The Death of Ivan Ilyich

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Throughout the story, Ivan fulfills or exceeds the expectations of his bourgeois society without really connecting with those close to him.

• What makes it difficult for Ivan to connect with others? (topic sentence)
• In support of your topic sentence, identify and discuss Ivan’s experiences that serve as connections for each of the three stages of his life: his childhood, his adulthood, and his dying.
• In your concluding sentences, briefly explain the message conveyed about human relationships and the threat of Misplaced Priorities.

2. Consider Ivan’s relationship with Praskovya throughout the story.

• Why does Praskovya Fedorovna both want Ivan Ilyich to die and not to die? (topic sentence)
• Find and analyze two or three examples in support of your idea for each of Praskovya’s perspectives.
• How are Praskovya’s sentiments toward Ivan an example of the theme Personal Gain Overshadows Personal Connection? Briefly summarize your thoughts in your concluding sentences.

3. As Ivan’s health deteriorates, Tolstoy uses the imagery of Light Versus Darkness to convey the juxtaposition between life and death.

• For Ivan, which moments in his life (those represented by light or those represented by darkness) are most impactful? (topic sentence)
• Discuss at least one example for each of these moments in support of your topic sentence.
• How does Ivan’s final moment redirect the trajectory of darkness? Explain briefly in your concluding sentences.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Describe Ivan’s two children, Lisa and Vasya. In what ways are they like their parents? How are they different? How does Ivan regard his two children? Is there any significant moment where this changes for him? If so, when, and why?

2. At the end of Chapter 6, Ivan refers to the presence of It. What is your interpretation of It? Is It something specific? What is the role of It in the story? Finally, does Tolstoy’s use of the word It develop his theme of Light Versus Darkness?

3. Over the course of his literary career, Tolstoy gradually pulled away from his own aristocratic roots and the formal worship practices of the Russian Orthodox Church. How does this story treat religious faith and Christianity? For example, does Tolstoy represent religion and faith as important to Ivan’s life? Why or why not?