History 328

1. The story by Baranskaya, which attracted a huge audience when it was published in 1969, is set five years after Brezhnev has replaced Khrushchev and established "developed socialism." What insight does the story give into economic conditions at the time. What does developed socialism look like to the consumer? What incentives drive Olya and her co-workers?

2. How would you describe Olya's standard of living? Do she and her family have essentials? Items not necessary but helpful? Luxuries?

3. The story also reflects social relations under "developed socialism." What can you say about gender roles, using Olya's own example and the attitudes of her co-workers?

4. The catalyst for the story is the questionnaire Olya fills out at work on how she spends her week. What prompts the regime to conduct this survey? What is the regime trying to find out?

5. What are the particular characteristics of the characters in this story? What can you generalize about its typicality, i.e. who does Olya represent?

6. What are the silences in this story? What's left out (because of censorship, self-censorship, or whatever)?