Government Inspector

Question 1

SCH-Russia in 1836

Answer 1

Russian writers suffered under strict censorship from Tsar Nicholas. This meant that there was little entertainment for citizens which resulted in quite a boring lifestyle. Gogol, out of fear for censorship, asked Alexander Pushkin for help. This led Gogol to writing the Government Inspector.

Question 2

Style of GI

Answer 2

Satirical comedy, elements of slapstick.

Question 3

Gogols life

Answer 3

Gogol was a Russian-Ukranian author of the 19th century. He was born on March 31, 1809 in Sorochintsy in what is now Ukraine but was part of Russia then. Gogol studied at the Nizhyn Pedagogical University where he wrote, acted. He has written many plays, but we are studying The Government Inspector. Gogol wrote this play not only for satire, but also to shed light on the corruption of the Russian government. Instead of achieving this, everyone found his play very funny, completely missing the point. Gogol, out of anger, exiled himself.

Question 4

GI plot and structure

Answer 4

The plot of The Government Inspector hinges on a case of mistaken identity, when a lowly young civil servant from Saint Petersburg, Hlestakov, is mistaken by the members of a small provincial town for a high-ranking government inspector.