Essays and Research Papers on Russian Literature

(6 pp). Ivan IV or Ivan the Terrible,1530-84, grand duke of Moscow (1533-84), was the first Russian ruler to assume formally the title of czar. Ivan the Terrible, the most famous tsar before Peter the Great and the most brutal ruler of Russia before Stalin, inherited the throne as a three-year-old boy ...

Set in 19th century Russia, Anna Karenina is hailed by many not only as being Tolstoy's best book but also as one of the greatest novels ever written. The story which unfolds in the book is really the classic tale of adultery and the retribution which follows. Anna Karenina finds herself trapped in ...

6 pages in length. In Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment, the protagonist, Raskolnikov, has a theory about crime concerning the ordinary and the extraordinary man. As the story progresses, Raskolnikov begins to question his own theory and eventually loses all faith in it. Bibliography lists 1 source.

This 5 page thesis paper contends that Lolita is misunderstood as an immoral work, and must be read objectively to be appreciated. Several arguments are made to support the point. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

An eight page paper which compares and contrast the characters of Olenka, in Chekhov’s The Darling, and Janie, in Thurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, in terms of the similarities and differences between the two women’s lives, personalities and relationships with men. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

(5 pp ) Chekov's own reflection about this story was that "love -even the adulterous type-operates as a force for good." This discussion will examine the story to document the author's statement.

A paper which looks at the way in which Kafka deals with the bleakness of the human condition and the ironies of fate in Metamorphoses and In the Penal Colony.

A 10 page paper which discusses the theme, plot, and style found in Anton Chekhov's "Three Sisters." The paper also presents an examination of the play in reference to the theories of Aristotle as it relates to plot and other elements within the play. Bibliography lists 10 sources.

This 7 page report discusses the reality experienced by both Siddhartha and “underground man” are extreme awakenings of the truth of life and the relationship that exists between human beings as well as the ways in which individuals develop a sense of themselves and others. Both primary characters come to understand the extreme dichotomy that is presented in terms of human ...

A 5 page paper which examines the philosophy behind the “holy fool,” how it relates to the novel’s chief protagonist, Prince Myshkin, and also considers how the holy fool relates to the themes of apocalypse. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A paper which looks at the way the family is treated in Anna Karenina, in terms of social and cultural values, the respective roles played by men and women in society, and the way that infidelity is perceived and dealt with on a gender-oriented basis.

A 5 page paper which examines, briefly, the life of Anton Chekhov, and then discusses the play "Uncle Vanya," illustrating that he is perhaps the most likeable character in the play. Bibliography lists 3 additional sources.

A 7 page research paper that examines The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky from a perspective that considers the theories of Rene Girard. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

This 5 page paper explores Alexander Solzhenitsyn's famous work "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich." Political, social and spiritual implications are discussed. The prison system in general is also a focus of this paper that uses the work of fiction as a springboard for discussion. Bibliography lists 3 sources. ...

(5 pp) This 1862 novel caused great upset upon its original publication in Russia, but it is still being read today because of the universal insights it gives into human relationships and the nature of change. We might ask ourselves if the major characters presented are realistic to us, but it is good ...

A 5 page essay/research paper that examines three Chekhov short stories, 'The Chorus Girl' (1886), 'The Darling' (1899), and 'The Betrothed' (1902). The writer argues that these three stories show consistency in Chekhov's attitudes toward women over the course of his career, while, simultaneously the stories also show his maturing style. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 5 page paper which examines characters, dialogue, and situations found in Chekhov's "The Bear." These elements are discussed in terms of comedic content. "The Bear" is also compared with another of Chekhov's plays, "Three Sisters." Bibliography lists 2 additional sources.

A 9 page paper outlining the major theme of Turgenev’s novel contrasted with the social movements of the time. Identifies two major philosophical directions of the time, that which stood in respect of the age old institutions and ideologies of Russia and that of nihilism or positivism. Asserts that in many respects Turgenev’s ...

Reality is a matter of what is familiar and agreeable, while on the other hand, also refers to what is concealed and kept out of sight. This 7 page paper explores the representation of the inner and outer reality of the characters in Anton Chekhov's The Lady With A Pet Dog and Sherwood Anderson's Death ...

A 5 page paper which examines the humor in Gogol's "Shinel" as it relates to humane passages. Bibliography lists 1 additional source.

5 pages. This longtime classic is summarized in this paper. The major theme of the book is explained and supported with examples. Other themes such as characterization, setting, and point of view, are also considered and touched upon as well. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 6 page examination of the fantastic, the surreal and otherworldly, in the work of Gogol. The works examined are "The Portrait" and "The Nose." No additional sources cited.

This 5 page paper examines the philosophical views of Tolstoy's character, Levin, in Anna Karenina and relates those views with the concept of present day globalization. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

An 8 page research paper that analyzes how Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard" reflects the social and political situation in Russia at that time. The writer discusses how Chekhov foresaw the downfall of the aristocracy and the corresponding rise of the commercial/merchant class. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

An 8 page essay that analyzes Leo Tolstoy's The Cossacks (in Russian Kazaki) from the perspective of the role that nature plays in which story. The writer argues that nature becomes almost another character in this narrative, a visible and pervading influence that both urges Tolstoy's protagonist onward but also represents his eventual goal. ...