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Fyodor Dostoevsky was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in 1821.
Answer: False
Explanation: Fyodor Dostoevsky was born in Moscow, Russia, on November 11, 1821.
Dostoevsky's paternal ancestors were primarily merchants.
Answer: False
Explanation: While Dostoevsky's maternal ancestors were merchants, his paternal line consisted of priests and traced back to a Tatar warlord.
Fyodor Dostoevsky's father, Mikhail Dostoevsky, served as a military doctor.
Answer: True
Explanation: Mikhail Dostoevsky, Fyodor's father, was indeed a military doctor who served in Moscow's Imperial Medical-Surgical Academy.
Dostoevsky's childhood was spent in a wealthy district of Moscow, away from the lower strata of society.
Answer: False
Explanation: Dostoevsky's childhood was spent at the Mariinsky Hospital for the Poor, a lower-class district, exposing him to the realities of society's less fortunate.
Dostoevsky found the Military Engineering Institute engaging due to his strong interest in mathematics and military strategy.
Answer: False
Explanation: Dostoevsky disliked the Military Engineering Institute, finding its curriculum in science, mathematics, and military engineering to be a 'fetter' rather than a calling, as he preferred drawing and architecture.
Despite being solitary, Dostoevsky was respected by his classmates at the military academy for his fairness and criticism of corruption.
Answer: True
Explanation: Dostoevsky, though solitary, earned the respect of his peers at the military academy due to his sense of justice, protection of others, criticism of corruption, and assistance to farmers.
In which city was Fyodor Dostoevsky born?
Answer: Moscow
Explanation: Fyodor Dostoevsky was born in Moscow, Russia, on November 11, 1821.
What was the primary occupation of Fyodor Dostoevsky's father?
Answer: Military doctor
Explanation: Fyodor Dostoevsky's father, Mikhail Dostoevsky, was a military doctor who served in Moscow.
Dostoevsky's childhood environment at the Mariinsky Hospital exposed him to:
Answer: The lower strata of Russian society and hospital patients
Explanation: Raised at the Mariinsky Hospital for the Poor, Dostoevsky's childhood environment exposed him to patients from the lower strata of Russian society.
Dostoevsky's dislike for the Military Engineering Institute stemmed from his lack of interest in:
Answer: Science, mathematics, and military engineering
Explanation: Dostoevsky's aversion to the Military Engineering Institute arose from his disinterest in science, mathematics, and military engineering, preferring subjects like drawing and architecture.
What nickname did Dostoevsky earn from his classmates at the military academy due to his reclusiveness and interest in religion?
Answer: Monk Photius
Explanation: Dostoevsky's reclusiveness and religious interests at the military academy led his classmates to nickname him 'Monk Photius'.
Dostoevsky's paternal ancestry traces back to a Tatar warlord named:
Answer: Aslan Chelebi-Murza
Explanation: Dostoevsky's paternal ancestry is traced back to a Tatar warlord named Aslan Chelebi-Murza.
The Dostoevsky family name is derived from the Old Polish word 'dostojnik,' meaning:
Answer: Dignitary
Explanation: The Dostoevsky family name originates from the Old Polish word 'dostojnik,' which translates to 'dignitary'.
Dostoevsky's first marriage to Maria Dmitriyevna Isaeva was characterized by mutual happiness and stability.
Answer: False
Explanation: Dostoevsky's first marriage to Maria Dmitriyevna Isaeva was marked by unhappiness, her difficult character, and his frequent epileptic seizures, leading to frequent separations.
Dostoevsky met his second wife, Anna Grigoryevna Snitkina, while she was his stenographer for the novel 'The Gambler'.
Answer: True
Explanation: Dostoevsky met Anna Grigoryevna Snitkina, his second wife, in 1866 when she worked as his stenographer for the novel 'The Gambler'.
Dostoevsky's gambling addiction began after his marriage to Anna Snitkina and was a primary cause of their financial stability.
Answer: False
Explanation: Dostoevsky's gambling addiction began before his marriage to Anna Snitkina and caused significant financial hardship, despite her efforts to manage their affairs.
The birth and subsequent death of his daughter Sofya during his honeymoon deeply affected Dostoevsky.
Answer: True
Explanation: The death of his infant daughter Sofya during his honeymoon in Europe in 1868 was a profound tragedy that deeply affected Dostoevsky.
Dostoevsky's final request was for the parable of the Good Samaritan to be read to his children.
Answer: False
Explanation: Dostoevsky's final request was for the parable of the Prodigal Son to be read to his children, not the parable of the Good Samaritan.
Dostoevsky's first marriage to Maria Dmitriyevna Isaeva was marked by:
Answer: Unhappiness, her difficult character, and his epilepsy
Explanation: Dostoevsky's first marriage to Maria Dmitriyevna Isaeva was characterized by significant unhappiness, her challenging disposition, and his recurring epileptic seizures.
What personal tragedy did Dostoevsky and Anna experience during their honeymoon in Europe?
Answer: The death of their newborn daughter, Sofya
Explanation: During their honeymoon in Europe, Dostoevsky and his wife Anna experienced the profound tragedy of their infant daughter Sofya's death.
What parable did Dostoevsky request be read to his children in his final moments?
Answer: The Prodigal Son
Explanation: In his final moments, Dostoevsky requested that the parable of the Prodigal Son be read to his children.
Dostoevsky was arrested in 1849 for his involvement with a literary group that discussed banned books critical of the Tsarist regime.
Answer: True
Explanation: In 1849, Dostoevsky was arrested due to his participation in the Petrashevsky Circle, a group known for discussing literature critical of the Tsarist government.
Dostoevsky's death sentence for his political activities was carried out without commutation.
Answer: False
Explanation: Dostoevsky's death sentence was commuted at the last moment to hard labor and military service in Siberia.
During his Siberian exile, Dostoevsky received copies of the New Testament from Decembrist women.
Answer: True
Explanation: In Tobolsk, Dostoevsky and other prisoners were given copies of the New Testament by Decembrist women.
Dostoevsky's first published work after his Siberian exile was 'The Brothers Karamazov'.
Answer: False
Explanation: Dostoevsky's first published work after his Siberian exile was 'The House of the Dead' in 1861, not 'The Brothers Karamazov'.
Dostoevsky's arrest in 1849 was due to his participation in which group?
Answer: The Petrashevsky Circle
Explanation: Dostoevsky's arrest in 1849 stemmed from his involvement with the Petrashevsky Circle, a group discussing banned literature critical of the Tsarist regime.
After his arrest, Dostoevsky was sentenced to death, but this was commuted to:
Answer: Exile to Siberia for hard labor and military service
Explanation: Following his death sentence commutation, Dostoevsky was sent to Siberia for four years of hard labor and subsequent military service in exile.
What was Dostoevsky's first published work after his release from Siberian exile?
Answer: *The House of the Dead*
Explanation: Dostoevsky's first published work following his release from Siberian exile was 'The House of the Dead' in 1861, a novel based on his prison experiences.
Fyodor Dostoevsky's literary reputation is primarily based on his novels, with his contributions to poetry and playwriting being secondary.
Answer: True
Explanation: Fyodor Dostoevsky is renowned primarily as a novelist and short story writer; his contributions to poetry and drama are considered secondary to his prolific novelistic output.
Dostoevsky's early literary influences included works by Shakespeare and Dante.
Answer: False
Explanation: The provided information lists influences such as Pushkin, Gogol, Schiller, and Goethe, but does not mention Shakespeare or Dante as early literary influences.
Dostoevsky's first completed literary work was his novel 'Poor Folk'.
Answer: False
Explanation: Dostoevsky's first completed literary work was a translation of Honoré de Balzac's 'Eugénie Grandet'. His first original novel was 'Poor Folk'.
Dostoevsky's novel 'Poor Folk' was met with critical acclaim and commercial success upon its publication.
Answer: True
Explanation: Upon its publication in 1846, Dostoevsky's novel 'Poor Folk' received significant critical acclaim, with Vissarion Belinsky calling it Russia's first 'social novel,' leading to commercial success.
Dostoevsky burned several manuscripts, including parts of 'The Idiot', before returning to Russia in 1871 to avoid confiscation by customs officials.
Answer: True
Explanation: Upon returning to Russia in 1871, Dostoevsky destroyed several manuscripts, including portions of 'The Idiot,' to prevent potential confiscation by customs officials.
Fyodor Dostoevsky is primarily recognized as a:
Answer: Russian novelist, short story writer, essayist, and journalist
Explanation: Fyodor Dostoevsky is primarily recognized for his significant contributions as a Russian novelist, short story writer, essayist, and journalist.
Which of the following was NOT mentioned as an early literary influence on Dostoevsky?
Answer: Leo Tolstoy
Explanation: The provided information lists Nikolai Karamzin, Friedrich Schiller, and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe as early literary influences, but does not mention Leo Tolstoy.
Dostoevsky's first completed literary work was a translation of a novel by which French author?
Answer: Honoré de Balzac
Explanation: Fyodor Dostoevsky's first completed literary work was a translation of Honoré de Balzac's novel 'Eugénie Grandet'.
Who described Dostoevsky's first novel, *Poor Folk*, as Russia's first 'social novel'?
Answer: Vissarion Belinsky
Explanation: The influential literary critic Vissarion Belinsky described Dostoevsky's first novel, 'Poor Folk,' as Russia's inaugural 'social novel'.
Which of the following is NOT a genre Dostoevsky contributed to?
Answer: Poetry and drama
Explanation: While Dostoevsky contributed to poetry, the provided information does not indicate significant contributions to drama as a genre.
Dostoevsky's novella 'Notes from Underground' is considered an early example of existentialist literature.
Answer: True
Explanation: Published in 1864, Dostoevsky's novella 'Notes from Underground' is widely recognized as a seminal work in existentialist literature, exploring themes of alienation and free will.
Dostoevsky's primary motivation for writing 'The Idiot' was to depict a 'positively evil and corrupt man'.
Answer: False
Explanation: Dostoevsky's aim in writing 'The Idiot' was to portray his ideal of a 'positively good and beautiful man,' embodied by Prince Myshkin.
The novel 'Demons' was inspired by the murder of a socialist revolutionary by his own group.
Answer: True
Explanation: Dostoevsky began writing 'Demons' following the 1869 murder of Ivan Ivanov by members of his own revolutionary group, using the event to critique nihilism and radical movements.
Which of the following is NOT listed as one of Dostoevsky's most acclaimed novels?
Answer: *Notes from Underground*
Explanation: While 'Notes from Underground' is a significant work, the provided information lists 'Crime and Punishment,' 'The Idiot,' and 'The Brothers Karamazov' among Dostoevsky's most acclaimed novels, classifying 'Notes from Underground' as a novella.
Dostoevsky's motivation for writing *The Idiot* was to portray:
Answer: A 'positively good and beautiful man'
Explanation: Dostoevsky's intention in writing 'The Idiot' was to depict his ideal of a 'positively good and beautiful man,' exemplified by Prince Lev Nikolayevich Myshkin.
The novel *Demons* serves as a critique of which societal trend?
Answer: Nihilism and radical political movements
Explanation: Dostoevsky's novel 'Demons' functions as a critique of nihilism and radical political movements prevalent in Russia during the 1860s.
What was the central theme explored in Dostoevsky's novel *Crime and Punishment*?
Answer: The psychological and spiritual torment following murder
Explanation: The central theme of Dostoevsky's 'Crime and Punishment' is the profound psychological and spiritual torment experienced by the protagonist after committing murder.
During his first trip to Western Europe in 1862, Dostoevsky was impressed by its social modernization and capitalism.
Answer: False
Explanation: During his 1862 trip to Western Europe, Dostoevsky was critical of capitalism, social modernization, and materialism, viewing them as symbols of a soulless society.
Dostoevsky's political views evolved towards liberalism and skepticism of the Tsar's authority later in his life.
Answer: False
Explanation: Dostoevsky's political views solidified towards conservatism later in life, emphasizing unity between the Tsar and the people and expressing skepticism towards Western political models.
Dostoevsky believed that if people truly lived by Christian love and morality, societal problems would naturally be resolved.
Answer: True
Explanation: Dostoevsky posited that adherence to Christian love and morality by individuals would inherently resolve societal issues, negating the need for complex political structures.
Dostoevsky viewed Russian Orthodoxy as the least ideal of the three major 'world ideas' he identified.
Answer: False
Explanation: Dostoevsky considered Russian Orthodoxy to be the ideal form of Christianity among the three major 'world ideas' he identified, critiquing Catholicism and Protestantism.
During his 1862 trip to Western Europe, Dostoevsky criticized:
Answer: Capitalism, social modernization, and materialism
Explanation: Dostoevsky's critique during his 1862 European journey focused on capitalism, social modernization, and materialism, which he perceived as detrimental to spiritual values.
Dostoevsky's political views later in life were characterized by:
Answer: Solidification towards conservatism and unity of Tsar and people
Explanation: Later in life, Dostoevsky's political views solidified into conservatism, emphasizing the unity of the Tsar and the people and showing skepticism towards Western constitutionalism.
Dostoevsky viewed Russian Orthodoxy as:
Answer: The ideal form of Christianity
Explanation: Dostoevsky considered Russian Orthodoxy to be the ideal form of Christianity, contrasting it with his critiques of Catholicism and Protestantism.
Dostoevsky's work 'A Writer's Diary' was a collection of short stories that gained little popularity.
Answer: False
Explanation: Fyodor Dostoevsky's 'A Writer's Diary' was a collection of essays, stories, and reflections that became very popular, rather than being solely short stories that gained little recognition.
Dostoevsky's Pushkin Speech in 1880 was met with indifference from the public and critics.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Pushkin Speech in 1880 was met with considerable acclaim, including thunderous applause and praise for its prophetic tone, rather than indifference from the public and critics.
Mikhail Bakhtin's theory of the 'polyphonic novel' is a key analysis of Dostoevsky's narrative technique.
Answer: True
Explanation: Mikhail Bakhtin's theory of the 'polyphonic novel,' which describes the presence of multiple independent narrative voices, is a foundational concept for analyzing Dostoevsky's narrative technique.
Vladimir Nabokov praised Dostoevsky as a master of psychological realism and subtle character development.
Answer: False
Explanation: Vladimir Nabokov did not praise Dostoevsky; instead, he criticized his novels for their characters being 'neurotics and lunatics' with contrived plots and a lack of development.
The inscription on Dostoevsky's tombstone is a quote from the Gospel of John about a corn of wheat.
Answer: True
Explanation: The inscription on Fyodor Dostoevsky's tombstone is indeed a quote from the Gospel of John (12:24) concerning a corn of wheat dying to bring forth fruit.
Dostoevsky's works have been translated into over 170 languages, with Constance Garnett's translations significantly popularizing him in English-speaking countries.
Answer: True
Explanation: Dostoevsky's works have been translated into more than 170 languages, and Constance Garnett's translations played a crucial role in their popularity in English-speaking regions.
Sigmund Freud considered Dostoevsky to be the greatest creative writer of all time.
Answer: False
Explanation: Sigmund Freud ranked Dostoevsky second only to William Shakespeare as a creative writer, not as the greatest of all time.
What did Sigmund Freud rank Dostoevsky as in terms of creative writing?
Answer: Second only to William Shakespeare
Explanation: Sigmund Freud ranked Dostoevsky second only to William Shakespeare as a creative writer, acknowledging his profound insight into the human psyche.
Which literary theorist analyzed Dostoevsky's work using the concept of the 'polyphonic novel'?
Answer: Mikhail Bakhtin
Explanation: The literary theorist Mikhail Bakhtin analyzed Dostoevsky's narrative technique through his concept of the 'polyphonic novel'.
Vladimir Nabokov's criticism of Dostoevsky included:
Answer: Characters being 'neurotics and lunatics' with contrived plots
Explanation: Vladimir Nabokov criticized Dostoevsky's novels for featuring characters he deemed 'neurotics and lunatics' and for employing contrived plots.
The inscription on Dostoevsky's tombstone is a quote from which biblical book?
Answer: The Gospel of John
Explanation: The inscription on Fyodor Dostoevsky's tombstone is a quote from the Gospel of John.