CRIME AND PUNISHMENT Questions
Part 1
(Chapter 1)
1. Describe the setting: the time of year, the weather, the emotional temperature of the first chapter.
2. Describe the young man. What is he seemingly preoccupied about?
3. Describe the old woman. What is her profession? What color predominates in the scene?
4. What does the young man want the old woman to do? How does she insult the young man?
(Chapter 2)
1. Where does the young man go after the transaction? Describe the environment and the inhabitants or denizens of this establishment.
2. What do you think the young man is contemplating?
3. Who does he meet in this environment? Describe this person. What is his uncontrollable vice?
4. How does this vice affect his family, particularly his daughter Sonia?
5. Who is Katerina? Describe her past.
6. What did Katerina's rage force Sonia to do?
7. To what heartbreaking allusion or symbol do the thirty pieces of silver that Sonia gives to Katerina refer?
8. What new theory is now popular in England?
(Chapter 3)
1. Describe Raskolnikov’s bedroom. What color predominates? What does this color symbolize?
2. According to the letter from Raskolnikov’s mother, Pulkheria Raskolnikova, what did Marfa do when she discovered the letter from Dounia to her husband, Svidrigalov
3. Who is Luzhin and why did he choose a young woman like Dounia to marry?
4. Why is Dounia marrying him?
5. How are the circumstances of Dounia and Sonia similar?
5. Who was Svidrigaylov? What was his relationship with Dounia?
6. What scandal erupted concerning Svidrigaylov, his wife Marfa, and Dounia?
7. How was the scandal resolved?
8. What is the happiest and most important news the mother has to relay to Raskolnikov?
(Chapter 4)
1. What angers Raskolnikov the most about Luzhin?
2. What does he compare Dounia’s marriage of necessity to?
3. What comment is Dostoevsky making about the plight of women in the scene with the very young girl and her pursuer?
4. How does the scene with the young drunken girl, Raskolnikov, the cop and the dandy show the failure of the Utilitarian Theory?
5. What does Raskolnikov do and what emotion does he have almost immediately after? How does this show the failure in Raskolnikov’s thinking?
6. Describe Razumikhin.
(Chapter 5)
1. Describe Raskolnikov’s nightmare.
2. What does the mare represent?
3. Raskolnikov says that he will see Razumikhin after some event; what event do you think he is referring to?
4. Name at least two omens that Raskolnikov interprets the Universe has given its permission for him to act on an opportunity involving a rich old woman.
(Chapter 6)
1. What did Raskolnikov overhear in a tavern six weeks earlier that he now uses to justify whatever it is he is plotting?
2. Why does Raskolnikov view this event as significant?
3. How does the student’s beliefs illustrate Jeremy Bentham’s “Utilitarian Theory”.
4. What are the other portents and omens Raskolnikov sees as the Universe giving him permission to do this deed?
5. According to Raskolnikov, what happens to ordinary men, non ubermensches, after they commit crimes?
5. Who was Svidrigaylov? What was his relationship with Dounia?
6. What scandal erupted concerning Svidrigaylov, his wife Marfa, and Dounia?
7. How was the scandal resolved?
8. What is the happiest and most important news the mother has to relay to Raskolnikov?
(Chapter 4)
1. What angers Raskolnikov the most about Luzhin?
2. What does he compare Dounia’s marriage of necessity to?
3. What comment is Dostoevsky making about the plight of women in the scene with the very young girl and her pursuer?
4. How does the scene with the young drunken girl, Raskolnikov, the cop and the dandy show the failure of the Utilitarian Theory?
5. What does Raskolnikov do and what emotion does he have almost immediately after? How does this show the failure in Raskolnikov’s thinking?
6. Describe Razumikhin.
(Chapter 5)
1. Describe Raskolnikov’s nightmare.
2. What does the mare represent?
3. Raskolnikov says that he will see Razumikhin after some event; what event do you think he is referring to?
4. Name at least two omens that Raskolnikov interprets the Universe has given its permission for him to act on an opportunity involving a rich old woman.
(Chapter 6)
1. What did Raskolnikov overhear in a tavern six weeks earlier that he now uses to justify whatever it is he is plotting?
2. Why does Raskolnikov view this event as significant?
3. How does the student’s beliefs illustrate Jeremy Bentham’s “Utilitarian Theory”.
4. What are the other portents and omens Raskolnikov sees as the Universe giving him permission to do this deed?
5. According to Raskolnikov, what happens to ordinary men, non ubermensches, after they commit crimes?
6. Describe the physical state Raskolnikov falls into after he has made his decision regarding the pawnbroker, Alena Ivanovna.
(Chapter 7)
(Chapter 7)
1. Who does Raskolnikov see on the second floor of the pawnbroker's apartment building? What are they doing?
2. Describe the mood of the scene when Raskolnikov knocks on the door of the pawnbroker. What selection of details adds to the suspense of the scene?
3. What does Raskolnikov do once he gains entry into Alyona Ivanovna's flat?
4. Who unexpectedly shows up after the event?
5. What do we know about Alyona's sister? Describe her.
6. What makes the second event in the apartment so disturbing?
7. After the murders, Raskolnikov spends long moments cleaning blood from the ax. What religious/symbolic ritual does this echo? Is this behavior in keeping with an ubermensche? Does this prove or disprove Raskolnikov's theory about why men fail in their crimes?
8. What other unexpected event occurs which adds almost unbearable suspense to the scene? How does it echo or mirror Raskolnikov's earlier scene with Alyona Ivanovna?
Part 2, Chapter 1:
1. Raskolnikov wakes up the next morning realizing that he forgot to do something when he came home the night before - something that could prove to be extremely dangerous to his safety. What is it?
2. What message does Nastasya give him this morning?
3. Why does he receive a summons? Where is he suppose to report?
4. Who are Nikodim Fomich, and Ilya Petrovich? What are they discussing?
5. What effect does their discussion have on Raskolnikov? What does he do in the office?
6. What do they give him to revive him?
7. What do you think Fomich and Petrovich are thinking about Raskolnikov?
Part 2, Chapter 2:
1. Where does Raskolnikov hide the jewelry?
2. Describe Raskolnikov’s state of mind as he wanders the streets.
3. Who is Razumikhin? What does he offer to Raskolnikov?
4. What prompts a woman to give him a gift in the streets?
5. What is the gift and what does he do with it?
6. What is Raskolnikov’s nightmare?
7. What does Nastasya say to Raskolnikov? Why is it so ironic?
2. Describe the mood of the scene when Raskolnikov knocks on the door of the pawnbroker. What selection of details adds to the suspense of the scene?
3. What does Raskolnikov do once he gains entry into Alyona Ivanovna's flat?
4. Who unexpectedly shows up after the event?
5. What do we know about Alyona's sister? Describe her.
6. What makes the second event in the apartment so disturbing?
7. After the murders, Raskolnikov spends long moments cleaning blood from the ax. What religious/symbolic ritual does this echo? Is this behavior in keeping with an ubermensche? Does this prove or disprove Raskolnikov's theory about why men fail in their crimes?
8. What other unexpected event occurs which adds almost unbearable suspense to the scene? How does it echo or mirror Raskolnikov's earlier scene with Alyona Ivanovna?
Part 2, Chapter 1:
1. Raskolnikov wakes up the next morning realizing that he forgot to do something when he came home the night before - something that could prove to be extremely dangerous to his safety. What is it?
2. What message does Nastasya give him this morning?
3. Why does he receive a summons? Where is he suppose to report?
4. Who are Nikodim Fomich, and Ilya Petrovich? What are they discussing?
5. What effect does their discussion have on Raskolnikov? What does he do in the office?
6. What do they give him to revive him?
7. What do you think Fomich and Petrovich are thinking about Raskolnikov?
Part 2, Chapter 2:
1. Where does Raskolnikov hide the jewelry?
2. Describe Raskolnikov’s state of mind as he wanders the streets.
3. Who is Razumikhin? What does he offer to Raskolnikov?
4. What prompts a woman to give him a gift in the streets?
5. What is the gift and what does he do with it?
6. What is Raskolnikov’s nightmare?
7. What does Nastasya say to Raskolnikov? Why is it so ironic?
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