Author’s toneChapter 2

Essential questions

• Does the human condition and experiences ever change?

• How does societies’ values impact a person’s life?

Author’s tone• Does the human condition and experiences ever change?

• Compare the conditions and experiences of the people in this book to our society today.

• What is Leo Tolstoy’s tone toward the human condition of his characters and society?

Author’s tone• How does societies’ values impact a person’s life?

• How do you think Tolstoy views the impact of societies’ values on a person’s life?

• Is this still true today? Why or why not?

• Consider: What makes Ivan happy?

Quote analysis for theme• Add to your theme chart:

• Very soon, not more than a year after his marriage, Ivan Il’ich understood that marriage, though generally regarded as one of the chief commodities of life, is in reality a very complicated and difficult affair, which regard to which, if he wished to do his duty, that is to say, lead the decent sort of life approved of by society, he must take up a definite position, as he had done in his official life. Page 19

Theme• Consider the following quote:

• The past history of the life of Ivan Il’ich was most simple and ordinary, and most terrible. Page 11

• What is the author’s tone about his subject?

• Why is Ivan’s life terrible?

• What theme does this passage fit?