Character Motivation Chart

In this worksheet, students compare the motivations of Raskolnikov, Sonia, and Svidrigailov across five major areas of life. Using the chart, learners examine each character’s morality, purpose behind actions, relationship to suffering, capacity for compassion, and attitude toward redemption. This activity builds skills in literary comparison and helps students interpret how Dostoevsky uses contrasting personalities to explore human nature. After completing the chart, students write a short reflective paragraph identifying which character seems the most “human” and why. The task strengthens critical thinking and deepens understanding of psychological characterization.

Curriculum Matched Skills

English Language Arts – Literary Analysis: Character Comparison

English Language Arts – Reading Literature: Themes and Perspectives

English Language Arts – Critical Thinking and Interpretation

English Language Arts – Writing: Text-Based Reflection

This worksheet is part of our Crime and Punishment Worksheets collection.