Assignment

Consider how Russian society influenced its literature. Consider the literary techniques that the authors and Anna Karenina, the film, have employed in order to emphasize their work's theme. Please respond to at least two of the prompts below; responding to just one prompt will result in a lower grade for the discussion.

1. Compare the film's portrayal of Anna to Tolstoy's Anna from the assigned readings. Do Joe Wright (the director), Tom Stoppard (the screen writer), and Keira Knightley (Anna) accurately portray Tolstoy's Anna, especially in the final scene?

2. How is Chekhov's Anna different from Tolstoy's Anna? What accounts for this difference?

3. How does Anna Akhmatova's work reflect Russian society during the turn of the century?

4. Do we have literature in the United States that focuses on the issues presented in this week's readings (adultery or imprisonment, for example)? Please offer an example. Consider past and present day American works of literature, including films, television shows, and novels. Think about how these American works present these issues (adultery, imprisonment, etc.) in comparison to this week's readings.

Divide your response into paragraphs for easier reading. Please note your post should equally answer both sections. Note that I will be checking to see if you actually completed the readings and used critical thinking within your discussion.