Study questions on Gogol

"The Overcoat"
 

  1. What does the narrator make us feel about Akaky's character?
  2. Why is the story of how he got his name important?
  3. What is interesting about the way Akaky works? What about his non-working time?
  4. What is distinctive about the characterization of Akaky's tailor?
  5. Why does the narrator tell us that the image of the new coat became "like a wife" to Akaky?
  6. What do Akaky's eating habits tell us about him?
  7. Choose some examples of unusual description by the narrator.
  8. Is the narrator sympathetic to Akaky?
  9. What is the role of religion in this story?
  10. In what way(s) is the overcoat the cause of Akaky's demise?
  11. What is the role of the "Important Person"? Why is he in the story?
  12. What do you make of the ghost story at the end?  Why is it included in the tale?

Diary of a Madman

What is Poprischin's place in society?

How does he overhear the dogs' conversation?

What is significant about the letters that he finds? (That is, what do you notice about them?)

Why is P frustrated with the content of the letters?

Why does the dog insult P in the letter?

Why does P state that dogs are smarter than humans?

What does P really want? What is his greatest concern in his life?

What leads to his discovery that he is the King of Spain?

How do you answer P's question, "Why am I a titular councillor and what is the point of my being a titular councillor?" (3 Dec.)

Nevsky Prospect

What is the tone of the introduction to “Nevsky Prospect”?

What does the narrator seem to think of this place?

Why does the introduction last so long?

How do Piskaryov and Pirogov differ in their attitudes?

What is the nature of Piskaryov’s fascination?

Why is he disappointed?

What is the nature of Pirogov’s obsession?

What does the narrator tell us of Pirogov’s social class?

What role does social class or rank play in the story?

The Nose

What is unusual about the first few pages of “The Nose” (other than the nose)?

What is the narrator’s tone?Is it appropriate to the story?

What is most troubling to Kovalyov about the loss of his nose?

What is striking about his meeting with his Nose at the cathedral?

Why won’t the newspaper accept his advertisement?

Why did Kovalyov turn to the superintendent of police?

Why does K say it would have been better to have lost a leg?

How does K get his nose back?

Why does he write a letter to Mme Chekhtaryova?

Why do crowds gather for viewings of the nose? What do they see?

How is the nose reattached?

How does the narrator make sense of his story at the end?