1. Why do you think Tolstoy begins his story with the announcement of Ivan Ilyich’s death, rather than organizing it chronologically?
2. “The Death of Ivan Ilyich” is full of French words. What purpose do they serve?
3. How does Ivan Ilyich’s family react to his illness? What do their reactions tell us about them?
4. On his deathbed, Ivan asks, “Why, and for what purpose, is there all this horror?” Does the text provide an answer to this weighty question?
5. Compare the attitude toward death we see in Ivan Ilyich’s family and social milieu to that of our own society. How do we treat illness and death?
41 thoughts on “Tolstoy, The Death of Ivan Ilyich”
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How does Ivan Ilyich’s family react to his illness? What do their reactions tell us about them?
Although Ivan Ilych’s family is aware of his sickness and definite death, they are denial to this fact and kind of stay away from the truth. They pretend everything is normal and Ivan will get well soon which represents true mentality of human being toward the ugly truth. Moreover, they continue to live their lives normally while Ivan Ilyich is left alone with his serfs. All these things prove the distance Ivan has with his family and his failure to build true relationship with his wife and kids.
3.How does Ivan Ilyich’s family react to his illness? What do their reactions tell us about them?
Ivan’s family is very different and they do not have any reaction when he tells them about his illness. Instead, his wife went out shopping with his daughter. His wife complains about how he makes noises. It shows us that they do not accept the fact that he is ill. He needs love and care from his family, but his family acts indifferent. We do not see any natural situation in Ivan’s family because they do not spend extra time with him or stand by him when he needs them. Thus, it shows us that the bond with his family is not strong and they do not have strong feelings for him.
Why do you think Tolstoy begins his story with the announcement of Ivan Ilyich’s death, rather than organizing it chronologically?
Tolstoy begins his story with the announcement of Ivan Ilyich’s death for many reasons. One of the main reasons being that he wants to give readers an idea of how Ivan was viewed by the people closest to him. Rather than forming our opinion based off his character, we build our opinion based off of how his character is viewed by others. This provides a different perspective when reading as it almost creates a biased opinion in some sense.
Why do you think Tolstoy begins his story with the announcement of Ivan Ilyich’s death, rather than organizing it chronologically?
It’s like don’t judge a book by its covered, Tolstoy wanted the readers to under stand Ivan’s death and not based judgement as readers read. There’s always a opinion by readers to some extent, he just did not want the wrong thinking strategies a reader may have if the the book went “chronologically” in order.
How does Ivan Ilyich’s family react to his illness? What do their reactions tell us about them?
His family didn’t seem to care about him even though they knew he was dying. They didn’t show concern for his declining health or feel scared of losing him. In fact, his wife and kids were all going to see a play while he was in pain. His daughter and wife saw Ivan as a burden while his son was the only one who actually cared about him. Instead of spending time with a loved one whose life will end soon, Ivan’s family pretended and acted like Ivan was temporarily sick and will get better soon. Their reactions tell us that his relationship with his family is not strong at all. His family is not close with him even though he is the father and husband.
“The Death of Ivan Ilyich” is full of French words. What purpose do they serve?
Leo Tolstoy’s family was a member of an old Russian nobility and the aristocratic class used to use the French language as a characteristic of their social position. Tolstoy was a well traveled man and I would say that the use of French words was intended to show that he was a well educated and cosmopolitan person, that his view and reflection of the Russian society was more accurate than the average aristocrat.
Why do you think Tolstoy begins his story with the announcement of Ivan Ilyich’s death, rather than organizing it chronologically?
Tolstoy begins the story with Ivan’s death because it gives us a chance to see how everyone views Tolstoy. Throughout the whole story we see how people see Ivan and what little regard they have for him and his healthy. It also holds the reader at a curious stand point to why he is dead compared to him being sick already and knowing he will die soon.
How does Ivan Ilyich’s family react to his illness? What do their reactions tell us about them?
Ivan Ilyich’s family did not know how to react to his illness. They were well aware that he was dying but they were in denial and played it off. They couldn’t accept the reality and pretend everything is normal. His family doesn’t love him enough to spend quality time with him and think everything will be okay when in fact, they don’t love him enough to care for him.
Why do you think Tolstoy begins his story with the announcement of Ivan Ilyich’s death, rather than organizing it chronologically?
Tolstoy makes the announcement of Ilyich’s death at the beginning of the text, it is because he wants readers to consider about the reasons and actions those led Ilyich die rather than stating chronological event that happened to Ilyich. Emphasizing his death at the beginning of story, it allows us to think in deeper about social environments that affected to Ilyich and relationships between him and those people who are surrounding him.
“The Death of Ivan Ilyich” is full of French words. What purpose do they serve?
During his time many Russians spoke French. Also because the French were viewed as on of the highest members of society and Ivan was considered a member of the higher social club. If you spoke French in Russia, You probably were somebody important or wealthy.
3. How does Ivan Ilyich’s family react to his illness? What do their reactions tell us about them?
Ivan’s wife pretends that she cares for Ivan and feels sympathy but her actual feeling is impatient about his illness and his daugther, Lisa has the almost same characteristics of her mother. But Vasya who is son of Ivan, is not corrupted by his parent’s values, actually cares for Ivan. Overall, Ivan’s family does not accept his death, pretends that everything is normal and they left Ivan alone when he’s sick. It shows Ivan’s isolation from his family and how he realized the sincere value of life.
Why do you think Tolstoy begins his story with the announcement of Ivan Ilyich’s death, rather than organizing it chronologically?
Beginning the story with Ivan Ilyich’s death shifts the central purpose of the story. From the reader’s point of view, the focus becomes not a mystery around what happens to Ivan, but about the events that lead to his death and the surrounding environments as his condition deteriorates. Rather than reflecting on the emotional, familial, introspective conditions after having read the story, the reader is focused on only that at the onset.
Why do you think Tolstoy begins his story with the announcement of Ivan Ilyich’s death, rather than organizing it chronologically?
By starting with the announcement then the rest of the life it seems more like an obituary.
“The Death of Ivan Ilyich” is full of French words. What purpose do they serve?
The purpose was due to their social class. They were very high up so naturally they’d be all snotty and full of “class”.