“THE DEATH OF IVAN ILYCH1 ” GUIDE QUESTIONS Flashcards
How do the friends and colleagues of Ivan Ilych respond to his death? What
are their first, second, and third thoughts? What do they discuss? What is left
undiscussed?
Ivan Ilych’s friends are indifferent, thinking first of promotions, then obligations, and finally superficial condolences. They avoid discussing the reality of death.
What does Peter Ivanovich have to sacrifice in order to visit Ivan Ilych’s
family? How is Schwartz taking the news? What else does Peter Ivanovich
sacrifice (p. 100f)?
Peter Ivanovich sacrifices his card game to visit the family. Schwartz remains detached, prioritizing social norms over grief.
What does Ivan Ilych’s death pallor convey to Peter Ivanovich? How does
Peter Ivanovich respond to this “message”? Begin to sketch the relationship
of those who are alive to those who are dead (or dying) and even the very idea
of death
Ivan’s pallor unsettles Peter, confronting him with the inescapability of death, which he quickly dismisses.
What does Proskovya Fedorovna report that Ivan Ilych said at his death? (cf.,
pp. 101, 154-146) What effect does this description of Ivan Ilych’s last hours
have on Peter Ivanovich?
Proskovya Fedorovna reports Ivan’s agony and final cry, which disturbs Peter, but he remains emotionally detached.
What does Proskovya Fedorovna most want to learn from Peter Ivanovich?
Compare her actions and effect here with the obituary she had printed in the
newspaper. (p. 95)
She primarily seeks financial guidance from Peter, caring more about pensions than Ivan’s suffering.
Describe Ivan Ilych’s family (wife, daughter, and son). How do they relate to
Ivan Ilych’s corpse and memory?
His family views his death with a mix of inconvenience and obligation, showing little deep sorrow.
Characterize Ivan Ilych’s son. Is he a child of “innocence” and “purity”?
(Compare pp. 103, 144, 155)
His son shows genuine grief, unlike the rest of the family, hinting at innocence.
Notice the conversation between Peter Ivanovich and Gerasim. Begin a
character sketch of Gerasim.
Gerasim is compassionate and honest, treating Ivan with rare sincerity.
How does the narrator describe Ivan Ilych’s life? What does this mean?
Characterize Ivan Ilych’s personality.
Ivan lived a conventional, shallow life, focused on social status and propriety.
In what ways did Ivan Ilych show that he was concerned with the opinions
others had of him?
He sought approval in everything, shaping his choices to fit societal expectations.
Notice that Ivan Ilych, when young, had done things that “seemed very horrid
and made him feel disgusted with himself.” Relate this fact to Ivan Ilych’s later
ruminations about his life. (See especially p. 152)
His youthful guilt resurfaces later, making him question whether he truly lived well.
. Characterize Ivan Ilych’s professional attitude. How did he carry himself at his
work? Characterize his life to this point.
He was professional and diligent but lacked genuine passion or deeper purpose.
Why did Ivan Ilych marry Proskovya Fedorovna? Notice all of the reasons.
He married for social convenience rather than love.
How did Proskovya Fedorovna pregnancy affect their marriage? Why?
Her pregnancy strained their marriage as she became demanding, disrupting his orderly life.
Characterize Ivan Ilych’s attitude toward his wife and children. Where lies the
center of his attention? What does he take to be his duty? Compare this with
his later ruminations about his life.
He was emotionally detached, seeing family as an obligation rather than a source of joy.
There are two “stumbles” depicted in this chapter. What are they? How are
they related?
The first stumble is his literal fall, and the second is his metaphorical decline into illness, signaling fate’s cruelty.
How does Ivan Ilych’s life change when he secures a higher paying job? Are
the changes substantial and long lasting?
His job promotion brings temporary joy but does not change his deeper dissatisfaction.
What seems to have been Ivan Ilych’s chief pleasure in life up to this point?
What has become of it? How does the narrator describe the course of his life
so far?
He took the greatest pleasure in order and propriety, which now seem meaningless.
Characterize Proskovya Fedorovna’s attitude toward Ivan Ilych as he becomes
ill, and as his condition worsens.
His wife grows resentful, seeing his illness as an inconvenience.
What does Ivan Ilych see in the doctors he visits? How do they treat him?
Doctors treat him clinically, giving vague and contradictory diagnoses.
How does Ivan Ilych take the advice of the doctors? What does he want to
know? What do the doctors “know”? What do they not “know”? How do his
wife and family respond to his plight? What does he want from his family and
friends?
Ivan wants clarity, but doctors and family avoid discussing death, isolating him.
What happens to Ivan Ilych’s relationship to all of the things that had once
given him pleasure? What about his “chief pleasure” now?
Former pleasures, including work, now seem trivial as he faces mortality.
How does the narrator describe the kind of life Ivan Ilych must now live?
Where are his friends and all those whose advice he sought for so many things
for so long?
He realizes his life was superficial, and his so-called friends are absent when he needs them.
As his condition worsens, what becomes Ivan Ilych’s chief interest? What
does he realize about himself and others?
He becomes obsessed with whether his life was lived correctly.
What question and possibility begin to invade Ivan Ilych’s thoughts at this
point? What effect do these thoughts have on him?
He begins to suspect he lived wrongly, which terrifies him.
Why can’t Ivan Ilych talk to his wife about his condition? Why does he hate his
wife?
He resents his wife for her lack of empathy and indifference to his suffering.
What thoughts does Ivan Ilych have about death? Why does he find it so
difficult to consider his own death?
He sees death as absurd and impossible, as he never considered himself truly mortal.
Why can’t Ivan Ilych ignore the inevitable? What happens to all of the thoughts
which allowed him to screen himself from death prior to the illness?
His illness strips away his previous illusions, forcing him to face death.
Why do the drugs not really help Ivan Ilych?
The drugs dull his pain but do not provide relief from existential despair.
By the third month of his illness, in what light do others view Ivan Ilych?
Contrast this perspective to that of his early life.
Others now see him as a burden, contrasting with his earlier respected status.
According to the narrator, what bothers Ivan Ilych most at this point (cf., pp.
137-138)? Why? Does his family not fulfill its “duty” as Ivan Ilych conceived
this himself earlier in his life?
He realizes his family’s care is hollow, exposing their selfishness.
Why is Ivan comfortable only around Gerasim?
Gerasim’s honesty and kindness comfort him, unlike his hypocritical family.
What is Gerasim’s attitude toward Ivan Ilych’s illness? Compare this with
Gerasim’s conversation with Peter Ivanovich in Chapter 1.
Gerasim accepts death naturally, unlike the others who ignore it.
Is Gerasim portrayed as the “hero” of the tale? What evidence counts for and
against such an interpretation?
Gerasim is a quiet hero, embodying acceptance and compassion.
What cycle ebbs and flows for Ivan Ilych? Why is he in despair? For what does
he hope? Are there other instances of material and formal circularity in the
story?
Ivan cycles between fear, despair, and fleeting hope, searching for meaning.
Why does Ivan Ilych not want to be alone?
He fears being alone because solitude forces him to face his mortality.
Has Ivan Ilych’s attitude toward Proskovya Fedorovna changed at all? Why does he hate her?
His resentment toward his wife remains, as she refuses to acknowledge his suffering.
Why does Proskovya Fedorovna blame Ivan Ilych for his worsening condition?
What is ironical about her insistence about another medical specialist?
The irony in her insistence on another medical specialist is that no doctor can truly cure him—his condition is terminal. Her demand for a second opinion is not out of concern for his well-being but rather an attempt to maintain the illusion that something can still be done, avoiding the reality of his inevitable death.
How is Ivan’s son pictured in this chapter? Is he “innocent”? What is the meaning of the dark circles under the eyes? Is Ivan’s son portrayed as the
“hero” of this tale? Compare with Chapters 1 and 12.
The dark circles under his eyes symbolize his emotional burden, showing that he is deeply affected by his father’s condition. They contrast with the superficiality of the other characters, who prioritize appearances over genuine feeling.
In comparison with Chapters 1 and 12, the son remains the only figure who truly mourns Ivan’s passing. While he is not necessarily a “hero” in the traditional sense, he serves as a symbol of sincerity and human connection, offering Ivan a moment of comfort before his final transformation.
What is it that Ivan Ilych feels must be rectified? Identify the deception that he
detects. What would happen if the deception were destroyed?
Ivan Ilych realizes his life was based on a lie—pursuing status instead of true meaning. He sees that society deceives people into thinking success leads to fulfillment. If this illusion were destroyed, people would have to face their mortality and rethink their values. True meaning comes from genuine human connection, not social approval.
As Ivan Ilych feels himself being pushed into a “deep dark sack,” what does he
feel about
* God?
* the way he had lived before his illness?
* death?
God? Ivan feels abandoned and questions God’s justice, struggling to find meaning in his suffering.
The way he had lived before his illness? He realizes his life was shallow and misguided, built on societal expectations rather than genuine fulfillment.
Death? He fears it deeply at first but gradually starts to see it as an escape from his suffering and a possible path to truth.
Why does Ivan Ilych begin reminiscing about his past, especially his
childhood? What does he conclude? What is there about childhood that
fascinates him? How would you relate these ideas about childhood to Ivan
Ilych’s young son?
Ivan reminisces about his childhood because it was the only time he felt truly happy and free from societal pressures. He concludes that his adult life was empty and artificial, shaped by external expectations rather than genuine joy. Childhood fascinates him because it represents innocence, authenticity, and a time before he was consumed by ambition. His young son, who shows genuine emotion and care, embodies this lost innocence, highlighting the contrast between true connection and the superficiality of adulthood.
What does Ivan Ilych conclude the first time he calls into question the correctness of life? What instigates this question? What does he want most even now?
Ivan Ilych first questions the correctness of his life when he realizes that his suffering might be a result of having lived wrongly. This realization is triggered by his growing pain and the emptiness he feels from the insincerity of those around him. Despite this, he still clings to the hope that his life had meaning and desperately wants relief from his suffering. Even as he doubts, he longs for comfort, understanding, and a sense that his life was not entirely wasted.
Why does life seem senseless to Ivan Ilych?
Life seems senseless to Ivan Ilych because he realizes that everything he worked for—status, wealth, and social approval—was meaningless in the face of death. His suffering exposes the emptiness of the life he carefully built, revealing that he prioritized superficial success over genuine human connection. He sees that society ignores the reality of death, treating it as an inconvenience rather than an inevitable truth. This realization leaves him feeling isolated, regretful, and without purpose.
Once again, Ivan is unwilling to admit that his life has been wrong. Why? What
does he want from life? Why can’t he have what he wants?
Ivan refuses to admit his life was wrong because it would mean accepting that he wasted it. He wants to find meaning and comfort, hoping his suffering has a purpose. He can’t have this because his life was built on superficial values, and now it’s too late to change it.
What is it about childhood that continues to fascinate Ivan Ilych?
Childhood fascinates Ivan Ilych because it represents a time of innocence, joy, and authenticity before he was consumed by societal expectations. He remembers it as a period of true happiness, free from the pressures of status and duty. Unlike his adult life, childhood felt natural and untainted by the fear of death.
How does Ivan Ilych relate to others at this point in his illness? What is
different? Why?
Ivan Ilych becomes increasingly detached from others, seeing their concern as superficial and insincere. Unlike before, he no longer seeks their approval because he realizes they avoid facing the reality of death. He feels isolated, as his suffering makes him aware of truths that others ignore. This shift happens because he understands that society’s focus on status and propriety is meaningless in the face of death.
Why are Ivan Ilych’s mental sufferings greater than his physical sufferings?
How do his family and acquaintances typify everything that is wrong with his life?
Ivan Ilych’s mental suffering is greater than his physical pain because he realizes his life was shallow and meaningless, and he is haunted by regret. His family and acquaintances avoid discussing death, treating his illness as an inconvenience rather than offering genuine support. Their indifference reflects the same superficiality that defined his life, making him feel even more isolated. This realization deepens his despair, as he sees that he lived according to empty societal values rather than true human connection.
What does Ivan Ilych try to defend? Why does he fail?
Ivan Ilych tries to defend the idea that he lived a good and proper life by societal standards. He fails because his suffering forces him to confront the truth—that his life was shallow, focused on status rather than genuine meaning. As death approaches, he can no longer ignore the emptiness of his existence. This realization shatters his illusions, leaving him with regret and despair.
Why does Ivan Ilych agree to take communion? What effects does the
communion have on him?
Ivan Ilych agrees to take communion out of desperation, hoping it might bring him peace or relief from his suffering. However, the ritual does not provide the deep comfort or revelation he seeks. While it momentarily soothes him, it does not erase his fear of death or the regret over how he lived. His suffering continues, forcing him to confront his mortality on his own.
Once again, what does Ivan exclaim that he really wants? Why can’t he have
it? How does this desire affect him in his struggle with the illness and death?
Ivan Ilych exclaims that he really wants life, a second chance to live differently and find true meaning. He cannot have it because his illness is terminal, and it is too late to change his past choices. This unfulfilled desire intensifies his suffering, as he realizes he wasted his life on superficial pursuits. It deepens his fear of death until, in his final moments, he surrenders and finds peace by letting go of his struggle.
What happens to Ivan the second time he feels himself being thrust into the
black sack?
The second time Ivan feels himself being thrust into the black sack, he experiences a sudden realization that his suffering is unnecessary and that he has lived wrongly. Instead of resisting, he lets go of his fear and accepts death, which brings him an unexpected sense of peace. The pain disappears, and he feels a profound joy as he understands that true life comes from love and compassion. In this moment of clarity, he dies, freed from his torment.
What does he finally admit about his life?
Ivan Ilych finally admits that he lived wrongly, prioritizing status, wealth, and social approval over genuine human connection and meaning. He realizes that his pursuit of a “proper” life was empty and that he ignored what truly mattered—love and compassion. This admission allows him to let go of his fear of death. In accepting this truth, he finds peace in his final moments.
The narrator tells us that, once Ivan Ilych had fallen through the black sack, he
felt that his life could still be rectified or made right. What does this mean?
How can his life be “made right” if everything that preceded his moment of
truth was wrong?
Ivan Ilych realizes that even though he lived wrongly, he can still “make things right” by accepting the truth and letting go of his fear of death. By embracing this realization, he frees himself from regret and suffering. Though he cannot change his past, he finds peace in his final moments, making his death meaningful.
After he falls through the sack, Ivan Ilych looks for the pain and it is gone. Then he exclaims, “So that’s what it is! What joy!” What is it that he comes to see?
Ivan Ilych comes to see that death is not something to fear, but rather a release from his suffering and illusions.
How has Ivan’s transformation affected those around him? Note the
description of life after the death of Ivan Ilych in the first chapter. Especially
compare Proskovya Fedorovna’s report, concerning the last hours and words
of Ivan Ilych, to Peter Ivanovich (Chapter 1, question 4 above). Does her
memory accord with the narrator’s?
Ivan’s transformation has little effect on those around him, as they remain focused on their own concerns rather than his suffering or realization.
What role does Ivan Ilych’s son play in the transformation? How has the son been characterized throughout? Does he occasion the transformation or is he
simply part of the circumstance?
Ivan Ilych’s son plays a small but significant role in his transformation by showing genuine compassion in contrast to the indifference of others. Throughout the story, he is depicted as innocent and sincere, unlike his mother and society, who focus on appearances and self-interest. While he does not directly cause Ivan’s transformation, his authentic concern helps Ivan realize the value of love and human connection. He is part of the circumstance that allows Ivan to recognize what truly matters in his final moments.
What is the moral of this story? Is there a hero?
The moral of The Death of Ivan Ilych is that a life focused on status, material success, and social approval is ultimately empty, and true meaning comes from authentic human connection and compassion. Ivan’s suffering forces him to confront this truth, showing that denial of death leads to a wasted life. There is no traditional “hero,” but Gerasim and Ivan’s son represent sincerity and kindness, while Ivan himself becomes a kind of hero by realizing and accepting the truth before his death. His final transformation shows that it is never too late to find meaning, even in one’s last moments.
What does Chapter 1 establish relative to the rest of the story? What is the
time sequence of the story? In particular, relate Chapter 1 to Chapter 12.
The chapter frames the story as a reflection on Ivan’s life, told in reverse from his death to his early years.
What does Ivan Ilych find ridiculous about the way he injured himself? For
what is he losing his life? What does he think now of the room and furnishings
which were the scene of his fall?
He finds it ridiculous that a trivial household accident caused his demise.
