Chapter One "The Odor of Corruption"
What does the "odor of corruption" symbolize in this chapter?
The loss of faith and doubt spreading among the monks.
Who sees Alyosha's crisis of faith as an "opportune moment" to test his morals?
Rakitin
What motivates Grushenka to tell Alyosha the story of the woman and the onion?
She wants to open up about her past and test whether redemption is possible for someone like her.
What Gospel story does Father Paissy read over Zosima’s body?
A. The Sermon on the Mount
B. The Last Supper
C. The Wedding at Cana
D. The Parable of the Prodigal Son
C. The Wedding at Cana
What trait best defines Alyosha’s role within his family?
A. His ambition and desire for control
B. His sarcasm and wit
C. His kindness and ability to bring peace to others
D. His anger and jealousy
C: His kindness and ability to bring peace to others
Why are people so quick to judge Father Zosima after his death?
They envy his influence and want to prove him wrong.
How does Rakitin try to influence Alyosha to leave the monastery?
By flattering him and pretending to offer comfort
What realization does Grushenka come to after telling the story?
She begins to see her own flaws and feels the desire to change and seek forgiveness.
What does Alyosha see in his dream?
A. Jesus preaching to a crowd
B. Father Zosima alive and joyful
C. His brothers fighting
D. A storm in the monastery
B. Father Zosima alive and glowing
How is Alyosha’s attitude toward faith different from Ivan’s?
Alyosha believes through love and humility, while Ivan questions and reasons through doubt.
How does the monks' reaction to Zosima's body reveal Dostoevsky's view of human nature?
It shows that people are easily swayed by appearance and fear.
What main theme is tested when Alyosha feels lost after Father Zosima's death?
A: The importance of family & loyalty
B: The struggle between faith & doubt
C: The pursuit of knowledge
D: The conflict between wealth & poverty
B: The struggle between faith & doubt
What lesson does the woman in the onion story fail to learn?
That kindness and salvation require selflessness, not selfishness.
How does Alyosha feel when he returns to the monastery?
A. Angry and bitter
B. Calm and peaceful
C. Sad and confused
D. Excited and hopeful
C. Sad and confused
Why does Alyosha leave the monastery after Zosima’s death?
A. He wants to travel for adventure
B. He is angry at the other monks
C. His faith is shaken, and he needs to experience life outside the monastery to rebuild it
D. He is sent on a mission by the monastery
C: His faith is shaken, and he needs to experience life outside the monastery to rebuild it
What inner struggle does Alyosha experience during the chaos at the monastery?
His first true test of faith- doubting goodness and holiness when others turn cruel.
WHO SAID IT?
"Or are you, too, with those of little faith?"
A: Grushenka
B: Rakitin
C: Father Paissy
D: Alyosha
C: Father Paissy
How does Dostoevsky use the story of the onion to contrast spiritual mercy with human selfishness?
He shows that God values kindness and love more than actions, while by being selfish can ruin goodness by chasing personal gain.
What does Alyosha do when he goes outside of the monastery?
A. Lights a candle
B. Cries in the chapel
C. Embraces the earth
D. Writes a letter to his brother
C. Embraces the earth
In the early books, what inner conflict does Alyosha face while living at the monastery?
He struggles between the desire for monastic peace and the pull of his family’s chaos and human suffering.
What does Alyosha's decision to leave the monastery at the end of the chapter represent?
His beginning of a deeper, living faith that exists beyond rules and appearances.
What does Father Zosima's decaying body symbolize for Alyosha?
True faith beyond appearances. Spiritual truth is about the inner life, not outward appearances
How does Alyosha’s interpretation of Grushenka’s story reflect his developing view of faith and redemption?
Alyosha learns that salvation comes from love and humility, not perfection, and that true faith trusts people can change for the better.
Why is the Wedding at Cana story important for Alyosha’s transformation?
Because it helps Alyosha regain his faith and feel joy and love again after losing hope.
What lesson from Father Zosima shapes how Alyosha views people’s sins and flaws?
That everyone is responsible for everyone else’s sins through love and forgiveness.