Book Cover
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Literary Devices
Leo Tolstoy uses such strong and meaningful language in his novel Anna Karenina. Every word is equally important and thoughtful chosen to fully bring the story to life. Tolstoy uses a lot of imagery and is very descriptive in his writing. It makes the reader feel as though they were watching from within the private chambers of the character, listening in on their conversation, not reading them on paper. There is not much evidence of metaphor or simile. Because of the Russian origin of the novel, it is sometimes hard to decipher exactly what is being said, and the different translations can sometimes take on different effects.
Favorite Quotations
"All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way" - To me this means that it is better for your family to have flaws and be individual than to be a cookie cutter perfect family. I believe this holds true for almost all aspects of life.
"Without thinking, without noticing whether there was anyone in the room, he embraced her and began covering her face, hands, and neck with kisses" (434) - I love this quote because Tolstoy uses such powerful imagery in this entire section to show how much emotion the two lovers are feeling.
"Without thinking, without noticing whether there was anyone in the room, he embraced her and began covering her face, hands, and neck with kisses" (434) - I love this quote because Tolstoy uses such powerful imagery in this entire section to show how much emotion the two lovers are feeling.
Sonnet
Stiva (or Stephan) awakes on a couch
After losing the right to bed his wife
He wanted to talk, but Dolly's a grouch
Anna Karenina enters their life.
Anna karenina does mend two hearts
Away from her husband she breaks her vows
Vronsky and Anna, the love affair starts
While Levin is off on his farm with the cows
Poor Kitty rests as her broken heart heals
Then she sets off to the farm with her man
Time with her Levin, betrayed as she feels
She gave up hope on Vronsky who ran
In spite of their suffering they feel just love
With blessings from all who are listed above
After losing the right to bed his wife
He wanted to talk, but Dolly's a grouch
Anna Karenina enters their life.
Anna karenina does mend two hearts
Away from her husband she breaks her vows
Vronsky and Anna, the love affair starts
While Levin is off on his farm with the cows
Poor Kitty rests as her broken heart heals
Then she sets off to the farm with her man
Time with her Levin, betrayed as she feels
She gave up hope on Vronsky who ran
In spite of their suffering they feel just love
With blessings from all who are listed above
Haiku
Dolly and Stiva
Ripped apart by adultery
Help is on the way
Karenina comes
To mend the broken couple
Vronsky steals her heart
Anna moves away
Her faithfulness is no more
Karenin betrayed
Ripped apart by adultery
Help is on the way
Karenina comes
To mend the broken couple
Vronsky steals her heart
Anna moves away
Her faithfulness is no more
Karenin betrayed
Major Themes
Adultery – The story is mainly that of an adulterous woman and the effects her actions have on her life
Forgiveness – Anna Karenina’s role at the beginning of the novel is that of a mediator between an adulterous man and her husband, and is eventually able to heal their relationship, but is unable to heal her own and her husband is unable to forgive her for cheating on him.
Death – Death is very present in this novel. First when the man throws himself under the train, then when Levin watches his suffering brother die and many other signs of death are present. The death of Anna’s relationship with her husband, the beginnings of the death of her relationship with Vronsky, and finally her own death when she takes her own life all play as an important theme in the story.
Forgiveness – Anna Karenina’s role at the beginning of the novel is that of a mediator between an adulterous man and her husband, and is eventually able to heal their relationship, but is unable to heal her own and her husband is unable to forgive her for cheating on him.
Death – Death is very present in this novel. First when the man throws himself under the train, then when Levin watches his suffering brother die and many other signs of death are present. The death of Anna’s relationship with her husband, the beginnings of the death of her relationship with Vronsky, and finally her own death when she takes her own life all play as an important theme in the story.
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