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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 are Shatov's political views?

2. What do we learn from Stavrogin's confrontation with Shatov?

3. How does Nicholas Stavrogin react to his demotion?

4. Who will be speaking at Mrs. Lembke's fête?

5. Why did Nicholas initially take an interest in Captain Lebyatkin?

Short Essay Questions

1. What leads up to Nicholas' confession that he is married to Mary?

2. How are Stavrogin and Lisa getting along the morning after the night they spent together?

3. What kind of uprising is Peter planning?

4. What does Karmazinov think about Russia?

5. What story does Stepan, in his fever, think is representative of contemporary Russia?

6. What happens when Peter mentions that Stepan believes that Dasha has fallen into disrepute in Switzerland?

7. What is Julia Lembke's relationship with the youth of her town?

8. How does Stavrogin try to avoid the duel with Gaganov?

9. Describe Nicholas Stavrogin's status in Russian society.

10. What does Peter ask his father after he (Peter) has recounted the story of Stavrogin and Miss Lebyatkin?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How is authority portrayed in The Possessed? What kinds of authority are there, and what are the limits of their power? Are any new roles with new authorities brought into being through the action of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Is Shatov's wife's pregnancy a source of real hope in The Possessed, or is the hope undermined by her infidelity and Shatov's murder? Does the childbirth redeem anyone in the book?

Essay Topic 3

What is the economy of The Possessed? Where does money come from, and does money come from any new places or reside in any new places as a result of the action of the novel?

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This section contains 870 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample