One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich

Novel Review1. PST-T chart PlotGot up to go to bucket Didn't get up at reveille Wondered which guard is on duty Decided he can lie in bed a little while longer Decided to report sick Got 3 days penalty with work for not getting up on time Got dressed Followed Tartar out of room Realised he wasnt being sent to the guardhouse Thanked the guard for letting him off and said he'll never get up late again Picked up pail and with bare hands (because he forgot his gloves) went to the well Put pail down, tucked hands into sleeves and watched some people in interest Ran to well Carried dripping bucket back to guardroom Took boots off and washed floor barefoot Wiped floor boards Eats soup Gets fever examined Returns to hut for body count Hides bread in mattress Thinks about wife's letter Marched off for work at Power Station Admires Alyoshka Tries to keep wind out with tar paper Sneaks an extra helping of food Sees scrap metal in snow and takes it Works and is late to lunch Wants to hide the trowel At body search he pani cs but the guard doesn't find the metal Makes way to hall for supper Awarded 400 grams of bread After body count he prepares to sleep Helps hide Tsezars parcel Gets awarded biscuits and a little bit of sausage Thanks god Alyoshka urges him to pray properly and to pursue the goods of the spirit not the flesh Reflects on this comment Gives him a biscuit MeditatesSubjects/SymbolsBread/foodParcelSpoonPrisoner #MoonColdTechniquesSimileMetaphorImageryPersonificationDiction (informal)ForeshadowingRepetitionTheme StatementsThe little things in life should be appreciated.You cannot understand someone if you are not them.Maintaining your dignity in tough life situations makes life more bearableMeaningful Quotationsâ€Å"Can a man who's warm understand one who's freezing?†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Writing letters was like throwing stones into a bottomless pool.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Even a prisoners thoughts aren't free†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Ã¢â‚¬Å"Easy money doesn't weigh anything†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Ã¢â‚¬Å"Beat a dog once and y ou'll only have to show him the whip.†CharactersIvan – thin, weedy, darkeyed sergeantTyurin – the foreman of gang 104Tetyukor – begs for scrapsAlyoshka – devout baptistPavlo – the deputy of gang 104Kolya – a poetBuyhovsky – the captainGopchik – innocent sixteen year old boyEino – estonianKildigs – talented bricklayerSnub Nose – wardenTsezar – receives regular packagesSymbols/ MotifsBread/food – Is mentioned all throughout the text. The prisoners obsess over the amount of food they get so much, it's clear how mistreated they are. The bread represents survival and that the little things in life should be cherished.Cold – The cold not only represents the weather, but represents the abuse and mistreatment of the prisoners too. Also mentioned all throughout the text, usually along the lines of â€Å"Can a man who's warm understand one who's freezing.† Also representing the theme of: you cannot understand someone if you are not them.Parcel – The parcels represent survival; the inmates who keep them to themselves are healthier like Kildigs. They also represent corruption and bribery in Tsezars case; he bribes inmates to get his way. Which also ties into power because they have more power over the inmates and even some of the guards.Spoon – Shukhov's spoon represents individuality and a struggle to keep humanity and free will. It is his and only his; not controlled by the camp. It's his little secret and his way of trying to keep some freedom and privacy.Moon – The moon represents hope and reminds the inmates of the world beyond their confinement. It gives them something to hold on to and reminds them of home and the people they loved. Which I think ties into appreciation of the small things.SignificanceIvan – We spend the whole day through Ivan and experience what he does. He is vital because the story through his eyes is what mak es the story HIS story. Based on what the author has given us I think Ivan is a good man who just wants to be free.Tsezar – Represents the higher class people having a hard time getting used to the camp. I think he's vital to the story because he's the one who always gets the parcel's and he chooses to share. Based on him getting gifts all the time from his family and him focusing on movies and film making, rather than his own survival, I think he is wealthy and is having a rough time adjusting to the life at camp.Opening scene – The opening scene tells the ways of the camp. Shows that Ivan doesn't feel good and establishes the theme of injustice and oppression by authority with the unfair punishment should've received. Foreshadows to punishments that will be given later on.Closing scene – The closing scene shows how his point of view on happiness has changed; and that he is almost happy. Emphasises how much of a survivor he is by showing us how he always looks on the brightside. And really makes us think back at the end when Alexander tells us that this is only one of his 3,653 day sentence.Scenesâ€Å"Then he took out the piece of bread in the white rag and, holding it under his coat so that not a crumb would be lost, began nibbling and chewing it bit by bit. He'd carried the bread underneath two layers of clothing, warming it with his body, so it wasn't the least bit frozen.† Shows that even the slightest bit of food is treasured so much because they get so little. Ties into the themes of mistreatment and appreciation of what you have.â€Å"Shukhov licked his spoon clean and returned it to his boot, then put on his cap and made for sick bay.† and then â€Å"Shukhov licked his spoon and tucked it inside his boot, crammed his cap on his head, rose, picked up the bread- his own ration and Tsezar's – and left.† These scenes show him trying to gain some individuality and some humanity by having this spoon be his l ittle secret.† Shukhov went to sleep fully content. He'd had so many strokes of luck that day: they hadn't put him in the cells; they hadn't sent his squad to the settlement; he'd swiped a bowl of kasha dinner; the squad leader had fixed the rates well; he'd built a wall and enjoyed doing it; he'd smuggled that bit of the hacksaw blade and through; he'd earned a favor from Tsezar that evening; he'd bought that tobacco. And he hadn't fallen ill. He'd got over it. A day without a dark cloud. Almost a happy day.† Shows how drastically his idea of happiness changed. Ties into the theme of appreciation of the little things. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich Novel Review1. PST-T chart PlotGot up to go to bucket Didn't get up at reveille Wondered which guard is on duty Decided he can lie in bed a little while longer Decided to report sick Got 3 days penalty with work for not getting up on time Got dressed Followed Tartar out of room Realised he wasnt being sent to the guardhouse Thanked the guard for letting him off and said he'll never get up late again Picked up pail and with bare hands (because he forgot his gloves) went to the well Put pail down, tucked hands into sleeves and watched some people in interest Ran to well Carried dripping bucket back to guardroom Took boots off and washed floor barefoot Wiped floor boards Eats soup Gets fever examined Returns to hut for body count Hides bread in mattress Thinks about wife's letter Marched off for work at Power Station Admires Alyoshka Tries to keep wind out with tar paper Sneaks an extra helping of food Sees scrap metal in snow and takes it Works and is late to lunch Wants to hide the trowel At body search he pani cs but the guard doesn't find the metal Makes way to hall for supper Awarded 400 grams of bread After body count he prepares to sleep Helps hide Tsezars parcel Gets awarded biscuits and a little bit of sausage Thanks god Alyoshka urges him to pray properly and to pursue the goods of the spirit not the flesh Reflects on this comment Gives him a biscuit MeditatesSubjects/SymbolsBread/foodParcelSpoonPrisoner #MoonColdTechniquesSimileMetaphorImageryPersonificationDiction (informal)ForeshadowingRepetitionTheme StatementsThe little things in life should be appreciated.You cannot understand someone if you are not them.Maintaining your dignity in tough life situations makes life more bearableMeaningful Quotationsâ€Å"Can a man who's warm understand one who's freezing?†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Writing letters was like throwing stones into a bottomless pool.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Even a prisoners thoughts aren't free†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Ã¢â‚¬Å"Easy money doesn't weigh anything†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Ã¢â‚¬Å"Beat a dog once and y ou'll only have to show him the whip.†CharactersIvan – thin, weedy, darkeyed sergeantTyurin – the foreman of gang 104Tetyukor – begs for scrapsAlyoshka – devout baptistPavlo – the deputy of gang 104Kolya – a poetBuyhovsky – the captainGopchik – innocent sixteen year old boyEino – estonianKildigs – talented bricklayerSnub Nose – wardenTsezar – receives regular packagesSymbols/ MotifsBread/food – Is mentioned all throughout the text. The prisoners obsess over the amount of food they get so much, it's clear how mistreated they are. The bread represents survival and that the little things in life should be cherished.Cold – The cold not only represents the weather, but represents the abuse and mistreatment of the prisoners too. Also mentioned all throughout the text, usually along the lines of â€Å"Can a man who's warm understand one who's freezing.† Also representing the theme of: you cannot understand someone if you are not them.Parcel – The parcels represent survival; the inmates who keep them to themselves are healthier like Kildigs. They also represent corruption and bribery in Tsezars case; he bribes inmates to get his way. Which also ties into power because they have more power over the inmates and even some of the guards.Spoon – Shukhov's spoon represents individuality and a struggle to keep humanity and free will. It is his and only his; not controlled by the camp. It's his little secret and his way of trying to keep some freedom and privacy.Moon – The moon represents hope and reminds the inmates of the world beyond their confinement. It gives them something to hold on to and reminds them of home and the people they loved. Which I think ties into appreciation of the small things.SignificanceIvan – We spend the whole day through Ivan and experience what he does. He is vital because the story through his eyes is what mak es the story HIS story. Based on what the author has given us I think Ivan is a good man who just wants to be free.Tsezar – Represents the higher class people having a hard time getting used to the camp. I think he's vital to the story because he's the one who always gets the parcel's and he chooses to share. Based on him getting gifts all the time from his family and him focusing on movies and film making, rather than his own survival, I think he is wealthy and is having a rough time adjusting to the life at camp.Opening scene – The opening scene tells the ways of the camp. Shows that Ivan doesn't feel good and establishes the theme of injustice and oppression by authority with the unfair punishment should've received. Foreshadows to punishments that will be given later on.Closing scene – The closing scene shows how his point of view on happiness has changed; and that he is almost happy. Emphasises how much of a survivor he is by showing us how he always looks on the brightside. And really makes us think back at the end when Alexander tells us that this is only one of his 3,653 day sentence.Scenesâ€Å"Then he took out the piece of bread in the white rag and, holding it under his coat so that not a crumb would be lost, began nibbling and chewing it bit by bit. He'd carried the bread underneath two layers of clothing, warming it with his body, so it wasn't the least bit frozen.† Shows that even the slightest bit of food is treasured so much because they get so little. Ties into the themes of mistreatment and appreciation of what you have.â€Å"Shukhov licked his spoon clean and returned it to his boot, then put on his cap and made for sick bay.† and then â€Å"Shukhov licked his spoon and tucked it inside his boot, crammed his cap on his head, rose, picked up the bread- his own ration and Tsezar's – and left.† These scenes show him trying to gain some individuality and some humanity by having this spoon be his l ittle secret.† Shukhov went to sleep fully content. He'd had so many strokes of luck that day: they hadn't put him in the cells; they hadn't sent his squad to the settlement; he'd swiped a bowl of kasha dinner; the squad leader had fixed the rates well; he'd built a wall and enjoyed doing it; he'd smuggled that bit of the hacksaw blade and through; he'd earned a favor from Tsezar that evening; he'd bought that tobacco. And he hadn't fallen ill. He'd got over it. A day without a dark cloud. Almost a happy day.† Shows how drastically his idea of happiness changed. Ties into the theme of appreciation of the little things.