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AP Success - AP European History: Dostoevsky

This excerpt is from Fyodor Dostoevsky's "White Nights," published in 1848, which is a short story that explores the theme of loneliness in the context of 19th century Russia. Dostoevsky is considered one of the most influential writers of his time and is known for his psychological depth and social commentary in his works.

Source 1

I am a dreamer. I know so little of real life that I just can't help re-living such moments as these in my dreams, for such moments are something I have very rarely experienced. I am going to dream about you the whole night, the whole week, the whole year. I feel I know you so well that I couldn't have known you better if we'd been friends for twenty years. You won't fail me, will you? Only two minutes, and you've made me happy forever. Yes, happy. Who knows, perhaps you've reconciled me with myself, resolved all my doubts.

When I woke up it seemed to me that some snatch of a tune I had known for a long time, I had heard somewhere before but had forgotten, a melody of great sweetness, was coming back to me now. It seemed to me that it had been trying to emerge from my soul all my life, and only now-

Fyodor Dostoevsky, An Excerpt from White Nights, 1848

Question 1

Short answer

Identify the excerpt's literary genre.

Question 2

Short answer

Identify one historical trend that influenced Dostoevsky and other writers' changing styles.

Question 3

Short answer

Explain one way the writing of Dostoevsky and his contemporaries was similar to or different from that of earlier authors.

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