This story was based on Tolstoy’s religious views as it had a connection between his thoughts and the story.
2. What is the meaning of the title?
In my opinion, we can see that Ivan lived a horrible life because of wrong accusations, so he had two paths to choose, either to revolt which is fretting under miserable circumstances or complete surrender to God. He chooses the latter. Ivan was happier in prison than in the outside world because his wife suspected him, his children has no idea about him, so he had no chance to live happily with his family, but in the prison his cell mates respected him and believed that he was accused. Also, Ivan made Makar realizes his mistakes and led him to become a good man. Thus, we can see that God made him choose the path of salvation and internal peace.
3. State five pieces of action that show the five stages of plot development. * Exposition:
Aksionov - young merchant who live in Vladimir Vanya - the wife of Aksenov Makar - the man who caused Aksenov sufferings * Rising Action:
When Aksionov met a merchant and drank tea together and later went to the same rooms. * Climax:
Aksionov founds out that the merchant he met the night before has been found murdered, and the officials accuse him of killing him, since there was a knife with blood stains on it in his bag. * Falling Action:
Aksionov suspects Makar, one of the new prisoners of killing the merchant. Later he found out the Makar is planning to break the prison, though he didn’t tell the authorities. * Resolution:
Makar realized his mistake, and he confessed of killing the merchant and putting the knife inside Aksionovs bag, and he asked him for forgiveness. Aksionov was ordered to go back home, but he was already dead.
4. List any problem words and look up their meaning.
Flogged: Beat (someone) with a whip or stick to punish