Crime and Punishment

Crime and Punishment Reading Guide – Part V

1. commendations--praise 2. abacus—calculating tool

3. proselytizing—attempt to convert someone

4. transfixed—motionless with horror

5. discomfiting--embarrassing

6. pathos—quality that causes someone to feel sympathy

7. concomitant—everything that goes along with something else: she loved school and all of its concomitant energy

8. impotent--powerless

Chapter 1

1. This chapter takes place in Andrey Lebezyatnikov’s apartment. Whom does he live across the hall from? Who shares the apartment with him?

2. Pay close attention to Luzhin. What is he doing while he and Lebezyatnikov discuss nihilism?

3. Lebezyatnikov is Dostoevsky’s creation of a nihilist who doesn’t understand the impracticality of the philosophy. One critic: Lebezyatnikov “emerges as a doctrinaire, naive, foolish man who believes that theories can be easily translated into pragmatic solutions for the complex problems that beset the Russia of his day. Only an artless, unsophisticated man could propose such simplistic answers for the tangled troubles of his world.” As you read, note the many “revolutionary” or “rebellious” ideas that he has. How does Dostoevsky ridicule such philosophy? Remember Dostoevsky was arrested for nihilism in the early 1850s, faced a firing squad, and spent time in a Siberian prison. 4. Pay close attention to what Luzhin says to Sonya when he sends Lebezyatnikov for her. But more importantly pay close attention to what he does. Why do you think Andrey says “I heard and saw everything. What did he see?

Chapter 2 1. This chapter details the funeral luncheon for Marmeladov. Note the careful description of the details Dostoevsky gives to highlight the ridiculousness of it. What is ridiculous? Write a passage that shows Katerina’s pride:

2. Just as tension rise to an almost fight (between Katerina and the landlady), who enters the room? Chapter 3

1. Who accuses Sonya? Of what? Pay close attention to the events that unfold. What aid does Andrey offer? What role does Raskolnikov play in solving this mystery?

2. When Luzhin leaves, Andrey asks him to vacate his apartment immediately. Who throws a glass at Luzhin? And whom does it accidentally hit? How does she react? Where is Katerina at the end of this chapter and what is she doing? Where is Raskolnikov headed?

Chapter 4

1. This is an intense chapter. Raskolnikov leaves Katerina’s apartment with her landlady evicting her and Katerina leaving in search of justice. Where does Raskolnikov go?

2. Pay close attention to what exchange happens between them. Does Sonya know what he is going to tell her. 3. This is a good place to try to come to terms with Raskolnikov’s motivation for murdering the pawnbroker. What does he tell Sonya is the reason for his murdering the pawnbroker? Does it make sense to you?

4. What do you think of Sonya during this emotional scene? Is she consistent with what you have noted about her character throughout the book? Is she being a good Christian by loving him as she does? Does Raskolnikov love her? What advice does Sonya give Raskolnikov—what does she suggest that he do? He says no, of course. Do you think he will do this?

5. The chapter also talks a great deal about suffering. What are your thoughts on suffering?

6. The chapter ends with ______bringing news of Katerina after the funeral luncheon.

Chapter 5

1. What does Lebezyatnikov tells Sonya?

2. Raskolnikov leaves his apartment and wanders the streets aimlessly when Lebezyatnikov finds him and tells him about Katerina and the children. Describe this pathetic scene.

3. Katerina passes out and there is blood everywhere. She is transported to Sonya’s room where she dies. Notice that Svidrigaylov is there. What does he propose to do with the 10,000 roubles that he wanted to give to Dunya? How do you feel about that? Isn’t that noble of him? Or does he have some ulterior motive?

4. Look carefully at what he says to Raskolnikov when he tells him this news. Whose words is he quoting almost identically? What does that lead you to believe about him and what he knows? What is your reaction to this passage?