CRIME and PUNISHMENT
Part 3; Chapter 5

1. What unexpected talent does Raskolnikov show as he enters Porfiry's office?

2. Raskolnikov thinks that Porfiry actually winked at him. Do you think he did or is this a result of Raskolnikov's paranoia?

3. What flashes through Raskolnikov's mind after he "sees" Porfiry "winking" at him?

4. Why was Porfiry expecting Raskolnikov to visit him at his office?

5. Why is Raskolnikov getting increasingly agitated in Porfiry's office?

6. Why does Raskolnikov say he tried to rent a flat the night before to get away from his annoying friends?

7. What was the topic of debate at Razumikhin's party the night before?

8. Why does Razumikhin dislike the socialists' view of humanity?

9. What position does Porfiry take in the nature vs. nurture debate?

10. What surprising details does Razumikhin reveal about Porfiry?

11. What was Raskolnikov's article about?

12. According to Raskolnikov, what would Newton or Kepler have the right to do?

13. According to Raskolnikov, the world is divided into what two categories?

14. Napoleon, by the very nature of who he was, would be considered what? What would he and other people like him do against the old laws of their fathers?

15. What do the members of the second group have a right to do, commensurate with the importance of what?

16. Who are the masters of the present? Who are the masters of the future?

17. What role or function does each group perform?

18. What does the first group do to the second group in the present? And in the future, what does the first group do to the second group?

19. What is the story of Lazarus? How do you think this may relate to Raskolnikov?

20. Porfiry asks Raskolnikov what question about the members of the first group? What do you think he is driving at by asking him that question? Do you think Porfiry thinks Raskolnikov may belong to the first group?

21. According to Raskolnikov, what rules govern the division and subdivision of men?

22. What direct question does Porfiry ask Raskolnikov about the murders and how it might pertain to the murders?

23. Why did Porfiry ask Raskolnikov whether he saw the painters on the day of the murder?
Who gives the correct answer to Porfiry's question?

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