Dead Souls
by Nikolai Gogol
About_
This study guide accompanies Nikolai Gogol’s satirical novel ‘Dead Souls,’ which follows the mysterious traveler
Chichikov as he journeys through provincial Russia buying up the names of deceased serfs still listed as living. Along
the way, readers meet a colorful cast of landowners, each representing a different facet of Russian society and
bureaucracy that Gogol satirizes. This guide is designed to build comprehension of plot and character while
encouraging deeper critical reflection on the novel’s themes. This study guide contains 65 questions across 5
chapter sections (50 Factual + 15 Critical), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity.
What’s Included_
This study guide features 5 sets of 10 Factual Questions with an answer key (50 total), 5 sets of 3 Critical Analysis
Questions (15 total), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity (8 traits + evidence prompt +
critical thinking question).
Target Grades_
Grades 10-12 (AP/Honors Literature)
Teacher Note_
This guide is built to save you preparation time while giving students a structured path through Gogol’s dense
satire. The factual questions anchor comprehension chapter by chapter, while the critical questions push students
to grapple with Chichikov’s moral ambiguity and Gogol’s social commentary. We hope it makes your classroom
discussions of this classic even richer!