The Death of Ivan Ilyich Learning Target: Analyze passages for tone in order to evaluate the theme of the story.

When it comes to The Death of Ivan Ilyich it might be best to take one step back at this point and reflect upon the author’s purpose. What is Tolstoy’s purpose? In what ways does he convey this message? What seems to be his emotional state? How is Tolstoy trying to spark a reaction in the audience? How is this document supposed to make you feel? What words or phrases show Tolstoy’s tone?

Activity Look at three quotes analyzed for tone and theme. This will help show you what I expect. You will analyze the last quote in the same way the examples are analyzed.

Tone is defined as the writer’s or speaker’s attitude toward the subject and the audience. Understanding tone in prose and poetry can be challenging because the reader does not have voice inflection to carry meaning. An appreciation of word choice, details, imagery, and language all contribute to the understanding of tone.

To misinterpret tone is to misinterpret meaning. Identification of tone leads to identification of theme.

Words that convey tone

Choose one word that best describes the author’s TONE in the following quote (look up words you don’t know): “…but from early youth [Ivan Ilyich] was by nature attracted to people of high station as a fly is drawn to the light, assimilating their ways and views of life and establishing friendly relations with them. All the enthusiasms of childhood and youth passed without leaving much trace on him; he succumbed to sensuality, to vanity, and latterly among the highest classes to liberalism, but always within limits which his instinct unfailingly indicated to him as correct.” Page (pg. 12)  Nostalgic  Satirical  Benevolent  Hollow

“…but from early youth [Ivan Ilyich] was by nature attracted to people of high station as a fly is drawn to the light, assimilating their ways and views of life and establishing friendly relations with them. All the enthusiasms of childhood and youth passed without leaving much trace on him; he succumbed to sensuality, to vanity, and latterly among the highest classes to liberalism, but always within limits which his instinct unfailingly indicated to him as correct.” Page (pg. 12)  Nostalgic  Satirical  Benevolent Hollow

THEME “…but from early youth [Ivan Ilyich] was by nature attracted to people of high station as a fly is drawn to the light,...” Page (pg. 12) Hollow If we identify the tone as HOLLOW, the theme that this quote fits best is… o Death is inevitable o Live for what truly makes you happy o Live a meaningful life, not a superficial one

Theme Live a meaningful life and not a superficial one.

Tone “With the birth of their child, the attempts to feed it and the various failures in doing so, and with the real and imaginary illnesses of mother and child, in which Ivan Ilyich’s sympathy was demanded but about which he understood nothing, the need of securing for himself an existence outside his family life became still more imperative.” Page (pg. 17)  Sympathetic  Happy  Cold  Ironic

“With the birth of their child, the attempts to feed it and the various failures in doing so, and with the real and imaginary illnesses of mother and child, in which Ivan Ilyich’s sympathy was demanded but about which he understood nothing, the need of securing for himself an existence outside his family life became still more imperative.” Page (pg. 17)  Sympathetic  Happy Cold  Ironic

THEME “With the birth of their child, the attempts to feed it...” Page (pg. 17) Cold If we identify the tone as COLD, the theme that this quote fits best is… o Self-interest is not fulfilling o Death is inevitable o Live for what truly makes you happy.

Theme Self-interest is not self-fulfilling

Tone “Praskovya Fedorovna listened to all this and appeared to believe it. She did not contradict anything, but only made plans for their life in the town to which they were going. Ivan Ilyich saw with delight that these plans were his plans, that he and his wife agreed, and that, after a stumble, his life was regaining its due and natural character of pleasant lightheartedness and decorum.” Page (pg. 20)  Vexed  Somber  Happy  Ironic

“Praskovya Fedorovna listened to all this and appeared to believe it. She did not contradict anything, but only made plans for their life in the town to which they were going. Ivan Ilyich saw with delight that these plans were his plans, that he and his wife agreed, and that, after a stumble, his life was regaining its due and natural character of pleasant lightheartedness and decorum.” Page (pg. 20)  Vexed  Somber  Happy Ironic

THEME “…his life was regaining its due and natural character of pleasant lightheartedness and decorum.” Page (pg. 20) Ironic If we identify the tone as IRONIC, the theme that this quote fits best is… o Death is inevitable o Self-interest is not self-fulfilling o Live for what can truly make one happy

Theme Live for what truly makes you happy.

“In reality it was just what is usually seen in the houses of people of moderate means who want to appear rich, and therefore succeed only in resembling others like themselves..” Page (pg. 22)  Hollow  Contemptuous  Complimentary  Dispassionate TONE

THEME “In reality it was just what is usually seen in the houses of people of moderate means who want to appear rich, and therefore succeed only in resembling others like themselves..” Page (pg. 22) o Choose a theme and write a paragraph defending your answer.

With a partner Share your paragraph What tone did your partner choose? What theme? Were they the same as you? What were their reasons? Were they different? Why?