There will be class on Wednesday, February 18th at 12 noon in 503.
Some more questions and thoughts for your consideration:
1. Part 4, Chapter 1: Do you believe that Svidrigaylov is an extraordinary man according to the "uber mench" theory? Why or why not?
2. Part 4, Chapter 2: What contrasts do you see between Dounia and Luzhin? Is Luzhin a reliable witness? What conclusions can you draw about the character of both Dounia and Luzhin?
3. According to Raskolnikov's theory an extraordinary man is isolated from society. At the end of the dinner with his mother, sister, Luzhin and Razumkhin, Raskolnikov decides to separate himself from his family - to isolate himself. Why does he do this? What other person in the story is isolated?
4. Part 4, Chapter 3: As Raskolnikov is leaving after the dinner, he stops and stares intently into Razumikhin's eyes. What important information is passed, unspoken, between Raskolnikov and Razumikhin? What important decision does Razumikhin make at that moment?
4. Part 4, Chapter 4: What biblical story occurs - for the second time in the book - in the scene between Sonia and Raskolnikov? What is the significance of this story?
5. There are three instances of irony in the scene between Raskolnikov and Sonia. What are they? Name the type of irony each one is.
6. Part 4, Chapter 5: What are the clever ruses (mind trips) Porfiry uses to distract and confuse Raskolnikov?
7. Razumikhin describes his friend, Raskolnikov, as having two distinct personalities, one dark and depressed, the other proud and confidant. Dostoevsky gives his character the name Raskolnikov which has as its root raskol which means "split" in Russian. Raskolnikov's name accurately reflects the split in his psyche between his compassion and his intellect. Published in 1866, CRIME AND PUNISHMENT predates Freud's theory of split personality and dissociative personality disorders. (Sigmund Freud; Austrian; founder of modern psychoanalysis, 1856 - 1939.) A modern therapist might diagnose Raskolnikov as having a dissociative personality disorder which is an emotional disorder in which an individual who has experienced some severe trauma will disconnect memories, thoughts and emotions from that painful experience.
Some more questions and thoughts for your consideration:
1. Part 4, Chapter 1: Do you believe that Svidrigaylov is an extraordinary man according to the "uber mench" theory? Why or why not?
2. Part 4, Chapter 2: What contrasts do you see between Dounia and Luzhin? Is Luzhin a reliable witness? What conclusions can you draw about the character of both Dounia and Luzhin?
3. According to Raskolnikov's theory an extraordinary man is isolated from society. At the end of the dinner with his mother, sister, Luzhin and Razumkhin, Raskolnikov decides to separate himself from his family - to isolate himself. Why does he do this? What other person in the story is isolated?
4. Part 4, Chapter 3: As Raskolnikov is leaving after the dinner, he stops and stares intently into Razumikhin's eyes. What important information is passed, unspoken, between Raskolnikov and Razumikhin? What important decision does Razumikhin make at that moment?
4. Part 4, Chapter 4: What biblical story occurs - for the second time in the book - in the scene between Sonia and Raskolnikov? What is the significance of this story?
5. There are three instances of irony in the scene between Raskolnikov and Sonia. What are they? Name the type of irony each one is.
6. Part 4, Chapter 5: What are the clever ruses (mind trips) Porfiry uses to distract and confuse Raskolnikov?
7. Razumikhin describes his friend, Raskolnikov, as having two distinct personalities, one dark and depressed, the other proud and confidant. Dostoevsky gives his character the name Raskolnikov which has as its root raskol which means "split" in Russian. Raskolnikov's name accurately reflects the split in his psyche between his compassion and his intellect. Published in 1866, CRIME AND PUNISHMENT predates Freud's theory of split personality and dissociative personality disorders. (Sigmund Freud; Austrian; founder of modern psychoanalysis, 1856 - 1939.) A modern therapist might diagnose Raskolnikov as having a dissociative personality disorder which is an emotional disorder in which an individual who has experienced some severe trauma will disconnect memories, thoughts and emotions from that painful experience.
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