Fyodor Dostoevsky, Notes from Underground

Fyodor Dostoevsky, Notes from Underground, 2nd ed. Trans. Michael Katz (Norton, 2000) ISBN: 0-393-97612-2

Questions to ponder

• Does the Underground Man think that humans are rational beings?
• The Underground Man continuously makes arguments concerning free will and determinism. Are his arguements consistent throughout the text?
• What is the "underground" to which the main character has retreated? How long has he been there? Why is he "underground?"

Study guide

• Study guide from Lawrence faculty

Lectures

• January 5, 2005, Peter Blitstein
• January 7, 2004, Peter Blitstein
• February 19, 2003, Rebecca Matveyev, "Author, Narrator, and Audience in Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground."
• February 22, 2002, Rebecca Matveyev

Web links

• Notes from Underground, A study guide. From the department of Russion, University of Minnesota; it includes some background on Dostoevsky and discussion of symbolism in the text.
• Notes study guide: Dostoevsky's Life and Career, 1859-1863. A different take on the background of the text and a summary of critical responses to the novel.
• Study Guide for Notes from Underground prepared by Paul Brians, Washington State University that includes discussion questions for each section of the text.

Material on Reserve at the Lawrence Library

 

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