Class 3, May 4, 2010
Discussion questions:
1.
In what setting does Anna
tell her husband about her affair with Vronsky? Why does Tolstoy choose this
particular setting? (2:XXIX, p. 213)
2.
What is Karenin’s reaction
to Anna’s words? (3:XIII, p. 279) What do his thoughts tell us about him?
3.
Why is the duel important?
Compare Karenin’s and Vronsky’s positions on the matter of the duel (3:XIII, p.
280 and 3:XX, p. 305, 3:XXII, p. 314-315).
4.
What do you think about
Karenin’s desire to maintain status Quo? Do you share Anna’s opinion about him?
(2:XXVIII, p. 207)
5.
What role does Dolly’s
conversation with peasant women play in the text? Is this conversation
important? (3:VIII, p. 265)
6.
Why does the text of the
novel comprise Levin’s conversation with the old peasant about his newly wed
son? (3:XI, p. 274)
7.
When and why does Anna
start thinking that Vronsky does not love her any more? Does she have any
grounds for suspecting that he fell out of love?
8.
What is the role of
Levin’s brother Nikolai in the novel?
9.
Why did Kitty go abroad?
What marks her return? Can we say that she returns a different woman?
10.
Levin says, “you spend
your life diverted by hunting or work in order not to think about death.” Why
did he come to this conclusion? Is it fleeting or permanent? What are other characters’
thoughts about death? How do these thoughts characterize them?
11.
What are the opinions of
Dolly’s and Stiva’s guests on the women’s rights in Russian society? (4:XIII,
p. 388) Why is this conversation of no interest to Kitty and Levin? What rights,
if any, do the main female characters of the novel (Anna, Dolly, Kitty) have?
12.
Is there any connection
between the conversation about women’s rights and Levin and Kitty’s chalkboard
conversation? (4:XIII, p. 395-8)
13.
Did Karenin change at
Anna’s death bed?
14.
Did the threat of death
change Anna? (4:XVII, p. 412)
15.
Why did Vronsky try to
commit suicide? (4:XVIII, p. 417)
Class 4, May 11, 2010
Discussion questions:
1.
Levin says, “you spend
your life diverted by hunting or work in order not to think about death.” Why
did he come to this conclusion? Is it fleeting or permanent? What are other
characters’ thoughts about death? How do these thoughts characterize them?
2.
Are Anna and Vronsky happy
in Italy? What are their concerns? (V:VII-XIII)
3.
Why does not Levin want
Kitty to go with him to his brother’s? As Kitty and Levin argue about their
visit to his brother Nikolai’s, the question of male independence arises. What
meaning(s) does this question have within the context of the novel? (V:XVI)
Also see Vronsky’s thoughts about male independence. (VI:XXV, p. 645)
4.
Compare and contrast the
scenes of Serezha’s meeting and talk with his father (V:XXVII) and his
encounter with his mother (V:XXIX-XXX).
5.
On her way to Vronsky’s
estate Dolly thinks about Anna’s situation. Does she support Anna’s defiance?
What pros and contras does Dolly find in Anna’s stance? Could Dolly follow in
Anna’s steps? (VI:XVI, p. 605)
6.
What does Anna look like
through Dolly’s eyes? Comment on her appearance, life-style, thoughts and
aspirations.
7.
In his conversation with
Dolly Vronsky claims that his relationship with Anna is no different from a
marriage. Do you agree? What is the nature of their relationship?
8.
Why is Anna reluctant to
ask Karenin for divorce?
9.
Despite the fact that
Dolly and Anna failed to communicate, Dolly visit was of great importance. Why?
10.
Part VI contains a lengthy
description of the local elections. What role does this episode play in the
novel?
11.
In the end of Part VI Anna
and Vronsky have a fight. What does this fight tell us about their
relationship?
Anna Karenina, Parts 6 & 7
Discussion questions:
1.
Levin says, “you spend
your life diverted by hunting or work in order not to think about death.” Why
did he come to this conclusion? Is it fleeting or permanent? What are other
characters’ thoughts about death? How do these thoughts characterize them?
2.
Why does not Levin want
Kitty to go with him to his brother’s? As Kitty and Levin argue about their
visit to his brother Nikolai’s, the question of male independence arises. What
meaning(s) does this question have within the context of the novel? (V:XVI)
Also see Vronsky’s thoughts about male independence in Part VI. (VI:XXV, p.
645)
3.
What does Anna look like
through Dolly’s eyes? Comment on her appearance, life-style, thoughts and
aspirations.
4.
In his conversation with
Dolly Vronsky claims that his relationship with Anna is no different from a
marriage. Do you agree? What is the nature of their relationship?
5.
Despite the fact that
Dolly and Anna failed to communicate, Dolly visit was of great importance. Why?
6.
Part VI contains a lengthy
description of the local elections. What role does this episode play in the
novel?
7.
In the end of Part VI Anna
and Vronsky have a fight. What does this fight tell us about their
relationship?
8.
What is the significance
of Levin’s encounter with Anna? What does this visit tell us about these two
characters? Do they have anything in common? (VII:IX, p. 693)
9.
For Levin 22 hours of
Kitty’s labor comprise a “mysterious and terrible, unearthly world.” (VII:XV,
p. 715) What are his personal epiphanies of this time period?
10.
In his conversation with
Stiva Karenin claims that in the matters of divorce he acts as a Christian.
(VII:XVIII, p. 725). Do you agree? How does he resolve the issue of divorce?
Who is responsible for this decision, the Frenchman Landau or Karenin?
11.
Who is to blame for Anna’s
death?
