Part III - Chapter V Practice Quiz — Crime and Punishment
by Fyodor Dostoevsky — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Part III - Chapter V
Why does Raskolnikov visit Porfiry Petrovich in Part III, Chapter V?
He comes ostensibly to reclaim items (a silver watch and a ring) he had pawned with the murdered pawnbroker Alyona Ivanovna.
How does Raskolnikov disguise his anxiety when arriving at Porfiry's office?
He uses an exaggerated fit of laughter, prompted by teasing Razumikhin about being compared to Romeo, to appear relaxed and natural.
What article does Porfiry reveal he has read, and how did Raskolnikov react?
Porfiry reveals he read Raskolnikov's article "On Crime" in the Periodical Review. Raskolnikov is surprised because he didn't know it had been published—he had sent it to the Weekly Review, which was later amalgamated with the Periodical.
What three questions about faith does Porfiry ask Raskolnikov?
He asks whether Raskolnikov believes in the New Jerusalem, whether he believes in God, and whether he believes literally in the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Raskolnikov answers yes to all three.
What trap does Porfiry set at the end of the chapter regarding the painters?
Porfiry asks whether Raskolnikov saw painters working in a second-floor flat when he visited the pawnbroker. The painters were actually there on the day of the murder, not during Raskolnikov's earlier visit. Raskolnikov catches the trick and denies seeing them.
How does Razumikhin inadvertently help Raskolnikov evade Porfiry's painter trap?
Razumikhin shouts that the painters were there on the day of the murder, not three days before when Raskolnikov claims to have visited, exposing Porfiry's "muddle" and allowing Raskolnikov to avoid the trap.
What does Zametov say that nearly causes an open confrontation?
Zametov blurts out: "Perhaps it was one of these future Napoleons who did for Alyona Ivanovna last week?" — directly connecting Raskolnikov's theory to the actual murder.
What does Porfiry ask Raskolnikov to do before the visit ends?
He asks Raskolnikov to come back the next day at eleven o'clock, noting he might be able to tell them something as one of the last people to have visited the pawnbroker.
How is Porfiry Petrovich physically described in this chapter?
He is about thirty-five, short, stout to the point of corpulence, clean-shaven, with a large round head. His face is "sickly yellowish" with a "somewhat womanish figure," but his eyes have a "watery, mawkish light" that gives him "something far more serious than could be guessed at first sight."
What psychological strategy does Porfiry use throughout the interrogation?
He maintains a genial, seemingly absent-minded exterior while asking surgically precise questions. He pretends to muddle facts, offers excessive politeness, and uses the discussion of Raskolnikov's article to probe his psychology without making direct accusations.
What role does Razumikhin play in the debate about crime and environment?
He passionately argues against the socialist position that crime is solely a product of environment, insisting that human nature and "the living soul" cannot be reduced to mechanical theories or utopian planning.
Why does the presence of Zametov unsettle Raskolnikov?
Raskolnikov had previously taunted Zametov at a tavern with veiled hints about the murder. Finding him at Porfiry's office suggests the police are coordinating their investigation and may have discussed his suspicious behavior.
What does Raskolnikov's internal monologue reveal about his mental state during the visit?
His thoughts are frantic and paranoid: "They simply spit in my face... Come, strike me openly, don't play with me like a cat with a mouse." He constantly monitors whether his acting is convincing and suspects every remark carries hidden meaning.
What is the central philosophical conflict explored in Part III, Chapter V?
The conflict between moral rationalism and conscience. Raskolnikov's theory uses reason to justify transgression, but his physical agitation (trembling, anger, near-fainting) reveals a conscience that contradicts his philosophy.
How does the chapter explore the theme of ordinary versus extraordinary people?
Raskolnikov argues that extraordinary people have an inner right to transgress laws for the sake of their ideas, while ordinary people must live in submission. Porfiry then forces him to confront whether he considers himself extraordinary—and whether that belief led him to act.
What does the Lazarus motif symbolize in Crime and Punishment?
The raising of Lazarus from the dead symbolizes the possibility of spiritual resurrection and redemption. Raskolnikov's literal belief in the miracle contradicts his rational philosophy and foreshadows his eventual moral rebirth later in the novel.
How does the chapter reflect the intellectual climate of 1860s Russia?
The debate about environment versus human nature in crime reflects the era's clash between utilitarian/materialist philosophies (which Razumikhin attacks as reducing humans to "India-rubber") and traditional moral/religious frameworks.
How does Dostoevsky use dramatic irony in Part III, Chapter V?
The reader knows Raskolnikov is the murderer, so every question from Porfiry carries double meaning. When Porfiry asks about "future Napoleons" who might "remove obstacles" or when he asks about the painters, the audience recognizes traps that other characters do not fully see.
What is the function of interior monologue in this chapter?
Dostoevsky gives direct access to Raskolnikov's frantic thoughts ("He knows," "Was it right? Was it natural? Did I overdo it?"), creating a dramatic split between his outward composure and internal panic.
How does the Socratic dialogue form serve the chapter's purpose?
Porfiry uses the format of intellectual discussion to lead Raskolnikov toward self-incrimination. By asking seemingly abstract philosophical questions, he forces Raskolnikov to reveal his mindset without making a direct accusation.
What is a "phalanstery" as discussed in Razumikhin's speech?
A phalanstery is an ideal communal building designed by the utopian socialist Charles Fourier. Razumikhin uses it to mock socialist theorists who believe society can be perfected through rational planning while ignoring human nature.
What does "vive la guerre éternelle" mean, and why does Raskolnikov use it?
It means "long live the eternal war" in French. Raskolnikov uses it to express his view that the struggle between ordinary and extraordinary people is a permanent, natural feature of human existence—not something to be resolved but accepted.
What does Raskolnikov mean when he refers to "the New Jerusalem"?
The New Jerusalem is a biblical concept from the Book of Revelation representing a perfected, divine city. When Porfiry asks if Raskolnikov believes in it, he is testing whether Raskolnikov holds religious/spiritual convictions that contradict his rational theory of crime.
Who says "He knows" and what does it reveal?
Raskolnikov thinks "He knows" after Porfiry seems to wink at him during their exchange about the pledges. It reveals Raskolnikov's paranoia and his growing suspicion that Porfiry already suspects him of the murder.
What is the significance of Razumikhin's statement that sanctioning bloodshed "by conscience" is "more terrible" than legal sanction?
It identifies the most radical element of Raskolnikov's theory: by placing individual conscience above the law, it removes all external checks on violence. Even Porfiry agrees this is "more terrible," suggesting the theory's danger is recognized by everyone except Raskolnikov himself.