Chapter: 03. The Overcoat
New Comprehension Questions
A. Answer these questions.
Describe the initial impression Akaky Akakievich makes on others, particularly his physical appearance. What does Akaky Akakievich do for “gratification” when he has no official papers to copy at home? Why was the Northern cold considered a “powerful foe” for government servants like Akaky Akakievich? How much did Petrovich initially quote for a new overcoat, and how did Akaky Akakievich react to this price? Besides walking lightly, what other specific actions did Akaky Akakievich take to save money on his clothes and laundry? B. Answer these questions with reference to the context.
“His superiors treated him in coolly despotic fashion.”
a. What does “coolly despotic fashion” suggest about the superiors’ attitude?
b. How did Akaky Akakievich respond to this treatment?
c. What does this reveal about the power dynamics in his workplace? “At an hour when the foreheads of even those who occupy exalted positions ache with the cold, and tears start to their eyes, the poor titular councillors are sometimes quite unprotected.”
a. What is the main problem described in this sentence?
b. Who are the “poor titular councillors” in this context?
c. What “salvation” did they typically find from this problem? “He seemed fully sensible that he had done no small deed, and crossed a gulf separating tailors who only put in linings, and execute repairs, from those who make new things.”
a. Who is “he” in this sentence?
b. What “gulf” is being referred to here?
c. What does this suggest about the tailor’s professional ambition or pride? C. Think and answer.
Akaky Akakievich finds “varied and agreeable employment” in copying. Do you think it’s possible for someone to find such deep satisfaction in a seemingly monotonous task? Discuss why or why not, providing examples from real life or other stories. The overcoat transforms Akaky Akakievich’s perception of himself and how others perceive him. Discuss how material possessions can sometimes influence a person’s identity and social standing. Is this a healthy or unhealthy aspect of society? Imagine you are one of Akaky Akakievich’s young colleagues. After observing his joy with the new overcoat, would your attitude towards him change? Write a short reflection from your character’s perspective, explaining your thoughts and feelings.
Comprehension