Crime and Punishment

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What do you know about Russia and St. Petersburg in the 19th century? Consider the historical and political events of this period as well as other examples of literature or art that were produced or set during this period. What are some things you associate with this period of Russian history?

Teaching Suggestion: The novel’s setting (Dostoevsky’s contemporary St. Petersburg) is key to understanding the novel. Dostoevsky takes advantage of the poverty and squalor of many of the inhabitants of 19th-century St. Petersburg, exploring the way such an environment impacts the psychology and values of the people living it. You may want to discuss the political background of Russia at the time Dostoevsky wrote and published his novel, including the growing internationalism of the Russian Empire under the Tsars and the emancipation of the Russian serfs in 1861.

• This article on the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum discusses the history of St. Petersburg.
• This short video from Modern Wall Street discusses the emancipation of the Russian serfs in 1861 and why this was such an important milestone.

2. What, if anything, do you know about the life of Fyodor Dostoevsky? When did he live and what was he known for? Consider Dostoevsky’s biography as well as other works of his you may have encountered.

Teaching Suggestion: Dostoevsky’s biography is important in understanding his works. Though Dostoevsky came from a prosperous family and received a good education and upbringing, his life was also full of unique challenges. In 1849, for instance, Dostoevsky was sentenced to death for his involvement with a subversive reading group. This sentence was commuted at the last moment, and Dostoevsky was sent instead to a Siberian prison camp followed by compulsory military service. Later, after becoming a successful author, Dostoevsky developed a gambling addiction that caused him financial hardship for much of his life. Discussing these key details of Dostoevsky’s biography will help students better appreciate the authorial context of the novel as they read it.

• This article discusses Dostoevsky’s relationship with psychology and the psychological nature of his novels.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

What is a crime? What kind of behaviors does society choose to criminalize? Is criminal behavior also immoral behavior, or is there a discrepancy between the two? Should the objective of the law be justice or ethics?

This prompt connects to the theme of Criminality.

Teaching Suggestion: Students may consider issues such as drug-related crimes, violent crimes (including murder and sexual violence), and theft. In pushing students to reflect on the societal factors behind criminalizing these behaviors you may reflect on how widespread poverty, joblessness, and institutional racism and/or discrimination drive many people to commit crimes or seek criminal careers. The goal of this prompt should be to remind students that crimes exist within a societal—even a sociocultural—context, and it is only by understanding this context that we can hope to combat criminality.