Discuss why you believe Woland's associate, Behemoth, is depicted as a cat, while Pilate's closest companion is his dog. Enumerate the traits of these animals that make them suitable for the roles Bulgakov has assigned them.

Investigate the treatment of writers in the Soviet Union from the 1930s to the 1960s. Provide an analysis of the standards imposed by the government on writers and the repercussions faced by those who did not comply.

Read Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust, which is widely recognized as one of the sources of inspiration for The Master and Margarita. Compare Goethe's portrayal of the devil with Bulgakov's Woland. Which character do you find more menacing? Which one is crafted to be more sympathetic? Consider why Bulgakov might have made the alterations to the devil's character that he did.

Examine the specific political role of the Procurator of Judea. How was this position established? What were the scope of his powers and responsibilities?