Crime and Punishment
Reading Guide – Part VI
Chapter 1

Compare the funeral arrangements for Katerina Marmeladov to those for her husband in the
early chapters. What is your estimation of Svidrigaylov? What gives him purpose?
Razumikhin visits Raskolnikov here and is angry with Raskolnikov. Why? Do you think
Razumihin is justified? What does Razumikhin tell Raskolnikov about a letter that Dunya
has received? Why has Razumihin talked with Porfiry Petrovich and what has he told him?
Chapter 2

Porfiry Petrovich visits Raskolnikov in this chapter. He explains everything to Raskolnikov.
What has Porfiry Petrovich thought and what has he done to trick Raskolnikov? When
Raskolnikov asks him who he thinks is responsible for the murder, what does Porfiry say?
How did you respond to that? [It made me shiver.] What does Porfiry say he wants
Raskolnikov to do? What is your opinion of Porfiry Petrovich at this time?
Chapter 3


[In the last chapter and in this chapter also several allusions are made to Schiller. Schiller
was a German romantic poet usually associated with being an idealist.]
Raskolnikov feels compelled to seek out Svidrigaylov, but he isn’t sure why? Why do you
think? As he walks (an alternate way), he sees him sitting in a tavern. Pay close attention to
this strange conversation. Raskolnikov tells him he will do what if Svidrigaylov persists in
trying to see Dunya? Why, according to Svidrigaylov, is he attracted to women; how does he
explain this passion he feels? What is your response to what he says? Svidrigaylov then
says he will relate the narrative of his relationship to Dunya and how Dunya initiated his love
for her. [That is the next chapter, but as you read this consider your feelings about
Svidrigaylov—can you trust him as a narrator of events? I guess if your answer is no; my
question would be why not?]
Chapter 4

I might ask you on a quiz to relate the events of this narrative that Svidrigaylov tells.
Svidrigailov then tells Raskolnikov about his thirteen-year-old betrothed. What is your
reaction to that?
Chapter 5

Svidrigailov tricks Raskolnikov and meets Dunya on the bridge he instructed her to meet him
on in the letter. How would you describe her? Where do they go? How did that make you
feel? What does he tell her about Raskolnikov? What convinces her to believe what he says
is true? What is Svidrigaylov’s intention?

Pay attention to who has a gun here and where the gun came from. What causes
Svidrigaylov to stop doing what he intended? How did you react to what happened when
Dunya tells him how she feels about him? Is Svidrigaylov’s behavior believable? How do
you feel about him now? What do you think will happen now to Svidrigaylov?
Chapter 6




Prepare yourself for an exciting chapter. This is totally devoted to Svidrigaylov. After
walking in the storm, he returns to his room soaking wet and goes to Sonya’s room. What
does he give Sonya and what does he say Raskolnikov’s two choices are?
He then visits his betrothed and what does he give to her?
He then “crosses a bridge” [we haven’t said much about it, but crossing bridges is very
important in this novel—maybe you could write a research paper on it in college], and goes
to a hotel. Please read carefully here about Svidrigailov’s three dreams. [Do they compare
to Raskolnikov’s dreams—I don’t really think so, but they are important.] Can you interpret
the images in these dreams? [The dreams begin on page 428, “He was slipping into
forgetfulness. . .”—they end on page 431—“He was still on the bed,. . .”
He leaves the hotel and calls the porter Achilles. Why? Then what happens?
Chapter 7


Raskolnikov has made a decision. He first visits his mother. How do you respond to this
scene? Is the way he acts consistent with what you expect (although you don’t know what he
is going to do)?
When Raskolnikov returns home, Dunya is there. They cry and say good-bye. Touching
little scene, but what troubles me is what Raskolnikov says he hasn’t done? How do you
respond to that? Is that consistent to his character? Notice how he feels about mankind as he
looks out the window. How does that make you feel about him?
Chapter 8

What an incredible chapter—what an ending to this wonderful book. Don’t you agree? I
don’t want to give it away, but I think a good quiz question might be for you to summarize
the events that happen here. Remember, if you can, try not to read the Epilogue. I wonder
what you think about the ending now? Is it complete? What do you want to happen? Write
down briefly what you want to happen or wanted to happen.