The Idiot Quizzes

Think you’ve got your head wrapped around The Idiot? Put your knowledge to the test. Good luck — the Stickman is counting on you!
Q. Which famous painting does the novel refer to?


Holbein's "Resurrected Christ"
Leonardo de Vinci's "Last Supper"
Picasso's "First Communion"
Holbein's "Christ in the Tomb"
Q. What is the significance of the reference to Myshkin as the "poor knight"?


It is a reference to Don Quixote and it sheds new light on Myshkin's character.
It's a play on words because the whole thing takes place at night.
It reveals Myshkin's previous employment as a crusader knight
It reveals his low social standing.
Q. What is the significance of the scene in which Myshkin keeps picking up Rogozhin's knife?


It foreshadows the use of the knife as a murder weapon later in the novel.
It shows that the knife will be used to hunt for dinner.
It reveals his playfulness.
It's a red herring.
Q. How does the homeless girl (Marie) reveal the theme of compassion and love?


She denies herself to meet another person's needs.
She cares for a lost child until her mother finds her.
She holds up an "I'm hungry" sign on the side of the freeway.
It shows how Myshkin cannot leave "fallen" women alone.