Essays and Research Papers on Russian Literature

A 5 page essay on the framing of 'best society' in 'The Death of Ivan Ilych' and 'A Doll House' as defined by Homer's 'Odyssey.' The writer discusses social role and hierarchical constructs in terms of the characters residing outside the 'best society' in support of the thesis that the authors maintain the framework ...

A 6 page paper describing this classic in Russian literature as one written at the brink of significant new change. During the era of Fathers & Sons, there was still a large servant class in Russia. The writer argues that "Fathers & Sons" illustrated differences occurring since an older, more transitional change, -- showing ...

A 6 page paper discussing the Russian futurist and poet, Velimir Khlebnikov and his magical use of words and vision which led to him being known as an 'Ultimate Poet.' Bibliography lists five sources.

A 13 page paper looking at this short story by Russian-Jewish writer Isaac Babel in terms of its protagonist's problems with his Jewish identity. The paper concludes that despite Liutov's attempts to disassociate himself from his Jewish intellectual background, Liutov is irrevocably a Jew and irrevocably an intellectual; nothing he can do will make him ...

A 5 page essay that explores two opinions of Chekhov's work-that of Chekhov and of Stanislavsky. The paper posits that under the Aristotelian definition, The Cherry Orchard is a comedy as Chekhov always claimed. In discovery of this fact, the opinions and viewpoints of both artists are explored. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 6 page essay which posits that Turgenev uses characterization to contrast the pastoral and nihilistic in his novel. The author compares Turgenev’s symbolism as it attaches to the sons and the father, and posits that this reflects Turgenev’s view of Russia. The writer concludes that when the nihilist son dies he is ...

A 3 page paper looking at how weakness of character ultimately contributes to disaster in this novel. The paper focuses on the decadence of Russian society during Dostoevsky’s lifetime and contrasts it with the ideal world of the pure-minded Myshkin. No additional sources cited.

A 5 page paper analyzing the use of literary devices in this play by Henrik Ibsen. The paper asserts that his narrow cast of characters, taut structure, and use of dramatic irony created powerful but uncomfortable plays that went for the audience’s jugular. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

An 18 page paper looking at these two works in terms of their portrayal of the roles of women in upper-class nineteenth-century Russian society. The paper concludes that if women let society dictate their course of action, no one benefits, and everyone suffers. Bibliography lists four sources.

One of the great joys of The Brothers Karamazov is the passion from which they view life. Another passion seems to have been a need to understand God and Jesus Christ. The legend of the Grand Inquisitor, as well as the book, The Brothers Karamazov, tells a tale of a journey to understand ...

A seven page paper analyzing the protagonist of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s short story in terms of whether he was modeled after Dostoevsky himself. The paper presents abundant historical evidence to show that he was, and notes how the creation of this story may have helped Dostoevsky resolve issues in his own life. Bibliography lists three sources. ...

An eight page paper looking at these two works in terms of whether the protagonist’s ends justify the means taken to achieve them Through tying both protagonists’ motives to irrationality, the paper argues that they do not. Bibliography lists four sources.

A 5 page paper which discusses the book "The Master and Margarita" by Mikhail Bulgakov, and illustrates how the characters Ivan and Margarita succeed in triumphing over evil and despair. Bibliography lists 4 additional sources.

A five page paper looking at Anton Chekhov's play in terms of what the symbol of the cherry orchard means to each of the principal characters. The paper concludes that overall, it represents something that is purely decorative but not really functional, and a healthy society cannot be oriented around the purely decorative and survive. Bibliography lists three sources.

A five page paper on this classic novel by nineteenth-century Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky. The paper maintains that Raskolnikov’s “crime” lies in his arrogant assumption that his life and goals are worth more than someone else’s, and that he even has the right to make that kind of judgment. Bibliography lists one source.

A five page analysis of this short story by famed Soviet dissident Aleksander Solzhenitsyn. The story tells of a poor woman in rural Russia, and the official corruption that made her life and those of her fellow villagers so difficult. No additional sources.

A five page paper on this novel by Soviet novelist Yuri Olesha. The paper compares two of the characters, Babichev and Kavalerov, in terms of their political views and their significance to the human condition. Bibliography lists two sources.

Valentin Rasputin has given the ignorant reason to pause and consider the many levels of technological progression in his novel, Farewell To Matyora. This 5 page paper explores the story's view on technology as opposed to nature. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

This 5 page paper considers the view of Dostoyevsky presented in Notes from the Underground related to the concept of freedom. This paper considers the views of Dostoyevsky along with assertions made by Emma Goldman in her work Anarchism. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

This 20 page report discusses one of the best-known of Aleksandr Pushkin’s (1799-1837) short stories and focuses on the symbolism and thematic content it presents. “The Queen of Spades” was written in 1834, only a few short years before he was to die in a duel over his socialite wife. It is the ironic story of a compulsive ...

A 6 page paper which compares and contrasts the dual characters of Anna and Konstantin "Kostya" Levin in Tolstoy's 1870 novel, "Anna Karenina" in terms of their love lives, religious beliefs, spiritual beliefs, and moral convictions. No additional sources are used.

A 3 page paper which compares and contrasts the character Norman in the 1981 film, "On Golden Pond" and Ivan in Leo Tolstoy's 1886 novel, "The Death of Ivan Ilyich," specifically considering their shared obsession with death and how comparing and contrasting these two stories and characters functions well as a teaching tool. Bibliography ...

This 5 page paper takes a look at the work Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol with a focus on the role of the narrator. The narrator is discussed in depth. No additional sources cited.

5 pages in length. While many of us wish for the good life and want better things, not all of us are ready to admit what it takes to get there. Changing our future and shaping our life are part of everybody's hopes and desires. The dawning comes when we realize that it takes knowledge, learning, ambition and ...

This 8 page report discusses the theories of Piotr Alekseyevich Kropotkin (1842-1941), a Russian geographer, social philosopher, and political anarchist. Kropotkin’s work and observations of the natural world convinced him that creatures survived when they supported one another but had to face an enormous amount of pain and dissension when they turned on one another. Such thinking flew in the face ...