tell about Petersburg society, from Dostoevsky’ account of Golyadkin’s life and the appearance of his double?

Essay Topic 2

What is the essence of The Double? If you could sum up the insights it brings the reader to, what is the story ultimately about, or rather, what does the story get the reader to see?

Essay Topic 3

Evaluate your own reading of The Double—did you resist it, or were you compelled by the story? What does your reading tell you about yourself and your interests? Use specific examples from the book to describe yourself as a reader.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 856 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample