Questions on Notes from Underground:

What is the narrator's motivation for writing this "memoir"?

What are some of his surprising philosophical positions?

Who, according to him, will read this memoir?

Read the footnote on the first page. Why does Dostoevsky say such a person "must" exist in his era?

What is the main disease of modern man, according to the Underground Man?

Why is "2x2=5" attractive?

What is the Crystal Palace?

What is an organ stop?

What is the Underground Man criticizing in Part One?

Questions on Part II:

How do the narratives or "adventures" of part two relate to the "philosophy" of part one?

Why does the UM force himself upon his former friends?

Why does the UM feel driven to humiliate himself?

Why does the UM provoke and challenge Liza's life and profession?

Why does the UM regret giving his address to Liza?

Why is the UM unable to find a way to deliver on his promise to Liza?

What are the key components of the UM's personality and psychology? Why do you suppose Dostoevsky thinks such people "must" exist in his (or our) day? What is it about UM's thought processes that make him reach the conclusions he does and behave as he does?