CRIME and PUNISHMENT
Part 6; Chapter 6

1. Describe Svidrigaylov's evening to the point where he visits Sonia.

2. Why do you think Kapernaumov's children flee from Svidrigaylov in "unaccountable terror".

3. Why does he visit Sonya?

4. Who does Svidrigaylov visit next and why?

5. What does the change in weather suggest in terms of the plot, the characters and the mood of the book?

6. What do you think Svidrigaylov is contemplating?

7. There are a great many references to water in this scene - Svidrigaylov's distaste of water, the river, the rain - what is the significance of this?

8. Despite Svidrigaylov's lonely melancholy, he laughs at strange moments. What insight into Svidrigaylov's soul does the laughter provide?

9. When Svidrigaylov crawls into bed he is plagued with symptoms which mirror the same symptoms as Raskolnikov had earlier. What are the symptoms and what do they symbolize?

10. Is there a mouse in Svidrigaylov's bed?

11. What first strange dream or nightmare does Svidrigaylov have? What does it represent? The girl is said to have a smile on her face. Describe the smile. What does that smile symbolize?

12. What did Svidrigaylov wish to have from Dounia? What did Dounia represent to Svidrigaylov? Now that she rejected him, what must he face?

13. Describe the second dream. What does the five year old child represent? Were you surprised when you realized he was still dreaming?

14. What does the bush with its millions of rivulets represent to Svidrigaylov?

15. Why does Svidrigaylov say he is going to America?

16. Why is it ironic that "Achilles" is a witness to Svidrigaylov's final act?

17. What does Svidrigaylov do at the end of the scene?

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