AL-HEJAZ INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Subject: English Grade: 8

Name: ___________________ Date: _____________

Themes: are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary
work.

Alienation from Society

Alienation is the primary theme of Crime and Punishment. At first, Raskolnikoffs pride
separates him from society. He sees himself as superior to all other people and so cannot
relate to anyone. Within his personal philosophy, he sees other people as tools and uses
them for his own ends.
After committing the murders, his isolation grows because of his intense guilt and the
semi-delirium into which his guilt throws him. Over and over again, Raskolnikoff pushes
away the people who are trying to help him, including Sonia, Dounia, Pulcheria
Alexandrovna, Razoumikhin, and even Peter Petrovich, and then suffers the
consequences.
In the end, he finds the total alienation that he has brought upon himself intolerable
(unbearable). Only in the Epilogue, when he finally realizes that he loves Sonia, does
Raskolnikoff break through the wall of pride and self-centeredness that has separated him
from society.

Al- Hejaz International School Literature 1st Semester 2015/16 Grade 8

The Psychology of Crime and Punishment

The manner in which the novel addresses crime and punishment is not exactly what one
would expect. The crime is committed in Part I and the punishment comes hundreds of
pages later.
The real focus of the novel is not on those two endpoints but on what lies between them
an in-depth exploration of the psychology of a criminal. The inner world of Raskolnikoff,
with all of its doubts, delirium, fear, and despair, is the heart of the story. Dostoevsky
concerns himself not with the actual effects of the murder but with the way the murder
forces Raskolnikoff to deal with disturbing guilt.
Dostoevsky seems to suggest that actual punishment is much less terrible than the stress of
trying to avoid punishment. Peter Petrovich emphasizes the psychological angle of the
novel, as he smartly realizes that Raskolnikoff is the killer and makes several speeches in
which he details the workings of Raskolnikoffs mind after the killing.

The Idea of the Superman

At the beginning of the novel, Raskolnikoff sees himself as a superman, a person who is
extraordinary and consequently above the moral rules that govern the rest of humanity. His
valuation of himself forces him to separate himself from society. His murder of the
pawnbroker is, in part, a consequence of his belief that he is above the law and an attempt
to establish the truth of his superiority.
Raskolnikoffs inability to control his subsequent feelings of guilt, however, proves to him
that he is not a superman. Although he realizes his failure to live up to what he has
planned for himself, he is nevertheless unwilling to accept the total deconstruction of this
identity.
He continues to resist the idea that he is as ordinary as the rest of humanity by maintaining
to himself that the murder was justified. It is only in his final surrender to his love for
Sonia, that he can finally escape his conception of himself as a superman and the terrible
isolation such a belief brought upon him.
Al- Hejaz International School Literature 1st Semester 2015/16 Grade 8
 Chapter (1) The Crime
Raskolnikoff, who is a broke student, considers himself as being an extraordinary
young man and then made a theory whereby the extraordinary men of the world have a
right to commit any crime if they have something of worth to offer humanity. To prove his
theory, he murders an old, wicked pawnbroker (money lender) and her half-sister who
happened to come upon him suddenly.
The novel is set in St. Petersburg, Russia, in the mid-1860s. Meet the star of Crime and
Punishment: a young, good looking "ex-student," who abandoned his studies because of
lack of money and his state of mental depression. He was dressed in rags, as he was coming
out of his lousy little room. His name is Raskolnikoff and he's thinking of doing something
really bad, and even has a plan. He's talking to himself, and doesn't think he's really capable
of doing the mysterious bad deed, and isn't even sure he wants to.
He gets to the pawnbroker's house. Her name is Alena Ivanovna, and she's a mean,
cruel, nasty old lady, who lives with her half-sister Elizabeth, who is, unlike her sister, a
very sweet person. Raskolnikoff pawns his father's watch, and it becomes clear that the bad
thing he wants to do isMURDER. He wants to kill Alena and steal her money. But he's
not sure if he can, should, or will go through with it.
On his way back home, he went to a bar and met Marmeladoff, an unemployed
drunk, and hears his sad story: Marmeladoff is married to Catherine who has three young
kids from a previous marriage, and Marmeladoff has an eighteen-year-old daughter, Sonia,
from his previous marriage. Since Marmeladoff is a drunk, and money is tight, Catherine
made Sonia start selling her body for money, and now Sonia lives by herself, because the
other residents in the Marmeladoff's building didn't want a prostitute living there.
Eventually, Raskolnikoff takes Marmeladoff home. Seeing how bad things are there, he
leaves some money for Catherine to find, and then goes home.

Al- Hejaz International School Literature 1st Semester 2015/16 Grade 8

 Back at his room, Raskolnikoff goes to sleep. When he wakes up, he gets a letter from
his mother, Pulcheria. From the letter he learns that his sister, Dounia, is finally free from
working as a governess [nanny] for the Svidrigaloff's family. Mr. Svidrigaloff had tried to
take advantage of her, she did everything to keep him away, but one day his wife heard him
trying to persuade Dounia to leave the country with him. Mrs. Svidrigaloff threw her out
of the house. She also went from house to house telling people that Dounia is dishonest and
immoral. Later on, Mr. Svidrigaloff told his wife the truth and she came to beg us for
forgiveness. Now Dounia plans to marry a guy named Peter Petrovitch Looshin. Dounia
and Pulcheria are moving to St. Petersburg. They think that Looshin will be able to help
Raskolnikoff get back on his feet.
The letter freaks out Raskolnikoff, and he leaves his room. He thinks Dounia is
only marrying Looshin to help him. He compares Dounia to Sonia, and swears that he will
stop the wedding. But, he doesn't know how he'll stop it, because he doesn't have any
money or power. He falls asleep on his sofa
When he woke up; he decided he can't possibly kill the pawnbroker with a hatchet,
like he planned. But then he sees the pawnbroker's sister, Elizabeth in the Haymarket, and
learns that she won't be at home the following day at seven which means there wouldn't be
any obstacles to Raskolnikoff committing the murder as planned. This information makes
him renew his murderous scheme.
Later that night, he got the hatchet, went to the pawnbroker's house, and split her
skull. As he was stealing her stuff, Elizabeth comes in (because Raskolnikoff forgot to lock
the door) and he killed her too. Raskolnikoff manages to steal a few things, almost got
caught leaving the scene, and managed to get home, where he fell asleep on his sofa.

Al- Hejaz International School Literature 1st Semester 2015/16 Grade 8

Answer the following questions:

1. Why did Raskolnikoff abandon dis university studies?

.
2. What kind of cities is St. Petersburg?

..
3. Talk about Raskolnikoff's theory about types of people?


..
4. Give two examples to Discuss Dostoevskys use of coincidence in the novel.



..
5. Would you advise Raskolnikoff to abandon his university studies for the sake of
wishful thinking?


..
6. If you were Raskolnikoff, would you allow your sister to marry after receiving his
mothers letter?



7. Why did Raskolnikoff object to let his sister to marry Looshin?

.

Al- Hejaz International School Literature 1st Semester 2015/16 Grade 8

8. How do we know that Alena Ivanovna treats her sister like a slave?

.

9. Give one example to talk about the theme of "alienation from society" in the story.

10. Describe the idea of "Superman" in Crime and Punishment.

Al- Hejaz International School Literature 1st Semester 2015/16 Grade 8

Give short answers to the following questions.

1. In what month does the story begin?

..
2. What Russian city does the story take place?
.
3. Who does Raskolnikoff owe money to?
.
4. What kind of job does the old lady have?
.
5. What does Raskolnikoff pawn?
.
6. Where does Raskolnikoff go at the end of the first chapter?
.
7. Where does Raskolnikoff sleep?
.
8. Who wakes Raskolnikoff in the morning?
..
9. Who is the letter from?

10. Why does Raskolnikoff object to his sister's impending marriage?

Al- Hejaz International School Literature 1st Semester 2015/16 Grade 8

 AL-HEJAZ INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Subject: English Grade: 8
Name: ___________________ Date: _____________

Motifs: are habitual structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help to
develop and inform the texts major themes.

Poverty

Poverty is universal in the St. Petersburg of Dostoevskys novel. Almost every character
in the novelexcept Looshin, Svidrigaloff, and the police officialsis desperately poor,
including the Marmeladoffs, the Raskolnikoffs, Razoumikhin, and various lesser characters.
While poverty naturally forces families to bond together, Raskolnikoff often attempts to
distance himself from Pulcheria Alexandrovna and Dounia. He scolds his sister when he thinks
that she is marrying to help him out financially; he also rejects Razoumikhins offer of a job.
Dostoevskys descriptions of poverty allow him to address important social issues and to create
rich, problematic situations in which the only way to survive is through self-sacrifice. As a
result, poverty enables characters such as Sonya and Dounia to demonstrate their strength and
compassion.

Al- Hejaz International School Literature 1st Semester 2015/16 Grade 8

Symbols: are objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract
ideas or concepts.

The City

The city of St. Petersburg as represented in Dostoevskys novel is dirty and crowded.
Drunks are sprawled on the street in broad daylight, consumptive women beat their children and
beg for money, and everyone is crowded into tiny, noisy apartments. The clutter and chaos of
St. Petersburg is a twofold symbol. It represents the state of society, with all of its inequalities,
prejudices, and deficits. But it also represents Raskolnikoffs delirious, agitated state as he
spirals through the novel toward the point of his confession and redemption. He can escape
neither the city nor his warped mind. From the very beginning, the narrator describes the heat
and the odor coming off the city, the crowds, and the disorder, and says they all contributed
to irritate the young mans already excited nerves. Indeed, it is only when Raskolnikoff is
forcefully removed from the city to a prison in a small town in Siberia that he is able to regain
compassion and balance.

Al- Hejaz International School Literature 1st Semester 2015/16 Grade 8

 Analysis of Major Characters

Raskolnikoff:

Raskolnikoff is the protagonist of the novel, and the story is told almost exclusively from
his point of view. His pride and intellectualism lead him to disregard the rest of humanity.
In contrast, he believes that he is part of an elite superman class and can consequently
stop following the accepted moral standards for higher purposes. However, that guilt that
irritates him after he murders the money lender and her sister and his repetitive
faintness at the mention of the murders serve as proof to him that he is not a true
superman.

Though he copes with the decision to confess for most of the novel and though he seems
gradually to accept the reality of his weakness, he remains convinced that the murder of the
pawnbroker was justified.
Although he cares about Razoumikhin, Pulcheria Alexandrovna, and Dounia, Raskolnikoff
is so caught up in his doubtful outlook that he is often unappreciative of their attempts to
help him. He turns to Sonia; he fails to recognize that her sin is much different from his:
while she truly sacrifices herself for the sake of others, he essentially commits his crime for
his sake alone. Finally, his relationship with Svidrigaloff is mysterious. Though he despises
the man for his wickedness, he also seems to need something from himperhaps
confirmation of his own crime.

Al- Hejaz International School Literature 1st Semester 2015/16 Grade 8

Sonia:

Sonia is quiet, timid, and easily embarrassed, but she is also extremely devout and devoted
to her family. Her sacrifice of prostituting herself for the sake of her family is made even
more poignant by the fact that it would not be necessary were her father able to control his
drinking habit. Initially scared of the half-delirious Raskolnikoff, Sonia, in her infinite
capacity for understanding, begins to care deeply about him. She is not horrified by his
crimes, but rather, concerned for his soul and mental well-being, urges him to confess.
Raskolnikoff thinks of her, at first, as a fellow transgressor, someone who has stepped over
the line between morality and immorality, just as he has. But there is a crucial difference
between their transgressions that Raskolnikoff is unwilling to acknowledge: she sins for the
sake of others, whereas he sins for no one but himself. Sonya illustrates important social
and political issues that were of concern to Dostoevsky, such as the treatment of women,
the effects of poverty, the importance of religious faith, and the importance of devotion to
family.

Dounia:

Dounia is Raskolnikoffs sister and shares many of his traits. She is intelligent, proud,
beautiful, and strong-willed. But in most other ways, she is Raskolnikoffs exact opposite.
Whereas he is self-centered, cruel, and prone to intellectualizing, she is self-sacrificing, kind,
and exhibits endless compassion. The relationship between Dounia and Raskolnikoff is always
based on mutual love and respect, but it swings from one extreme of emotion to the other as
Raskolnikoff slowly approaches the moment of confession. In many ways, Dounia is more
mature than her brother: while he grows angry and dizzy confronting Looshin, she remains
confident and in control, even when she becomes just as angry. She is the strongest female
character in the novel, neither as crushed by poverty nor as timid as Sonya. If there are any
heroes in Crime and Punishment, she, along with Razoumikhin, is certainly one of them, which
makes their marriage at the end of the novel particularly appropriate.
Al- Hejaz International School Literature 1st Semester 2015/16 Grade 8
 Svidrigaloff:

Svidrigaloff is one of the most enigmatic characters in Crime and Punishment.

Dostoevsky leaves little doubt as to Svidrigaloff's status as a villain. But all of Svidrigaloff 's
crimes, except for his attempted rape of Dounia, are behind him. We witness Svidrigaloff
perform goods deeds, such as giving money to the family of his fiance, to Katerina Ivanovna
and her children, and to Dounia. Although he is a violent and sneaky individual, Svidrigailov
possesses the ability to accept that he cannot force reality to conform to his deepest desires. In
this regard, he functions as a foil to Raskolnikoff, who can accept only partially the breakdown
of his presumed superman identity. Further, whereas Raskolnikoff believes unflinchingly in
the utilitarian rationale for Elena Ivanovnas murder, Svidrigaloff doesnt try to contest the
death of his romantic vision when Dounia rejects him. Although the painful realization that he
will never have the love of someone as honest, kind, intelligent, and beautiful as she is compels
him to commit suicide, he is one of the few characters in the novel to die with dignity.

Character Analysis Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov

Raskolnikov is best seen as two characters. He sometimes acts in one manner and then
suddenly in a manner completely contradictory. These actions compel one to view him as
having a split personality or as being a dual character. Perhaps the best description of
Raskolnikov occurs in Part Three, Chapter 2 when Razumihkin tries to explain to Raskolnikov's
mother, Pulcheria Alexandrovna, and to his sister, Dunya (Avdotya Romanovna) how
Raskolnikov has been acting lately: "He is morose, gloomy, proud and haughty, and of late
and perhaps for a long time before he has been suspicious and fanciful. He has a noble nature
and a kind heart; he does not like showing his feelings and would rather do a cruel thing than
open his heart freely. . .It's as though he were alternating between two characters." These two
Al- Hejaz International School Literature 1st Semester 2015/16 Grade 8
characters are best represented as his cold, intellectual detached side, which emphasizes power
and self-will, and his warm, humane compassionate side, which suggests self-submissiveness
and meekness. The intellectual side is a result of his deliberate and premeditated actions; that is,
when he is functioning on this side, he never acts spontaneously, but instead, every action is
premeditated. It is this aspect of his personality that enables him to formulate his theories about
crime and to commit the crime.

In order to emphasize this dual character in Raskolnikov, Dostoevsky created two other
characters in the novel who represent the opposing sides of his character. These characters are
Sonya and Svidrigailov.

Svidrigailov represents the cold intellectual side that emphasizes self-will. All of
Svidrigailov's acts are performed so as to give him pleasure and to place him above common
morality. This is not to imply that Svidrigailov is an intellectual, but rather it implies that he
does not allow minor human actions, morality, or law to prevent him from having his own way.
Thus, as Raskolnikov could commit a murder because of his theories, so can Svidrigailov rape a
15-year-old mute girl for his own gratification.

Raskolnikov's intellectual side is intricately bound up in his theory of the extraordinary

man. If Raskolnikov is to be one of the extraordinary, he must be able to stand alone, without
needing human companionship or without being influenced by the actions of others. He must
rely on no one and must be completely self-sufficient. When he performs charitable acts, he is
temporarily violating this intellectual side of his nature.

Al- Hejaz International School Literature 1st Semester 2015/16 Grade 8

 The other side of Rodya's character is the warm, compassionate side. It operates without
an interceding thought process. His first and immediate reaction to any situation represents this
aspect of his personality. Consequently, he will often act in a warm, friendly, charitable, or
humane manner, and then when he has had a chance to think over his actions intellectually, he
regrets them. For instance, when he spontaneously gives Katerina Marmeladov his last money,
he regrets that he has given the Marmeladov family the money shortly afterwards. If left to his
immediate reactions, Raskolnikov would always act in a charitable and humane manner; he
would always sacrifice himself for his fellow man incidents galore abound in this manner,
including the reports of his risking his life to rescue a child from a fire or his concern over a
drugged young girl who is being pursued by a "dandy" with immoral intent.

The actions in the novel that seem to be strange and contradictory are rather the result of
the two aspects of Raskolnikov's personality. When he refuses to allow Dunya to marry Luzhin
and then a moment later tells her to marry whom she pleases, this reversal is an example of the
humane side not wanting his sister to sacrifice herself to help him, and then the intellectual side
contending that he must not concern himself with insignificant problems of others.

Al- Hejaz International School Literature 1st Semester 2015/16 Grade 8