Part IV - Chapter V Practice Quiz — Crime and Punishment
by Fyodor Dostoevsky — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Part IV - Chapter V
Why does Raskolnikov visit Porfiry Petrovitch at the beginning of Part IV, Chapter V?
He goes to submit a formal written statement about the items he had pawned with the murdered pawnbroker, Alyona Ivanovna.
What surprises Raskolnikov when he first arrives at Porfiry's office?
He is kept waiting at least ten minutes, and no one seems to be watching him or treating him as a suspect—contrary to his expectation that they would "pounce upon him."
What does Porfiry do with the paper Raskolnikov brings about the pawned watch?
He hastily glances at it, declares it "all right," sets it on the table, and a minute later casually moves it to his bureau—treating it as unimportant.
What does Raskolnikov demand of Porfiry during their confrontation?
He demands that Porfiry either formally charge and arrest him or acknowledge he is free from suspicion and let him go.
What does Porfiry reveal he knows about Raskolnikov's behavior after the murder?
He knows that Raskolnikov went to the murdered woman's flat at night, rang the bell, and asked about blood—alarming the workmen and the porter.
What is Porfiry's "little surprise" at the end of the chapter?
A person locked behind a door in his office. Porfiry says "I locked him in that he should not escape," but the identity is not revealed in this chapter.
How does Part IV, Chapter V end?
With a cliffhanger: Raskolnikov rushes at Porfiry in fury after being told about the surprise, and then "a strange incident occurred, something so unexpected that neither Raskolnikov nor Porfiry Petrovitch could have looked for such a conclusion."
How does Dostoevsky describe Porfiry Petrovitch's physical appearance in this chapter?
As a "fat round little figure" that looks "like a ball rolling from one side to the other and rebounding back," constantly moving around the room.
What strategy does Raskolnikov plan to use before entering Porfiry's office?
He resolves to keep silent as much as possible, watch and listen, and control his overstrained nerves—but he ultimately fails to maintain this composure.
What does Porfiry say about his own personality and career?
He calls himself a bachelor of no consequence, admits he has a "nasty, ironical temper," and says he missed his proper career—he should have been in the army, perhaps a major.
How does Porfiry describe the relationship between himself and Raskolnikov?
He compares them to two clever Petersburg men who respect each other but cannot find a subject of conversation—and insists he has a "sincere liking" for Raskolnikov.
Who is Razumihin (Dmitri Prokofitch) in relation to this chapter's events?
Raskolnikov's loyal friend who visited Porfiry the day before to defend Raskolnikov. Porfiry mentions this visit and uses information from Razumihin against Raskolnikov.
What does Porfiry's butterfly metaphor illustrate about the theme of guilt?
That a guilty person, like a butterfly around a candle, will keep circling closer to the investigator until he is consumed—guilt makes escape psychologically impossible.
How does this chapter challenge Raskolnikov's "extraordinary man" theory?
Porfiry argues that no matter how intelligent a criminal is, his temperament and nerves will betray him. Raskolnikov's own loss of composure during the interview proves this point.
What role does the theme of "illness vs. sanity" play in this chapter?
Porfiry offers Raskolnikov a psychological escape by suggesting his suspicious actions were done in delirium. But this is a trap: if Raskolnikov denies delirium, he admits to acting rationally and deliberately.
How does the chapter explore the theme of power and control?
Porfiry controls the encounter through misdirection and psychological manipulation, while Raskolnikov tries and fails to maintain power through silence and demands. The magistrate proves that institutional patience can outlast individual will.
What is the dramatic irony in Part IV, Chapter V?
Both Raskolnikov and Porfiry know Raskolnikov is guilty, but Porfiry maintains the pretense of having no suspicion while systematically provoking a confession—and the reader watches this game unfold with full knowledge.
What military allusions does Porfiry make and why?
He references the Austrian Hof-kriegsrath (War Council), General Mack's surrender to Napoleon, and the Siege of Sevastopol. These frame the interrogation as a military campaign where premature action (like premature arrest) leads to defeat.
How does Dostoevsky use the motif of physical space in this chapter?
The closed office creates a claustrophobic atmosphere, Porfiry repeatedly pauses near the door (suggesting someone is listening), and the locked door with the "surprise" behind it becomes a symbol of the trap closing around Raskolnikov.
What narrative technique does Dostoevsky use at the chapter's conclusion?
A cliffhanger—the narrator states that "something so unexpected" occurred that neither character could have anticipated it, cutting off the scene and forcing the reader into the next chapter.
What does "tout court" mean as used by Porfiry?
A French phrase meaning "simply" or "without further ado." Porfiry uses it when apologizing for calling Raskolnikov "my dear fellow" and "old man"—his use of French signals his educated social class.
What does "c'est de rigueur" mean in Porfiry's conversation?
A French phrase meaning "it is required by etiquette" or "it is the done thing." Porfiry uses it to describe how people in high society always have ready subjects of conversation, unlike "thinking people" like himself and Raskolnikov.
What is a "Hof-kriegsrath" as Porfiry mentions it?
The Austrian Imperial War Council (Hofkriegsrat)—a military bureaucracy famous for planning brilliant campaigns on paper that failed in practice. Porfiry uses it as an analogy for people whose theories don't survive contact with reality.
Who says: "He'll keep circling round me, getting nearer and nearer and then—flop! He'll fly straight into my mouth and I'll swallow him"?
Porfiry Petrovitch, describing his philosophy of investigation. He compares the guilty suspect to a butterfly drawn to a candle flame, arguing that psychological pressure makes escape impossible.
Who says: "I won't allow it!" and what is the context?
Raskolnikov, shouting while slamming his fist on the table. He is protesting Porfiry's psychological manipulation and demanding to be either formally charged or released from suspicion.
Who says: "He lied incomparably, but he didn't reckon on his temperament. That's what betrays him!"?
Porfiry Petrovitch, explaining how even the most intelligent criminals are undone by their own nervous reactions. This directly applies to Raskolnikov, whose composure keeps breaking throughout the interview.