Chapter: 03. The Overcoat
English Literature: The Overcoat (Practice Paper)
Total Marks: 25
A. Answer these questions briefly (2 marks each)
Describe Akaky Akakievich’s daily routine, both at work and at home, before he thought about the new overcoat. What was the common perception of Akaky Akakievich’s old overcoat among his colleagues? Why was Petrovich, the tailor, initially unwilling to mend Akaky Akakievich’s old overcoat? What was Akaky Akakievich’s immediate reaction when Petrovich told him he needed a new overcoat? How did Akaky Akakievich manage to save money, particularly regarding his evening habits and shoe wear? B. Answer these questions with reference to the context (3 marks each)
“And there was something strange in the words and the voice in which they were uttered.”
a. What words are being referred to here?
b. What circumstances usually led Akaky Akakievich to utter these words?
c. What does the narrator imply by saying “something strange” about them? “At least once every month he went to Petrovich to talk about the overcoat, where it would be best to buy the cloth, what colour it should be and what price.”
a. Who is “he” in this sentence, and why was he visiting Petrovich so often?
b. What does this regular interaction reveal about “his” commitment to the new overcoat?
c. What was the eventual cost of Petrovich’s labor for making the overcoat? “Never did an overcoat arrive so exactly in the nick of time; for the severe cold had set in, and it seemed to threaten to increase.”
a. What significant event is being described here?
b. Why was the timing considered “exactly in the nick of time”?
c. How did Petrovich demonstrate his satisfaction after delivering the overcoat? C. Think and answer (4 marks each)
“It would be difficult to find another man who lived so entirely for his duties. It is not enough to say that Akaky laboured with zeal: no, he laboured with love.”
Discuss the unique nature of Akaky Akakievich’s relationship with his work. What does this suggest about his character and his life outside of work? The story highlights the harsh social conditions and the indifference Akaky Akakievich faces. How does the narrative make you feel about Akaky Akakievich’s situation, and what message about society might the author be conveying through his experiences? 
Practice Paper