Tolstoy, The Kreutzer Sonata
1. Why would Tolstoy use two narrators (three, if you include Tolstoy)? What is the effect of the narration-within-a-narration?
2. After the opening conversation between the passengers on the train, where did you predict the story would be going? What was the key point in their conversation?
3. How did you initially respond to Pozdnischeff's statements? What did you agree or disagree with? Did your opinion change over the course of the story?
4. What mistake did Pozdnischeff make to fall into the "trap" of marriage? How are men and women powerful, each in their own way?
5. Why does music become important to his wife? How does he misread her passion?
6. What is Pozdnischeff jealous of? Is he justified?
7. This story seems to separate the spiritual and carnal aspects of humans; who makes that separation, Pozdnischeff or Tolstoy? does the separation work (are the lady and lawyer passenger right?)?
