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Müəllimə: Xıdırova Vüsalə

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 Lev Tolstoy- Life and Legacy

Leo Tolstoy, born on September 9, 1828, in Yasnaya Polyana, Russia, is widely considered
one of the greatest writers of all time. He was born into a noble family and grew up on the
family estate, surrounded by the countryside that would later appear in much of his writing.
Orphaned at an early age, Tolstoy was raised by relatives and received a private education
before enrolling at Kazan University. However, he soon dropped out, feeling dissatisfied with
formal education.In the early 1850s, Tolstoy joined the Russian army and was stationed in the
Caucasus. His military experience deeply influenced his early writings, such as The Cossacks
(1863), which portrays life among the mountain tribes. His time in the army also exposed him
to the brutal realities of war, which later helped shape his moral and philosophical views.
Tolstoy’s literary fame grew rapidly with the publication of his two masterpieces, War and
Peace (1869) and Anna Karenina (1877). War and Peace is an epic novel that blends
historical narrative with fictional characters, set during the Napoleonic Wars. It explores
themes such as fate, free will, national identity, and the impact of war on human life. Anna
Karenina is a psychological and social novel that focuses on a woman’s struggle between
personal happiness and social expectations, ultimately ending in tragedy. Both novels are
celebrated for their complex characters, vivid descriptions, and deep philosophical insight.

In the 1880s, Tolstoy underwent a profound spiritual crisis. Despite his literary success, he
felt his life lacked true meaning. He began to question the church, the state, and traditional
forms of authority. This spiritual transformation led him to embrace a simple, ascetic
lifestyle, inspired by Christian ethics and the teachings of Jesus, especially the Sermon on the
Mount. Tolstoy believed in non-violence, truth, and love for all living beings. His religious
and philosophical ideas are presented in works such as A Confession, The Kingdom of God is
Within You, and What I Believe.These views caused controversy in Russian society and led
to his excommunication from the Orthodox Church. Nevertheless, his ideas influenced major
figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., both of whom admired his
commitment to nonviolent resistance and moral purity.Apart from his major novels, Tolstoy
wrote numerous short stories, novellas, plays, and essays. His shorter works, such as The

Death of Ivan Ilyich, How Much Land Does a Man Need?, and What Men Live By, reflect
his concern with existential questions, the nature of death, the dangers of greed, and the
search for spiritual truth.Despite his growing reputation as a moral thinker, Tolstoy’s personal
life was marked by tension and inner conflict. His radical views on property, family, and
religion often clashed with those of his wife, Sofia Tolstaya, and their thirteen children. In
1910, at the age of 82, Tolstoy left his home in search of peace and solitude, but he fell ill
during his journey and died at a small railway station called Astapovo.Leo Tolstoy’s legacy
remains powerful today. He is not only admired for his literary masterpieces but also
respected as a philosopher, reformer, and humanitarian. His works continue to inspire
millions around the world, reminding readers of the eternal struggle between good and evil,
the importance of love, and the search for a meaningful life.
 Anna Karenina

Summary

Lev Tolstoy’s “Anna Karenina” is one of the most valuable works of world literature. The
novel delves deeply into the inner world of people living in 19th-century Russian society,
societal rules, family relationships, moral values, and the understanding of love. The story is
based on two parallel plot lines: one is Anna Karenina’s tragic love story, and the other is
Konstantin Levin’s spiritual quest and family life. Through these two main lines, Tolstoy
attempts to show readers the various faces of society, different lifestyles, and the struggles
within the human soul. The main character, Anna Karenina, is a beautiful, intelligent, and
elegant woman from a noble family living in St. Petersburg. She is married to Alexei
Alexandrovich Karenin, a man holding a high position in the imperial administration.
Although their marriage is considered successful and prestigious in social terms, it is, in fact,
a formal relationship devoid of love and true feelings for Anna. Karenin is cold, strict, and
distant. Anna feels an emotional emptiness as she doesn’t receive love or understanding in
her marriage.

One day, Anna travels to Moscow to help solve a crisis in her brother Stepan Arkadyevich’s
family. There, she meets a young and handsome officer, Count Alexei Vronsky. What starts
as an instant attraction soon develops into a passionate affair. Anna and Vronsky begin a
secret love affair, which opens a new chapter in Anna’s life but also leads her to public scorn,
the breakdown of her family, and personal tragedy.Anna distances herself from her husband
and openly begins a relationship with Vronsky. They start living together, and Anna gives
birth to a daughter. However, when Anna’s husband refuses to officially divorce her, society
rejects both Anna and Vronsky. Anna is isolated from social circles, separated from her son,
and branded as a sinful woman. In this part of the novel, Tolstoy harshly critiques society’s
different reactions to infidelity: while Stepan Arkadyevich is forgiven and accepted by
society despite his own infidelity, Anna is harshly rejected when she falls into the same
situation. As time passes, the relationship between Anna and Vronsky begins to change.
Anna, who initially saw Vronsky as a man who loved her more than anything, starts to sense
indifference and distance in his behavior. She becomes anxious, jealous, and distrustful. She
feels that Vronsky no longer loves her the way he used to. These feelings make Anna feel
increasingly lonely. She becomes more nervous, depressed, and desperate. Unable to find
peace or joy in any aspect of her life, she becomes so hopeless that she sees death as her only
escape. Eventually, she throws herself under a train at a railway station, committing suicide.
This event serves as a symbol of Russian society’s harsh treatment of women and the moral
decay caused by personal choices. In parallel, the novel also follows Konstantin Levin, a
landowner and nobleman. Levin represents Tolstoy’s own ideals. He finds happiness not in
city life, luxury, or social success, but in rural life, hard work, family, and his connection with
God. Levin falls in love with the young and beautiful Kitty Shcherbatskaya, but she initially
rejects him because she is in love with Vronsky. This rejection deeply hurts Levin and causes
him a spiritual crisis. However, after Vronsky chooses Anna, Kitty experiences heartbreak,
and later, Levin and Kitty meet again and eventually marry. The family relationship between
Levin and Kitty is presented in the novel as an ideal model of a healthy family built on
mutual understanding and respect. Their life together in the countryside, the work they do,
their love and support for one another, and Levin’s thoughts about the meaning of life are a
positive example of life that Tolstoy offers. In the end, Levin realizes that for a person to be
happy in life, they do not need wealth, fame, or social acceptance but rather spirituality, a
loving family, and a connection with God.
Through “Anna Karenina,” Lev Tolstoy presents two different life paths: one, that of Anna,
who follows passion and defies societal restrictions, ultimately leading to her downfall; and
the other, that of Levin, who finds peace in simplicity, hard work, family, and spiritual
values. The novel is not only a love story but also a significant artistic and philosophical
work that reflects on society’s unjust norms, the breakdown of the family institution, and the
emptiness in the human soul.
 VOCABULARY

Words Synonyms 𝐀𝐧𝐭onyms

Oblivian Forgetfulness Memory
Melancholy Sadness, depression Joy, cheerfulness
Haste Hurry, rush Delay
Pompous Arrogant, boastful Humble, modest
Tedious Boring, monotonous Exciting, Thrillin
Vexed Annoyed, Irritated Calm, Content
Allusion Reference, Hint Direct statement
Reproach Criticism, Blame Praise, Approval
Earnest Serious İnsincere, kind
Disdain Scorn, Contempt Respect, Admiration
Entreaty Plea, Request Refusal, Denial
Exasperation Frustration, Rage Peace, Patience
Languor Weakness, Fatigue Energy, Vitality
Condescending Snobbish, patronizing Respectful, Humble
İmperturbable Calm, Unshakable Nervous, Anxious
İmpetuous Rash, Hasty Cautious, Careful
Sardonic Mocking, Sarcastic Sincere, earnest
Trepidation Fear, Anxiety Confidence, assurance
Reverie Daydream Focus, Concentration
Penitent Sorry, regretful Unrepentant, Defiant