In this edited extract, Alexander Solzhenitsyn describes life in a Soviet labour camp - Leaving Cert History - Question A - 2012
Question A
In this edited extract, Alexander Solzhenitsyn describes life in a Soviet labour camp. Read it and answer the questions that follow.
Lieutenant Volkovil, the securi... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:In this edited extract, Alexander Solzhenitsyn describes life in a Soviet labour camp - Leaving Cert History - Question A - 2012
Step 1
1. With whom was the security chief, Volkovil, unpopular?
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Answer
Lieutenant Volkovil was unpopular with both the prisoners and the guards. This indicates a significant level of fear and disdain directed towards him by those he was meant to oversee.
Step 2
2. How does the author describe Volkovil's appearance?
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The author describes Volkovil as tall, dark, and with a scowl. He has an intimidating presence that contributes to his unpopularity among prisoners and guards alike. Two of these descriptors are particularly striking: his stature and scowling expression.
Step 3
3. For what purpose had Volkovil carried a leather whip?
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Volkovil carried a whip for flogging prisoners, indicating his method of exerting control and instilling fear in those under his authority.
Step 4
4. Why did prisoners serve three extra days in a ten-year sentence?
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Prisoners served three extra days in a ten-year sentence to account for leap years, which reflects the rigid and systematic nature of the penal system within the Soviet regime.
Step 5
5. In Soviet Russia, why was Solzhenitsyn known as a dissident writer?
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Solzhenitsyn was known as a dissident writer because he expressed disagreement with the Soviet system, becoming a key figure in discussing the oppressive political conditions of the time.
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