Crime and Punishment Study Guide: A Deep Dive into Dostoevsky's Masterpiece, Exams of History

Download Crime and Punishment Study Guide: A Deep Dive into Dostoevsky's Masterpiece and more Exams History in PDF only on Docsity! The Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival presents a Study Guide for Crime and Punishment Adapted by Marilyn Campbell and Curt Columbus From the novel by Fyodor Dostoevsk Table of Contents Characters in Crime and Punishment…….2 Plot Summary…………………………..3-4 Discussion Questions……………………..5 History and Influences………………….…5 A Brief History of 19th Century Russia…...6 Complete Lesson Plans……………………7 With grateful thanks to Harcourt School Publishers. 2 Characters in Crime and Punishment Raskolnikov is the play’s protagonist. A former student, Raskolnikov now lives in poverty and “thinks” instead of works. Raskolnikov committed the crime of the play’s title by murdering an old pawnbroker, Alyona Ivanova and her sister, Lizaveta. His punishment during the action of the play is not trial or imprisonment, but the inner torment he endures while struggling to justify the murder. His rationalization stems from an article he published in which he suggests that certain “extraordinary” men should be exempt from punishment for crimes that are committed for and result in a higher good. Raskolnikov believes himself to be “extraordinary” and his journey within the play is towards the realization that he is not. Porfiry is a police inspector who is investigating the murders of Alyona Ivanova and her sister, Lizaveta. Throughout the action of the play, Porfiry interrogates Raskolnikov about his relationship with the victims, and also debates the above-mentioned argument in Raskolnikov’s article with him. Sonia is a devout young woman who has become a prostitute in order to support her family, including her alcoholic father. Raskolnikov brings Sonia’s dying father to her family’s home and pays for the funeral with his entire savings. Raskolnikov falls in love with Sonia, whom he sees as a kindred spirit because they have both transgressed societal laws. Sonia’s compassion and concern for his soul surprise Raskolnikov when he confesses his crime to her. Other characters portrayed by the actors playing Porfiry and Sonia: Alyona Ivanova—the old pawnbroker whom Raskolnikov kills. Lizaveta—Alyona Ivanova’s sweet, but simple-minded, sister, whom Raskolnikov also kills. Marmeladov—Sonia’s alcoholic father, who is aware that his drinking is ruining his family, but is unable to stop. Pulcheria Alexandrovna—Raskolnikov’s mother. Koch—the man who discovers the bodies of Alyona Ivanova and Lizaveta. 5 Discussion Questions Standards: LA.C.1.4; LA.C.3.4; LA.E.2.4 1. One of the central themes of Crime and Punishment is that of redemption/salvation via suffering, especially in relation to Christian teachings. In what way is the biblical story of Lazarus relevant to the personal journeys of Raskolnikov and Marmeladov? 2. Do you think that Porfiry is aware of Raskolnikov’s guilt from the start of the play? If so, in what ways is Porfiry playing a game of psychological “cat and mouse” in order to trap Raskolnikov? And, why do you think that Raskolnikov cannot seem to resist discussing the crime with Porfiry, the very person he should avoid? 3. In Raskolnikov’s article, he argues that “extraordinary” men, who are often the world’s leaders, have a right to commit crimes when they must do so for the benefit of humanity. Are you for or against this argument? Provide examples from history or current world politics, if possible, to support your argument. History and Influences Crime and Punishment—the Book The Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival production of Crime and Punishment is based on the book of the same name by Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky. The story first appeared serially in a Russian magazine in 1866 before being published as a book a year later. Scholars generally regard Crime and Punishment as Dostoevsky’s masterpiece. Fyodor Dostoevsky—the Author Fyodor Dostoevsky was born in 1821 in Moscow to a middle-class family. Although educated in engineering at a military academy, Dostoevsky chose to embark upon a career in literature. His early efforts were greeted with critical acclaim but were cut short when he and his elder brother were arrested in April 1849 for association with a political discussion group. As he stood in front of the firing squad waiting to die, a last minute pardon arrived from the Tsar and Dostoevsky spent the next four years in exile at a prison in Siberia, followed by four years of compulsory military service. The time spent among criminals certainly influenced the remainder of his life’s work, including Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov. Dostoevsky’s life was characterized by a long struggle with poverty (in large part due to his gambling addiction), and with grief over the loss of family members. By the latter part of his life, Dostoevsky’s published works had granted him a place in the hearts of the Russian people and in the history of great literature. At the time of his death in 1881, Dostoevsky was hailed as a great literary hero and his funeral attracted thousands of mourners. 6 A Brief History of Nineteenth-Century Russia During Dostoevsky’s lifetime, Russia underwent a period of major upheaval characterized by political uncertainty and war. The country suffered from a poor economy, a growing and unsustainable population, a lack of industry, and the constant threat of foreign invasion and domestic revolutions. Shortly before Dostoevsky’s birth in 1821, the Napoleonic Wars and the resulting influx of Western ideas into Russia gave rise to the beginning of a political revolution that continued well into the next century. Challenged by a revolt early in his reign, Tsar Nicholas I became suspicious of the Russian people’s loyalty, and so instituted a system of rigorous censorship as well as a secret police with a wide network of spies and informers. No one was to question the authority of the Tsar or the Orthodox Church. The forced nationalism increased the already present division within the people as to what direction Russia should take: the advancement of Western civilization or a return to their traditional Slavic past. In spite of the political climate (or, perhaps, because of it), literature and the arts, especially music and ballet, flourished during this period. However, during the reign of Nicholas I, Russia continued to lose power on a global scale due to industrial setbacks, a poor economy and conflicts in the Crimean. After Nicholas I’s death in 1855, the new Tsar, Alexander II, established a series of political, economic and social reforms that radically changed Russia, though not immediately for the better, as he had hoped. In 1861 Alexander II freed more than 20 million serfs in a failed attempt to improve the economy and strengthen the country’s military; the resulting increase in poverty of the newly freed serfs eventually led to more uprisings. In addition to domestic challenges, Alexander II also faced foreign disputes, primarily a clash with the Ottoman Empire that increased tensions with European nations and, once again, lessened Russia’s status as a major player in world politics. During this time of upheaval, a group of social revolutionaries, the Nihilists, emerged on the scene and challenged the Russian establishment and its values, including the autocracy of the Tsar. The Narodnik Movement, as it came to be called, resulted in the assassinations of several government officials, most notably Tsar Alexander II, himself, who was killed in 1881, the same year as Dostoevsky’s death. 7 Complete Lesson Plans for Grades 9-12 1. Objective: Students critically analyze a theatrical performance and communicate their opinions about it in a clear and concise manner. Standards: LA.B.1.4; LA.B.2.4; LA.E.2.4; TH.D.1.4 Materials Needed: Paper and a writing instrument, or a computer Assignment: Students write a mock newspaper article reviewing the performance of Crime and Punishment. Students should include the following topics in their article: a critical analysis of the actors’ performances and directorial choices, and the effectiveness of the set, lighting, and costumes in enhancing the performance. 2. Objective: Students utilize research and writing techniques to explore a historical and dramatic topic. Standards: LA.A.2.4; LA.B.1.4; LA.B.2.4; TH.C.1.4 Materials Needed: Access to research materials (the internet, books); paper and a writing instrument, or a computer Assignment: The personal life experiences of authors often influence their writing. Students research the life of Fyodor Dostoevsky and write an essay about how his life affected his work, using specific examples relevant to Crime and Punishment.