Chapter 1 Quiz Question Part 2



The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy

A. Reading Comprehension Chapter 1 Quiz (Part 1)

1. At the beginning of the novel when Ivan's colleagues learn of his death, why is their reaction so remarkable?

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2. At the funeral service, which character tries to set up a game of bridge?

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3. Who is Ivan's closest friend?

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4. At the funeral, what is the real reason Praskovya wants to speak to Peter privately?

5. [pic][pic]At the funeral, Peter feels especially uneasy when he (finish the sentence)

B. Literary Analysis Chapter 1 Quiz Questions

What is the point of view? Who is the narrator? How do you know? What kind of narrator (limited, omniscient, etc.)

What contrasting idea/s is/are presented in chapter 1?

Who are the five primary characters in chapter 1? Name and describe them using details from the text.

Chapter 2 Quiz Questions Reading Comprehension

1. What type of person is Ivan attracted to?

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2. Married life is pleasant for Ivan until what event occurs?

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3. In his official work, Ivan tries to maintain what tone?

Literary Analysis Chapter 2 Quiz Questions

1. What metaphor does Tolstoy use to describe Ivan’s relationship to his social superiors?

2. What foreign language terms are used in this chapter? Find out what they mean. What might the author’s purpose be in using these terms?

3. What is significant about Ivan’s attempt/ability to close himself off from the emotional/unpleasant aspects of his job/life by reducing everything to a mere form on a paper?

Comprehension questions for Chapters 3 and 4

1. Why does Ivan take a leave of absence from work and move with his family to the country?[pic][pic]

2. Why does Ivan receive a new appointment with a higher paying salary?[pic][pic]

3. What event precipitates Ivan's illness?[pic][pic]

4. What is Ivan’s greatest pleasure in life?[pic][pic]

5. What adjectives can you think of to characterize the doctors' attitude toward Ivan? In what way is this ironic?

Analysis Questions for Chapters 3 - 4

1. In view of his professional life, how is Ivan's fall from the stepladder is especially symbolic?

2. Explain the irony between the symptoms Prakovya experiences during her pregnancy and the experiences Ivan experiences.

3. Explain how the fact that life's unpleasantness causes the pain that Ivan experiences is a key to Ivan's condition

4. How is the game of bridge a metaphor for Ivan’s view of life?

Comprehension Questions for Chapter 5– 8

1. How does Ivan learn of the extent of his physical degeneration?

2. How does Ivan deal with unpleasant situations or relationships?

3. [pic][pic]Who is Gerasim? What does Gerasim do that eases Ivan's physical pain?

4. [pic][pic]What bothers Ivan more than the physical pain?

5. Who is the only person that does not lie about the nature of Ivan's condition?

6. [pic][pic]One night, Praskovya, Lisa, and Lisa's fiancé decide to go where? What does Ivan think about this?

Analysis Questions for Chapters 5-8

1. There is an interesting shift in the narrative at this point. Explain this shift and explain why you think it is important.

2. What is the turning point for Ivan in terms of coming to terms with his illness?

3. In Chapter 6, two abstract ideas are represented by the word “It”? What do you think these ideas might be? Why do you think that the author uses the word “It” to represent them? How does this shift affect the reader?

4. Gerasim is most likely an allegorical character, which means he stands for abstract ideas. What ideas do you think he might stand for? Explain.

Comprehension Questions 09 – 12

1. Ivan dreams of what object?

2. When Ivan awakes from his dream, what does he hear?

3. When Ivan thinks back on his life, what does he think is the best part?[pic][pic]

4. When Ivan passes into the bright light, what does he compare the experience to? [pic][pic]

5. When Ivan catches sight of the light, he realizes that his life has not been a good one. What else happens simultaneously?

Analysis Questions for Chapter 9 – 12

1. What does the black bag symbolize? What does Ivan’s struggle with the black bag represent? What does it mean when he breaks through the black bag?

2. Ivan seems to have an “existential” moment when he cries out “Why has thou done all this?” This could be an allusion. If so, to what is the reference? Why is this an “existential” moment? (You will have to look up the word “existentialism” in order to understand.)

3. Explain how time and space change from the beginning of the novel to the end of the novel. What does this symbolize?

4. In your opinion, why does Ivan’s belief that his life has been a good one prevent him from getting into the black bag?

5. What is your interpretation of the railway car analogy?

6. Did Ivan Ilyich live a proper life? Does Ivan Ilyich ever learn what it means to live a proper life? What is, in your opinion, Tolstoy’s message or theme?

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