CRIME and PUNISHMENT
PART 4; CHAPTER 4

1. What is the predominant color of Sonia’s room?

2. Who did Sonia think she saw walking the streets earlier today?
Who else has seen other people like this walking about?
Why is Dostoevsky employing this motif?

3. Describe the state Katerina and her family have been in since Marmaladov’s death.

4. How does Raskolnikov torment Sonia?

5. What does Raskolnikov unexpectedly do? What does Sonia represent? What does
Raskolnikov say to Sonia to explain his unexpected reaction?

6. According to Raskolnikov, what is Sonia’s greatest sin?

7. What does Raskolnikov suggest would be the better course for Sonia to do? What
does her response seem to suggest?

8. Does Raskolnikov believe that Sonia’s position is fated or accidental? What three
avenues does Raskolnikov believe are open to Sonia? Which one of the three
avenues is the most likely?

9. Why is it ironic that Raskolnikov believes that Sonia must be insane to have made
the decision she made?

10. What has kept Sonia from throwing herself into the canal?

11. What is the story of Lazarus and why does Raskolnikov want Sonia to read it to him?
How does Lazarus’ story pertain to him?

12. What does Raskolnikov learn about the connection between Sonia and Lizaveta?

13. Why was it difficult for Sonia to read the passage aloud to him?

14. Why does Sonia emphasize the word “four days” that Lazarus has been dead?

15. How is the state Sonia is in now similar to the state Raskolnikov was in recently?

16. How are Sonia and Raskonikov similar? How are their plights different?

17. What does Raskolnikov promise if he returns tomorrow to her flat?

18. Who has been listening in on their conversation in the empty flat next door?

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