copyright 1999, Sirpa Grierson

Treasure of the Czars http://www2.sptimes.com/Treasures/TC.2.3.17.html This site is actually the St. Petersburg Times (Florida’s Best Newspaper) site. It has a whole section dedicated to the Florida International Museum, which contained an extensive exhibit entitled “Treasures of the Czars” which included a multitude of interesting artifacts and facts about Russian royalty. Sparknotes http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/crime/index.html Sparknotes.com is a wonderful site to find information on almost any novel, particularly the classics. Each novel site includes analysis of characters, plot overviews, context, themes, as well as the entire text. National Archives Learning Curve http://learningcurve.pro.gov.uk/candp/crime/g07/default.htm The National Archives Learning Curve site has information on various topics, only one of which includes a study of crime through the ages. It contains many pages dedicated to British culture as well as American. Enotes http://www.enotes.com/crime/4160/print Enotes.com is similar to sparknotes.com in that it contains information on hundreds of different novels. It has author biographies, summaries, introductions, etc. Reading Group Guides http://www.readinggroupguides.com/guides2/crime_and_punishment.asp Readinggroupguides.com is a site that offers advice on starting your own reading group. It also serves as a forum for discussing various literary works. The Poe Decoder http://www.poedecoder.com/essays/ttheart/#summary The Poe Decoder is described on the home page in these words: “The Poe Decoder is a project started by a small group of Poe enthusiasts to make criticism and information on Poe and his work available on the Internet. The growing collection of essays in the Poe Decoder is written by qualified people with a great interest in Edgar Allan Poe. We want to provide you with accurate facts on one of the greatest American writers ever, and once and for all put an end to all the lies and rumors that surround his person.” Literature.org http://www.literature.org/authors/poe-edgar-allan/tell-tale-heart.html Literature.org is a site that contains full texts of works by approximately 50 famous authors. There is little else on the site. Discovery School http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/crimeandpunishment/ DiscoverySchool.com is an amazing resource that contains a ton of lesson plans on a ton of subjects. Anything from math to literature to biology is included on this site. This site is also a very credible source, considering Discovery Channel is the official sponsor. Dumb Crooks http://www.dumbcrooks.com/February232004.htm This site contains a collection of stories about people who have attempted to commit crimes but have been to dumb to succeed. It’s good for a laugh. Dostoyevsky http://www.kiosek.com/dostoevsky/contents.html This site contains a lot of information about Dostoyevsky, his works, quotes, chronology, etc. Perhaps one of the most useful things is a links page with over 200 relevant links. St. Petersburg http://www.dux.ru/spb/eng/exurc.htm The parent site (www.dux.ru) is in Russian, so good luck with that, but for some reason there is a section in English about St. Petersburg. Free Papers http://www.courseworkbank.co.uk/coursework/validity_love_fyodor_dostoyevsky_s_crime_punishment_anton_chekhov_s_three_sist_3024/ This is actually a site aimed at providing free papers for students so they don’t have to write their own. Good to know about when you’re actually teaching! It contains some good essays, with some good analyses and comparisons of literary texts. Reviews http://www.kdkragen.com/crime.htm This is a site written by some guy who claims to be a writer. I have never heard of him, which certainly does not mean he’s not a writer, but he has some good reviews of other works, including books and movies. Student Papers http://community.middlebury.edu/~beyer/courses/previous/ru351/studentpapers/ Middlebury College’s site which, obviously from the web address, contains papers from students on many different topics. Catholic Church http://members4.boardhost.com/acnaus/msg/829.html This site is connected with the Catholic church and was useful for the article about the church in Russian prison camps. Forum http://www.kuro5hin.org/print/2004/1/28/161513/969 Consists of a forum regarding various genres of technology, culture, politics, science, etc. Grad Student Papers http://www.cim.mcgill.ca/~simra/books/Dostoyevsky-Crime_and_Punishment.html McGill University’s grad student society that posts papers on various topics. Back to Top Reading Activities (compiled by Jacob Rees) |Pre-Reading | During Reading | Post-Reading | Pre-Reading 1. Evan Goodwin, "little blue light - Fyodor Dostoevsky." Littlebluelight. Evan Goodwin. May 11, 2003 Edition. October 16, 2004 <http://www.littlebluelight.com/lblphp/intro.php?ikey=7> This is a great site that gives detailed facts about Dostoevsky’s life, what he was interested in, major events (including his time in prison), his gambling problem, and his family. Use to arouse students interest about Dostoevsky and “Crime and Punishment” 2. Show film clip of one of the following to create interest: • Crime and Punishment (1935, starring Peter Lorre, Edward Arnold and Marian Marsh) • Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment (1998, a TV movie starring Patrick Dempsey, Ben Kingsley and Julie Delpy) • Crime and Punishment (2002, starring Crispin Glover, Vanessa Redgrave and John Hurt 3. October 16, 2004 <http://www.russia.net/~oldrn/history/revolution.html> Give brief History of Russia to students and provide the context in which Crime and Punishment was written 4. “Reading Guides, Crime and Punishment.” October 16, 2004. Penguin Group (USA) Inc. October 16, 2004. <http://www.penguinputnam.com/static/rguides/us/crime_and_punishment.html> Provides background to Dostoevsky’s life, reasons for writing, and public reaction to the novel. Use to deepen students background knowledge of author and novel, and set the tone of the book. 5. Mary O’Brien. “Split Character studies in Crime and Punishment.” Lesson plans library. 2004. Discovery.com. October 16, 2004. <http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/crimeandpunishment/> Contains eight vocabulary words, their definitions, and example sentence using the word in the novel. Use vocabulary words and sentences as part of D.O.L 6. Have local detective come to class to discuss process for solving a murder case similar to that of the novel. 7. Create Pronunciation guide for novel, transliterate your name into Russian 8. “Feodor Dostoevsky and Petrashevsky's Case.” Olga’s Gallery. October 12, 2004. October 19, 2004 <http://www.abcgallery.com/list/2001august01.html> Explain about government, and how Dostoevsky was almost killed. Lead class discussion about why he was imprisoned. 9. Show pictures of Saint Petersburg to help students visualize what Dostoevsky will be describing 10. Read Bronze horseman by Pushkin about Saint Petersburg Back to Top During Reading 11. Dmitri Paranyushkin. “Map of St. Petersburg centrum.” 2002. Travelers from Russia for Travelers Worldwide. October 16, 2004 <http://www.waytorussia.net/SaintPetersburg/Map.html> “Saint-Petersburg 1703-2003.” Open Society Institute October 16, 2004. <http://www.300.spb.ru/maps/1737/index_en.htm> Provide map of Old and Current Saint Petersburg. Enlarge Map and hang in classroom. Students mark each day where things take place from the reading assignment 12. “Reading Guides, Crime and Punishment.” October 16, 2004. Penguin Group (USA) Inc. October 16, 2004. <http://www.penguinputnam.com/static/rguides/us/crime_and_punishment.html> Questions to guide classroom discussions, could also use to create worksheets to guide students reading 13. “Spark Notes.” Crime and Punishment. 2004. Barnes and Noble. October 16, 2004 < http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/crime/characters.html> This site contains a good description of each of the characters. Use to help students create posters of each character to hang up in classroom 14. “Spark Notes.” Crime and Punishment. 2004. Barnes and Noble. October 16, 2004 <http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/crime/section1.html> Provide examples of chapter summary to students. Have them write their own one page chapter summary throughout the novel. 15. “Spark Notes.” Crime and Punishment. 2004. Barnes and Noble. October 16, 2004 <http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/crime/quotes.html> Provides explanations to important quotes in the novel. Use to create study guide to help students understand reading to be done at home. 16. “Spark Notes.” Crime and Punishment. 2004. Barnes and Noble. October 16, 2004 <http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/crime/study.html> “Spark Notes.” Crime and Punishment. 2004. Barnes and Noble. October 16, 2004 <http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/crime/quiz.html> Provides study questions and essays. Adapt questions to short answer form to give brief in class quizzes. 17. Mary O’Brien. “Split Character studies in Crime and Punishment.” Lesson plans library. 2004. Discovery.com. October 16, 2004. <http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/crimeandpunishment/> Two day lesson plan to evaluate split characters in novel. Has links to other valuable websites 18. Group work Prove according to the text whether your character lives up to his name thus far in the novel, as a group give presentation Raskol’nik – schismatic Luzha – puddle Razum – reason, intelligence Zametit’ – to notice Marmelad – sort of sweet candy 19. Keep daily reading journal (half page hand written) of your personal reactions and feelings, and one page (hand written) summary 20. Keep a time line as we go, put on the board. Back to Top Post-Reading 21. Mrs. Womack, “Crime and Punishment Project.” Zion – Benton Township High School. October 16, 2004. <http://www.zbths.org/academics/class_projects/crime/> Provides writing assignment, ideas for group work, part of a test, and class discussion about Allusions in the novel 22. Mrs. Womack, “Crime and Punishment Project.” Zion – Benton Township High School. October 16, 2004. <http://www.zbths.org/academics/class_projects/crime/> Provides writing assignment, ideas for group work, part of a test, and class discussion about characters in the novel and how Dostoevsky uses character network to create a theme in the novel. 23. Mrs. Womack, “Crime and Punishment Project.” Zion – Benton Township High School. October 16, 2004. <http://www.zbths.org/academics/class_projects/crime/> Provide writing assignment, ideas for group work, part of a test, and class discussion about Porfiry and Psychology 24. Mrs. Womack, “Crime and Punishment Project.” Zion – Benton Township High School. October 16, 2004. <http://www.zbths.org/academics/class_projects/crime/> Provides writing assignment, ideas for group work, part of a test, and class discussion about plot in the novel 25. “Spark Notes.” Crime and Punishment. 2004. Barnes and Noble. October 16, 2004 <http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/crime/themes.html> Provides brief description of Major themes and symbols in Novel. Use in classroom discussion to introduce short group research project. Each group has different theme or symbol to research how it is used in novel and why it is important. Have groups give a creative (poster board, act out part of book etc.) presentation of results in class. 26. Guide class discussion about the ending of the book and it’s epigraph. Explain that many scholars have argued that Dostoevsky wrote a happy ending only to please the public. Split the class into groups and discuss whether or not you think the ending and the epigraph fit the novel. Divide the class into two sections those that think the ending appropriate and those that don’t. Have them each present their case. 27. Evan Goodwin, "little blue light - Fyodor Dostoevsky." Littlebluelight. Evan Goodwin. May 11, 2003 Edition. October 16, 2004 http://www.littlebluelight.com/lblphp/intro.php?ikey=7 Style: He wrote as if in a fever, with words piling on top of each other with an intensity and rhythm equal to the high strung emotions of their author…. The total affect can be over wrought for some and awe- and terror- inspiring for others. The novels are very concerned with ideas but he explores them only through very human (if extreme) personalities. Have Students re-write the ending of the book, or if they like the ending, have them write out a dialog from the perspective of the murder victim in Dostoevsky’s feverish style 28. Mock trial Split class up into groups (Sonia, Judge, Friends, Family, Police etc.) to prove Raskolnikov guilty or innocent according to the evidence in the text. Discuss why it is difficult to prove innocence or guilt, and why Raskolnikov confessed 29. Text to self (Discuss a time in your life when you were unjustly accuses in groups) 30. Text to Text (Compare Pushkin’s Bronze horseman that we read at beginning with Crime and Punishment) Back to Top

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Reading Resources and Unit Guide for this Novel