Crime and punishment discussion questions classics. This is a kickoff post for preliminary thoughts about reading fyodor dostoevskys novel crime and punishment. Discussion questionsfood for thought to help understand. Use for debates, discussions, speaking, conversations, independent learning and more. So as im sure ive made it abundantly clear over the last few weeks crime and punishment is my absolute favorite book. Crime and punishment discussion questions classics reading. Dostoyevsky explains everything so vividly, as if he had committed a murderhimself. When i picked up crime and punishment by fyodor dostoyevsky, i was expecting it to be dense, dull, and depressing especially since the background materials i read stated that dostoyevsky wrote crime and punishment as an explicit critic of certain radical theories that were current in 1860s russia, including utilitarianism and rationalism. Crime and punishment is the best known work of fyodor dostoevsky. Bring your own thoughts and favorite quotes as well to add to the discussion. I just made a school wide book club on campus at unf, where i am a freshman pursuing english. Crime and punishmentlike most dostoevsky jointsis incredibly fluid and open to a wide variety of interpretations.
Well, it may not be about books but every chapter starts out with a minireflection about a book through a characters eyes and there are numerous allusions to poplit throughout this book twilight, harry potter, fifty shades. One of the supreme masterpieces of world literature, crime and punishment catapulted dostoyevsky to the forefront of russian writers and into the ranks of the worlds greatest novelists. Crime and punishment focuses on the mental anguish and moral dilemmas of rodion romanovich raskolnikov, an impoverished exstudent in st. Drawing upon experiences from his own prison days, the author recounts in feverish, compelling tones the story of raskolnikov, an impoverished student tormented by his own nihilism, and the struggle between. Not a cheerful book but paints a picture of poverty and russian life. Fluency is developed through lively discussion questions such as who is more to blame, the person who offers a bribe or the person who accepts it. Since then ive read it twice more with different translations. It was first published in the literary journal the russian messenger in twelve monthly installments during 1866. Supreme masterpiece recounts in feverish, compelling tones the story of raskolnikov, an impoverished student tormented by his own thoughts after he brutally murders an old woman. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Cooperman took that idea and ran with it, while at the same time, making sure that some actual books are discussed. If youre doing the 2017 read harder challenge this is a book about books. Quite long and heavy but got into the novel and enjoyed it.
Essay ideas, study questions and discussion topics based on important themes running throughout crime and punishment by fyodor dostoevsky. Are there any places you are afraid to visit because of the high crime rate. Crimes against a book club by kathy cooperman reading guide. A desperate young man plans the perfect crime the murder of a despicable pawnbroker, an old women no one loves and no one will mourn.
He writes about the same theme he wrote about in the idiot and the brothers karamazov sin and redemption. Discussion questionsfood for thought to help understand crime and punishment posted on august 9, 2014 by amanda so as im sure ive made it abundantly clear over the last few weeks crime and punishment is my absolute favorite book. Im doing to 52 book challenge at r52book and reading a book by dostoevsky was one of my goals, so i figured this is perfect especially considering this wont be an easy read most likely. While it ponders larger questions of sin, free will, and forgiveness, crime and punishment is unmistakably a novel about what it means to break. Discussion of themes and motifs in fyodor dostoevskys crime and punishment. Overwhelmed afterwards by guilt and terror, raskolnikov confesses and goes to prison. What concepts of christianity are prominent in crime and punishment. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading crimes against a book club. While the mainstream media tends to celebrate only books from the left, the conservative book club has provided a muchneeded resource for readers interested in conservative politics and conservative values. Do you think that punishment for violent crimes should be the same for juveniles and adults. What about crime and punishment s abrupt chapter endings. What concepts of law are prominent in crime and punishment. There he realizes that happiness and redemption can only be achieved through suffering. At the end of the last chapter, raskolnikov notices an apparently disturbed person in the tavern drinking.
The public reception of crime and punishment was enthusiasticif a little stunned. Crime and punishment by fyodor dostoyevsky scholastic. Find a summary of this and each chapter of crime and punishment. We use raskolnikov as the hero in our bookers seven basic plots analysis. Crime and punishment took me about two weeks to get through the first quarter and then about two days to get through the rest. Vocabulary is practised through a mixandmatch exercise. The first part of crime and punishment published in the january and february issues of the russian messenger met with public success. Here are some discussion questionsideas to get us started. After his visit with alyona ivanovna, he feels the need of a drink, and the lonely man begins a conversation with him. Upon returning home, the impoverished former student receives a summons from the police. Sarah, with her youthful beauty, can peddle the cream to women who want to look like her. A unique global community of book lovers in discussion with some of the worlds greatest writers.
Police, corruption are some parts of this city considered more dangerous than others. Crime and punishment is a highly unusual mystery novel. Essay questions cliffsnotes study guides book summaries. For more than a century, critics have argued about the books message. Learn the important quotes in crime and punishment and the chapters theyre from, including why theyre important and what they mean in the context of the book. Apr 05, 2017 cooperman took that idea and ran with it, while at the same time, making sure that some actual books are discussed. The treatment of women in islam alone should serve as a warning for anyone who thinks sharia is compatible with western democracy and freedom. We dont get raskolnikovs name until he gives it to the pawnbroker, alyona ivanovna. Crime and punishment by fyodor dostoevsky part 3 out of 12. Discussion questionsfood for thought to help understand crime. Crimes against a book club kindle edition by cooperman, kathy.
Crime and punishment cliffsnotes study guides book. Do you think that the legalization of narcotics would decrease the crime rate. Readers were shocked by dostoyevskys gruesome descriptions and enthralled by his use of dramatic tension. Read a summary of this famous novel, and analyze what this story meant to readers in dostoevskys time as well as what it means to. At about 600 pages depending on your translation its long, but the story miraculously sucks you in and moves along, despite the fact that nothing really happens. A quick fire test based on the the fourth unit of the edexcel crime, punishment and law enforcement 1900present. Please click on the literary analysis category you wish to be displayed. Do you think that the death penalty would prevent crime in your country. If you have a challengeloving book club like mine, you may want to consider reading fyodor dostoyevskys crime and punishment.
Do you think that capital punishment is a good idea. The multimillionselling author visits the book club to talk about his novel the redbreast, maverick detectives, and manipulating readers. Should the death penalty exist as a punishment for murder or terrorism. Is it the most natural place for his name to have been revealed, or would it have been better somewhere else. The scheme seems innocent enough, until annie decides to add a special.
Im not saying the book club in the story itself has many conversations about booksthe goal was to keep it somewhat realistic at after allbut theyre brought up elsewhere. Crime and punishment by fyodor dostoevsky full text free. Coopermans debut novel is a lighthearted look at the evolution of a. As others have said the themes and descriptions still relate today, but is not modern dress in any way. Petersburg who formulates and executes a plan to kill an unscrupulous pawnbroker for her cash. The first half of this important book looks at how women are treated in the world of sharia. Crime clubs started in the early days of the bookshop, our subscription clubs are a means of giving readers and collectors access to signed first editions from the best authors working in the genre. Rodion romanovich raskolnikov kills a pawnbroker for no apparent reason. The final reason for thinking crime and punishment isnt a thesis book focused on raskolnikovs murders, despite dostoyevskys stated intentions, is the amount of extraneous, irrelevant, contradictory, and confounding characters and plots he includes. How does dostoyevsky achieve and sustain the suspense in his. Centering on the poor former student raskolnikov, whose theory that humanitarian ends justify evil means leads him to murder, the story is one of the finest studies of the psychopathology of guilt written in any language.
Crime and punishment, novel by russian writer fyodor dostoyevsky, first published in 1866. Once the crime happens and the punishment comes you get to really understand and at times empathize with raskolnikov. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Crimes against a book club by kathy cooperman reading.
Aug 09, 2014 discussion questionsfood for thought to help understand crime and punishment posted on august 9, 2014 by amanda so as im sure ive made it abundantly clear over the last few weeks crime and punishment is my absolute favorite book. As simon karlinsky suggests in his essay dostoevsky as rorschach test, cool essay title or coolest essay title. With seven clubs to choose from, theres something for every crime and mystery related taste. Should the main purpose of prison be punishment or rehabilitation. Quotes from fyodor dostoevskys crime and punishment. Bbc world service world book club, crime and punishment, actor. Crime and punishment by fyodor dostoyevsky book club. Fyodor dostoevsky adored nikolai gogol, a writer well known for his laughoutloud but bleak humor. The underlying theme is indeed crime and punishment and this is dealt with in many ways.
What is the best way to deal with juvenile crime such as. Dostoyevsky deals with the degradation of russian society and family in most of his works. The crime itself is only given a few pages, and the actual punishment isnt addressed until the epilogueso what is the novel about. What new legal techniques and psychological methods does porfiry employ.
Annie cant afford the expensive therapy for her autistic son, while sarah is trying to finance in vitro fertilization treatment. Crime and punishment by fyodor dostoyevsky discussion. A stimulating worksheet that encourages students to explore the grey areas between bribery, hospitality and perks. Im presenting crime and punishment at my book club meeting this weekend, so heres my discussion guide for your enjoyment can evil. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. Crime and punishment is the first great novel of his mature period of writing.
Vocabulary is practised through a mix and match exercise. Chapter summary for fyodor dostoevskys crime and punishment, page 2. Topics about this book topics that mention this book. Ive never read anything by tolstoy or dostoevsky before, but am a fairly avid reader especially since i graduated 1. Introduction this is a study guide for the book crime and punishment written by fyodor dostoyevsky. Luckily, they know people who have more money than they know what to do withthe rich women in annies book club. If you didnt find any parts of this book funny, why do you suppose that is. Crime and punishment is a novel by the russian author fyodor dostoyevsky. There was much discussion about the novels overwhelming power and rumors of people unable to finish it. Its one of those impressive books to have read, and really isnt as punishing as it sounds. With seven clubs to choose from, theres something for every crimeandmystery related taste.
In his memoirs, the conservative belletrist nikolay strakhov recalled that in russia crime and punishment was the literary sensation of 1866. For more than 50 years, the conservative book club has guided book lovers to the best conservative books and authors of our times. Crime and punishment is a novel by the russian author fyodor dostoevsky. Crimes against a book club kindle edition by cooperman. Why didnt raskolnikov read the story of lazarus himself or why did he ask sonya to read it to him. An area to discuss the themes, books and authors of this genre. The face cream is a hit, and they both finally have hope to combat their growing medical bills. Is it not just, he reasons, for a man of genius to commit such a crime, to transgress moral law if it will ultimately benefit humanity. Porfiry, who has just been discussing the case with zamyotov, adopts an ironic tone during the conversation.
Crime and punishment is one of the most famous and most read novels by f. Crime a part of conversation questions for the esl classroom related. Crime and punishment free study guide answers, book and. May 01, 2017 the one thing they have in common is that they need money. Bbc world service world book club, crime and punishment.
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