Part I - Chapter VII Practice Quiz — Crime and Punishment
by Fyodor Dostoevsky — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Part I - Chapter VII
What fake item does Raskolnikov present to Alyona Ivanovna to gain entry to her apartment?
He presents a carefully wrapped object he claims is a silver cigarette case, which he had promised to bring as a pledge on a previous visit.
How does Raskolnikov conceal the axe on his way to the murder?
He carries it in a loop (noose) sewn inside his overcoat, held under his right arm against his body.
Which side of the axe does Raskolnikov use to kill Alyona Ivanovna?
He uses the blunt side of the axe, striking her on the top of the skull. He then deals her "another and another blow" with the blunt side on the same spot.
What does Raskolnikov find on a string around Alyona Ivanovna's neck?
He finds a greasy chamois leather purse stuffed full of money, along with two crosses (one of Cyprus wood and one of copper) and a small silver filigree religious image.
Where does Raskolnikov find the strongbox containing the pawnbroker's valuables?
He finds a large box under Alyona's bed, covered with red leather and studded with steel nails, which opens with the notched key from her key ring.
Who unexpectedly arrives at the apartment while Raskolnikov is searching for valuables?
Lizaveta, Alyona Ivanovna's gentle half-sister, returns carrying a large bundle and discovers her sister's murdered body.
How does Raskolnikov kill Lizaveta, and how does it differ from Alyona's murder?
He strikes Lizaveta with the sharp edge of the axe on her skull, splitting the top of her head. Unlike the blunt-side blows used on Alyona, this is a single devastating strike.
How does Raskolnikov ultimately escape the apartment building?
He hides in a recently vacated painter's flat on the second floor while Koch and the young law student pass on the stairs, then slips out through the gateway when no one is watching.
How does Alyona Ivanovna react when she first sees Raskolnikov at her door?
She stares at him with sharp, suspicious eyes through a tiny crack in the door, and even after he enters, she looks at him "intently, maliciously and mistrustfully" as though she has guessed everything.
How does Dostoevsky describe Lizaveta's reaction when she sees Raskolnikov with the axe?
She begins quivering like a leaf, her mouth twitches "piteously" like a frightened baby's, and she holds out her empty left hand as though motioning him away, too terrified even to raise her hand to protect her face.
Who is Koch, and what role does he play in Chapter VII?
Koch is a client of Alyona's who arrives at her door while Raskolnikov is still inside. He rings the bell loudly and tugs at the door handle, nearly discovering Raskolnikov. He is described as a "big, fat man" with a thick voice.
What does the young law student deduce about the locked door that nearly traps Raskolnikov?
He notices the door is fastened with a hook from the inside rather than locked with a key from outside, which proves someone must be inside the apartment. He suggests fetching the porter to investigate.
What physical symptoms does Raskolnikov exhibit before and during the murder?
He is extremely pale, his hands tremble, his voice breaks and shakes, he experiences giddiness, and his hands grow "more numb and more wooden." Even Alyona notices his pallor and trembling.
How does the murder of Lizaveta undermine Raskolnikov's "extraordinary man" theory?
His theory justified killing Alyona as removing a harmful parasite, but Lizaveta is innocent and harmless — exactly the type of person the theory claimed to protect. Her murder reveals Raskolnikov as a common criminal acting on instinct, not a principled transgressor.
What theme does the open front door symbolize in Chapter VII?
The door being open the entire time without Raskolnikov noticing represents the gap between his intellectual planning and chaotic reality. His theory assumed total rational control, but he cannot even manage basic details during the actual crime.
How do coincidences in Chapter VII challenge Raskolnikov's belief in rational control?
Lizaveta's unexpected return, Koch's arrival, and the painters' perfectly timed departure all show that events are shaped by forces beyond rational planning, undermining his belief that an extraordinary man can control outcomes through intellect alone.
What religious symbols appear in the chapter, and what do they foreshadow?
Two crosses and a silver religious image are found in Alyona's purse alongside her money. Raskolnikov flings them onto her body. These Christian symbols foreshadow the spiritual reckoning and path to redemption that will unfold throughout the novel.
What is the dramatic irony in Koch's words at the door?
Koch shouts "Are they asleep or murdered?" — unknowingly speaking the literal truth. The reader knows the women are dead while Koch uses the word "murdered" merely as an expression of frustration.
How does Dostoevsky use pacing as a literary device in this chapter?
The murder itself is described in rapid, almost mechanical prose, while the aftermath and escape unfold in agonizingly slow detail — fumbling with keys, hiding behind the door, listening to footsteps. This alternation between speed and stillness mirrors Raskolnikov's oscillation between panic and paralysis.
What simile does Dostoevsky use to describe the blood from Alyona's wound?
He writes that "the blood gushed as from an overturned glass," comparing the flow of blood to liquid pouring from a tipped vessel, emphasizing both the volume and the suddenness of the bleeding.
What dream-like imagery does Dostoevsky use to describe Raskolnikov's psychological state?
Raskolnikov feels "turned to stone" and "rooted to the spot" as though in a nightmare where one is pursued but cannot move. Later, "a sort of blankness, even dreaminess" takes possession of him, conveying his psychological dissociation from reality.
What does the word "pledge" mean in the context of this chapter?
A pledge is an item left with a pawnbroker as security for a loan. Raskolnikov's fake pledge — the wrapped "cigarette case" — serves as his pretext for gaining entry to Alyona's apartment.
What is a "chamois leather purse" as described in the chapter?
Chamois leather is a type of soft, pliable leather originally made from the skin of the chamois mountain goat. Alyona's purse is described as "a small greasy chamois leather purse with a steel rim and ring," found on a string around her neck.
What is the significance of the quote "It's red, and on red blood will be less noticeable"?
Raskolnikov thinks this while wiping his bloody hands on a red brocade coat from the strongbox. It reveals his attempt to maintain rational calculation even amid mounting horror, but he immediately catches himself, thinking "Good God, am I going out of my senses?"
What does Raskolnikov mean when he thinks he might "end it all at once and shout to them through the door"?
While hiding behind the door as Koch and the young man knock, Raskolnikov considers confessing and surrendering on the spot. This impulse toward self-destruction and confession recurs throughout the novel, reflecting his deep psychological need for punishment.