1. Is this story realistic or unrealistic? Give examples.

2. What is Ivan Ilyich's progress through the story physically, emotionally, and psychologically? What is his final revelation?

3. What is satirized here? Give examples.

4. What does Tolstoy want us to see?

5. How does this depiction of a death correspond with Kubler Ross's five stages of dying?

Chapter by chapter:

IV: Look for steps toward Ilyich’s end, comment on the doctors.

V: To what point does Ivan reach in his journey here? What of his wife?

VI: What does Ivan call Death? Tolstoy’s comments here?

(3 months pass)

VII: What are the perspectives of others: family, Gerasim, Ivan’s reaction to them?

VIII: This is the story of a day, what happens? Note use of present tense, why?

IX: What does Ivan begin to see here? How do you interpret the image of the tunnel?

(2 weeks pass)

X-XII: Progression to the end, note last scene especially; what happens here?