Short Story Unit Review Sheet
Who is…
Akakiy Akakievitch Bashmatchkin:
Petrovitch:
Wife of Petrovitch:
Bearded Assailants:
Landlady of Bashmatchin: Elderly woman who advises Akakiy to report the theft of his cloak to the district police chief.
District Police Chief: Official who hears Akakiy's report about his stolen cloak. The policeman asks Akakiy embarrassing questions, as if he were a criminal. The policeman is of no help.
Employee With Advice: Coworker of Akakiy who advises him to see a certain prominent personage in a government office who will help Akakiy track down his stolen cloak.
Prominent Personage: Bureaucrat mainly concerned with demonstrating the power he wields as a supervisor. He critcizes Akakiy for not going through the proper government channels to get an interview. He is of no help.
Physician:
Various Government Officials, Watchmen
Two women, arguing about whose life was better; a life with or without possessions.
Pahom:
The Devil: He set a trap for Pahom, and gave him more and more land until he died from his greed.
The Bashkirs: They were giving out land to anyone who wanted it - provided they could walk the perimeter of it in one day. They indubitably set many traps for greedy people, so they could get more money. They took advantage of the greed of others, and in a sense it gives them what they deserve. They are sympathetic to Pahom's death, but as it was his greed that caused it, they don't seem to be too upset.
Mathilde Loisel –
Monsieur Loisel-
Madame Forestier-
Captain Torres-
The barber-
Review your Study guide Questions for “The Overcoat”, “How Much Land does a Man Need” and “The Necklace”; Review the content for “Just Lather, that’s all”.
Could you compare and contrast the three short stories?
Could you make connections between the short stories?
Could you identify characteristics of the literary movements of Romanticism and Realism?
Could you identify Romanticism and Realism ideas in the short stories?
Why is this quote significant? “If I had plenty of land, I shouldn’t fear the Devil himself!”
What is ironic about Pahom’s death?
What is ironic about the fake necklace?
What is ironic about the ending of “The Necklace”?
How would you characterize Madame Loisel?
How would you characterize Akakiy?
How would you characterize Pahom?
Compare and contrast Madame Loisel and Akakiy.
Compare and Contrast Pahom and Madame Loisel and Akakiy.
How are the themes of contentment, want vs. need, being a victim, humanity or lack of it, and moral decision making applied to the short stories we discussed?
Why is this quote significant? “They told me that you’d kill me. I came to find out. But killing isn’t easy. You can take my word for it”
Why is this quote significant? “Just lather, that’s all”
What do these short stories reveal about humanity that facilitates our thinking about ourselves, our communities, our societies?