CP+Discussion+Question+1


 * E. Vivar, C. Leon, H. Keenawinna, and K. Hay**



==1. How does Dostoyevsky achieve and sustain the suspense in his novel? Which scenes strike you as being particularly suspenseful? How does he use description to enhance the turmoil in Roskolnikov's mind?==


 * Dostoyevsky simply sustains suspense by shifting scenes as soon as an issue or event in one scene has reached a climax. This method to keep the reader interested is clever. An example of where a shift takes place is on chapter 6 pg. 69 where Raskolnikov recounts on how he first developed the idea to kill Alyona Ivanovna. Dostoyevsky talks about the conversation at the tavern and its impact. He then, in the next paragraph, jumps to the present where Raskolnikov is returning from the Hay Mark to fall in a deep sleep. Overall, the shifting of scenes sustains the suspense in his novel.


 * The assasination of the Pawnbroker strikes us as being particularly suspensful. Also, another scene with as much suspense is Raskolnikov confessing to Sonya and later turning himself in.

> > One scene could be in chapter five of Part one where he is having a dream of his childhood. He describes the scene as best as he can remember it and you are put into a different place “It was always so crowded, the people made so much noise, they laughed, they cursed, they sang hoarsely and tunelessly, and so often they brawled. And around the tavern such sotted and frightening figures were always slouching…he would pull himself closer to his father and tremble.”(pg. 53) > > Another scene is chapter 6 of Part four where Raskolnikov had lost his composure and was rambling recklessly at Porfiry. “His appearance, at first glance, was very strange. He stared straight ahead as though he didn’t see anybody” (pg. 335) ”For several moments Porfiry Petrovich stood there as though-on Nikolay again”
 * In the whole book, he uses descriptive words to enhance the scene’s suspense. It describes the place, the people, the characters, and the emotions of all the characters. He’s able to change the feel of the scene by subtle changes in wording.

> > He listened for a long time. Somewhere far away below...loudly and shrilly shouted two voices, arguing and swearing..."What are they up to?"...Finally everything grew silent at once...He already wanted to leave, but suddenly a door opened loudly onto the stairway, and someone began to walk down below, humming some sort of tune. "What are they making so much noise for!" flashed in his mind...Finally everything grew quiet. He was about to step onto the stairway when suddenly there were heard some new footsteps again. (88) > > Questionssssssssssss! suspenseful CITES
 * Another way Dostoyevsky heightens suspense is by alternating noise and silence. This is shown after Raskolnikov murders the pawnbroker. When Raskolnikov is trying to leave the old woman's apartment, Dostoyevsky amplifies the suspense about whether he will be caught by systematically alternating silence with the loud noise of the painters and others in the building.