Summer Reading List: Grade 12
All 12th-grade students will read The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald AND Crime and
Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky. . The school library has copies for students to use and keep.
Study questions are shown below, and students must turn in answers to these questions the first
day of school. Complete sentences are not necessary.
In addition, all 12th-grade students are encouraged to read one or more of the following books:
Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper
The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Students will receive extra credit for reading any of these books if a short summary of the book
is turned in at the beginning of the school year. Any student who reads all of the books will be
eligible to receive a gift certificate to Givens Books (maximum 10 awarded). Please call Mrs.
Mitchell at school (847-8313) or at home (528-8504) if you have any questions about the
assignment.
PUT ALL ANSWERS ON NOTEBOOK PAPER.
Questions for The Great Gatsby:
Ch. 1
1. Compare the homes of Nick, Gatsby, and the Buchanans. How does each home reflect
the personality of its owner?
2. When discussing East Egg and West Egg, Nick states, “To the wingless a more arresting
phenomenon is their dissimilarity in every particular except shape and size.” Indicate
what the “dissimilarities” might be.
3. Though we do not meet Gatsby until Chapter 3, we hear references to him in the
conversations of others. Note each reference. What impressions do you get?
Ch. 2
1. Describe the "valley of ashes." What does it represent?
2. What violent act does Tom commit against Myrtle?
Ch. 3
1. What rumors have been told about Gatsby? Why does Fitzgerald reveal rumors rather
than fact?
Ch. 4
1. Describe Gatsby’s car.
2. Explain the epigraph (the quote) on the title page of the novel. What does it reveal about
Gatsby and his love for Daisy?
3. Why does Gatsby have so many parties? Why did he buy the house?
Ch. 5
1. What does Gatsby do in preparation for Daisy’s arrival?
2. What is the effect of rain on the plot?
3. What is the significance of the green light?
Ch. 6
1.
2.
3.
4.
What was Gatsby’s real name? Why and when had he changed it?
Why did Daisy and Tom find Gatsby's party loathsome?
What suspicions does Tom have about Gatsby? What does he vow to do?
How did Gatsby measure the success of his party?
Ch. 7
1. Who is Trimachio? Explain how this describes Gatsby.
2. What was significant about Nick’s 30th birthday?
3. What does Gatsby mean when he says that Daisy’s voice is “full of money”?
Ch. 8
1. Describe the importance of the seasons in the construction of the novel.
2. Who is Dan Cody? What is his significance in Gatsby’s life?
3. How does Wilson view the “eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg”? Does Wilson’s statement
have a symbolic meaning in the novel as a whole?
Ch. 9
1.
2.
3.
4.
What makes Nick take responsibility for the funeral arrangements?
What version of the tragedy appeared in the newspapers?
How had Gatsby’s father learned of the tragedy?
What was the significance of Gatsby’s boyhood program for self-improvement?
Questions for Crime and Punishment:
Background note:
Before you begin Crime and Punishment, there is something you should understand about
Russian names. Every character in Crime and Punishment has a special sort of middle name,
called a patronymic, that is formed from the father’s first name. For sons, the patronymic is
formed by adding –ovitch to the father’s first name; for daughters, the patronymic is formed
by adding –ovna to the father’s first name. Thus Rodion, the son of Roman Raskolnikov,
becomes Rodion Romanovitch Raskolinikov, and his sister, Avdotya, becomes Avdotya
Romanovna Raskolnikov.
Characters in the novel often refer to one another by first name and patronymic without
bothering to mention last names – don’t allow this to confuse you. Also, be aware that several
characters in the novel have nicknames in addition to their christened names, so Rodion and
Rodia are actually the same person.
**Attached at the end of this document is a list of the main characters
Part 1:
Chapter 1:
As you read part 1, pay attention to the unbearably hot weather, Raskolnikov’s mood, and his
room, and how these things contribute to the overall mood or atmosphere of the book.
1. What is Raskolnikov’s history with the pawnbroker? How many times has he been there and
what has he exchanged?
Chapter 2:
Raskolnikov leaves the pawnbrokers and goes to a tavern where he meets and talks with
Marmeladov. When Dostoevsky began writing this novel, his intention was to write The
Drunkard and Marmeladov and his family were going to be the focus. Now the Marmeladov
episode is a subplot until the two plots merge later on.
2. Who are the members of the Mermeladov family?
3. Give an example of a biblical allusion in this scene.
Chapter 3:
“My dear Rodya” begins a letter to Raskolnikov from his mother. Don’t give up—the letter is 8
pages long. Pay particular attention to the people. Where is Raskolnikov’s father? Who is
Raskolnikov’s sister? Pay close attention to the “affair” with Svidrigaylov and the details with
Dunya. Svidrigailov is a major character in the novel and will be a foil to Raskolnikov. Who is
Luzhin and who do you think Raskolnikov hates him so much? Luzhin is also a major character –
so pay attention to the details concerning him.
Chapter 4:
4. What is the connection Raskolnikov makes between Sonya and Dunya?
5. A repeating pattern develops: another young girl is the victim of an aggressive male. What
does Raskolnikov call the man pursuing this girl? Note his change of heart when he leaves. What
does this tell us about Raskolnikov?
Chapter 5:
6. Raskolnikov sleeps under a bush and has his first dream. (Dream #1) What role does
Raskolnikov play in the dream?
Chapter 6.
7. The beginning of this chapter explains how Raskolnikov first heard about the pawnbroker and
Lizaveta. He remembers sitting in a tavern and overhearing a conversation that was similar to a
“strange idea. . . pecking at his brain like a chicken in the egg, and very, very much absorbed
him.” What is this idea?
8. Raskolnikov sleeps all day and then makes preparations for what? What does he do to
prepare?
Chapter 7:
9. What does Raskolnikov do with the ax?
Part 2:
Chapter 1:
1. Why is Raskolnikov summoned to the police department?
Chapter 2:
2. Raskolnikov fears that his room will be searched. Where does he hide the eight articles?
3. Raskolnikov returns to his apartment and has Dream #2. What happens in this dream?
Compare this to Dream #1.
Chapter 3:
4. What does Razumikhin do with some of the money?
Chapter 5:
5. Find references to a nihilist viewpoint (the viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs
are unfounded and that existence is senseless and useless).
6. We learn that Lizaveta has done what for Raskolnikov in the past?
Chapter 6:
7. Why does Raskolnikov go to the Crystal Palace? Who is there that we have met before?
Chapter 7:
8. Who runs after Raskolnikov and kisses him? What does he ask this little girl to do for
him? Notice the pride and confidence that Raskolnikov feels here – all part of the theme
that is slowly emerging – the power of love.
Part 3:
Chapter 1:
1. What advice does Raskolnikov give Dunya concerning her upcoming marriage to Luzhin?
Chapter 2:
Razumikhin goes to Dunya’s and her mother’s lodging to report on Raskolnikov’s condition.
Note the description of Raskolnikov and how this description fits Raskolnikov’s name (the root
verb is raskolot meaning ―to split).
2. What does Razumikhin discuss with Zossimov?
3. What was Mrs. Raskolnikov’s dream?
Chapter 3:
4. What does Dunya ask Raskolnikov to do concerning her next meeting with Luzhin and dinner
that evening?
Chapter 5:
Note mention of Raskolnikov’s article published in Periodical Discourse on crime and the
“extraordinary man” theory. (Write down questions about what you do not understand here
because this is a crucial part of the novel.)
5. About what do Porfiry Petrovich and Razumikhin argue? What is a “victim of the
environment”?
6. What is significant about the allusion to Lazarus?
7. Note what they say about punishment—what is punishment?
Chapter 6:
8. When Raskolnikov goes home, his porter tells him and points out this man who has been
inquiring about Raskolnikov. Raskolnikov runs after him and confronts him. What does the man
call Raskolnikov? Who is this man?
He returns to his apartment in a state of anxiety and has Dream #3. Note how this dream is
similar yet different to all of the others.
Part 4:
Chapter 1:
1. Note the three visits by Marfa paralleling the three dreams of Raskolnikov. What happened in
each of the three visits by Marfa’s ghost? Who is Filka? Notice how Filka’s ghost visits
Svidrigailov also.
Chapter 2:
2. Notice how Luzhin reveals the history of Svidrigailov and Marfa to Dunya, Raskolnikov, and
Mrs. Raskolnikov; how is Svidrigailov’s version of this story delivered with a different twist in
chapter one?
Chapter 3:
3. What is Razumikhin’s plan for making money? Do you think it will work?
Chapter 4:
4. Why does Raskolnikov say he kisses Sonya’s foot? What story does he ask her to read a story
from the Bible?
Chapter 5:
5. Raskolnikov goes to the police station to make a statement concerning his pledges. This
strange chapter is a “cat playing with the mouse” scene. Do you think Porfiry Petrovich wants
to trap Raskolnikov into a confession or is he sincere in his statement that he wants to help
Raskolnikov?
Chapter 6:
6. Can you explain Nikolai’s behavior? Porfiry Petrovich will explain it to Raskolnikov later, but
try to understand his motivation as best you can.
Part 5:
Chapter 1:
Lebezyatnikov is Dostoevsky’s creation of a nihilist who doesn’t understand the impracticality of
the philosophy. One critic says: 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. NOTE: Dostoevsky was arrested for nihilism
in the early 1850s, faced a firing squad, and spent time in a Siberian prison.
Chapter 3:
1. Who throws a glass at Luzhin? Whom does it hit?
Chapter 4:
2. What does Raskolnikov tell Sonya was the reason for the murder?
Chapter 5:
3. Look carefully at what Svidrigaylov says to Raskolnikov when he tells him the news about
Katerina. Whose words is he quoting almost identically? What does that lead you to believe
about him and what he knows?
Part 6:
Chapter 1:
1. Compare the funeral arrangements for Katerina Marmeladov to those for her husband in the
early chapters.
Chapter 2:
2. When Raskolnikov asks him who he thinks is responsible for the murder, what does Porfiry
say?
Chapter 3:
Note allusions made to Schiller in Book VI. Schiller was a German Romantic poet associated
with being an idealist.
3. Can you trust Svidrigailov as a narrator of events? Why or why not?
Chapter 6:
4. Svidrigailov “crosses a bridge” and goes to a hotel where he has three dreams. Can you
interpret the images in these dreams?
5. He leaves the hotel and calls the porter Achilles. Why?
Chapter 7:
6. When Raskolnikov returns home, Dunya is there. What does Raskolnikov say he hasn’t done?
Chapter 8:
7. What does Raskolnikov do at the Hay Market?
8. Give an example of Christian imagery in this chapter.
9. Why do you think Dostoevsky chooses to use the word “resurrection”?
Essay Response:
After completing the reading, write a two page (double-spaced) analysis of the work on one of
the following topics. Give specific examples and cite the book to support your claims.
1. Compare the characters of Raskolnikov, Luzhin, and Svidrigailov. How is each of these
men a "villain," and to what extent are they guilty? How does each man face his guilt,
and how does each suffer for it?
2. Consider all the characters in Crime and Punishment. Several of them share similar
characteristics. Find as many parallel characters as possible. Once you have matched
them, explain why they are parallel. You may also find contrasting characters. Identify
those as well and explain an author’s purpose for developing characters like this.
3. Identify symbols throughout the novel, and explain what makes them symbols.
Remember that symbols are objects that take on meaning within the story. You do not
have to stretch to find them; otherwise, they are not true symbols. Think about them
carefully.
4. Choose a theme that emerges in Crime and Punishment (guilt, alienation, nihilism,
resurrection, etc.) and discuss Dostoevsky’s treatment of this theme.
Main Characters:
Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov (Roe-dee-uhn Roe-mahn-o-vitch Rahz-cole-nih-kawv)
[Rodya, Roddy, Rodenka, Rodka] an impoverished student whose reason and conscience
are often at odds with one another. His name is derived from the Russian word raskol, which
means ‘split or divided.’
Alyona Ivanovna (?) (All-yo-nuh Ee-vah-Nove-na)
A wealthy but nevertheless miserly old pawnbroker.
Semyon Zaharovitch Marmeladov (Semm-yun Zah-har-o-vitch Mar-muh-LAD-ov)
A drunkard Rodion meets in a bar. His name is Russian for ‘marmelade’ or ‘jam.’
Katerina Ivanovna Marmeladov (Kaht-uh-ree-na Ee-vah-nove-na Mar-muh-LAD-ov)
Marmeladov’s second wife, a woman of noble birth who has fallen into poverty. She
suffers from consumption, or tuberculosis, and often coughs up blood.
Sofya Semyonovna Marmeladov (Sofe-yah Sem-yon-ove-na Mar-muh-LAD-ov)
[Sonia] Marmeladov’s daughter from his first marriage. She no longer lives with the rest
of the family since the landlady, Leppeveschel, evicted Sonia upon learning the girl had resorted
to prostitution to earn money for food. She now rents a room from a man named Kapernaumov
(Cap-ur-now-mov). Her name (Sofya) comes from the Greek sophia meaning ‘wisdom.’
Amalia Ivanovna Leppeveschel (Ah-mah-lya Ee-vahn-ove-na Lep-uh-vake-sull)
The Marmeladovs’ landlady. Katerina Ivanovna occasionally insults Leppeveschel by
calling her “Amalia Ludwigovna,” suggesting her father was a German of questionable descent
and not a Russian count as she claims.
Avdotya Romanovna Raskolnikov (Av-doe-tyah Roe-mahn-ove-na Rahz-cole-nih-kawv)
[Dounia] Rodion’s sister.
Pulcheria Alexandrovna Raskolnikov (Pool-chair-ee-ah Al-ecks-ahn-drove-nah Rahz-colenih-kawv)
Rodion and Dounia’s mother.
Natasya Petrovna (?) (Nuh-tahs-hya Peh-trove-na)
Servant to Praskovya Pavlovna, Raskolnikov’s landlady. She repeatedly shows care and
concern for Raskolnikov.
Arkady Ivanovitch Svidrigailov (Ar-kuh-dee Ee-vahn-o-vitch Sss-fid-ree-guy-lawv)
Dounia’s former employer who tried to begin an affair with her.
Marfa Petrovna Svidrigailov (Mar-fa Peh-trove-nah Sss-fid-ree-guy-lawv)
Jealous wife of Arkady Ivanovitch.
Pyotr Petrovich Luzhin (Pee-ought-er Peh-trove-itch Loo-zheen)
Friend of Marfa Petrovna’s, now Dounia’s fiancée.
Lizaveta Ivanovna (?) (Leez-ah-vet-ah Ee-vahn-ove-nah)
The pawnbroker’s pious and reserved sister.
Mitka Dmitri (?) and Nikolay Dementyev (?) (Mit-kuh Duh-MEE-tree, Nee-ko-lay Duh-mentyev) Housepainters.
Ilya Petrovitch (?) (Eel-yah Peh-tro-vitch)
Associate superintendent of police, the “explosive lieutenant.”
Nikodim Fomitch (?) (Neek-o-deem Foe-meetch)
The superintendent of police, and the boss with whom Ilya argues.
Dmitri Prokofitch Razumikin (Duh-MEE-Tree Prahk-o-feetch Rahzoo-MEE-heen (stress mi) )
Student and Raskolnikov’s friend. His name is derived from the Russian word for
“reason.”
Praskovya Pavlovna (?) (Praz-kove-yah Pav-lo-vna)
[Pashenka] Raskolnikov’s landlady, to whom he is in debt.
Alexander Grigorievitch Zametov (‘Aleaxander’ Grig-or-ee-uh-vitch Zam-yet-ov)
Head clerk at the police station whom Raskolnikov encounters again at the Crystal Palace
Restaurant.
Zossimov (Zoss-ee-mauve)
Twenty-seven year old intellectual and doctor, a friend of Razumihin’s.
Polenka (?) Marmeladov (Poe-link-uh Mar-muh-LAD-ov)
Sonia’s young half-sister.
Porfiry Petrovitch (?) (Pore-fear-ee Peh-tro-vitch)
Detective assigned to the murder case.
Andrey Semyonvitch Lebeziatnikov (Ahn-dray Sem-yun-o-vitch Luh-bez-ee-aht-nee-kov)
A pedantic fool who espouses theories (typically nihilist) that he himself is incapable of
comprehending. Lebeziatnikov lives in the same building as do the Marmeladovs (Amalia
Leppeveschel’s building), and he has been involved in altercations with Katerina Ivanovna in the
past. Lebeziatnikov houses Luzhin while he is in Petersburg. His name means “to fawn over.”