Anna Karenina

 Please finish part 1 by Tuesday.

Stepan Arkadyich Oblonsky (chapters 1-5)
Darya Alexandrovna Oblonsky (Dolly 2-3)

Levin - (one of the main characters) 5-9
Kozishev (Levin's brother or half-brother)
Nikolai (or Nicholas) (Levin's other brother)

Kitty - sister of Dolly (other sister is Natalie)

Anna Karenina (sister of Stepan)

Vronsky - yes

THEMES:

Love
Family
Russian Politics
Religion/Faith
Gender Roles
Social Class

Symbolism - trains, peasants.

Chapter 1 - Stepan has been having an affair and has been caught (poor boy).  THEMES: Family/Gender Roles/Love

Chapter 2 - Stepan believes he has the right to have an affair since he is a man, handsome, and his wife is getting old.  Why is she even mad at him?  THEMES: Same as above

Chapter 3: Stepan reading papers/business THEMES: Social Class

Chapter 4: Dolly and Stepan talk.  Dolly is packing.  Themes: See chapter 1

Chapter 5: Stepan at work.  Learn that he got his job through family connections.  This is how Russian society works.  We also learn why people like Stepan.  THEMES: Politics/Social Class
Enter: Levin

Chapter 6: Discussion of Oblonsky's in-laws (the Shcherbatskys - Dolly, Natalie, and Kitty).   Levin has come to Moscow to see Kitty. 

Chapter 7: Debate between Kozishev and a professor about how people understand the world.

Chapter 8: Russian Politics - Kozishev doesn't believe that Russians can ever use government right or well.

Chapter 9: Levin and Kitty.  Learn that Levin is a good skater.  Kitty doesn't want to give Levin the wrong impression.  Levin gets the cold shoulder.  Kitty's mother says, "On Thursday we are home, as always."  Also learn that Levin enjoys living in the country.  

Examples from Zoe's blog:

CHAPTER 31

Back in those days, people would die from any old infection, like pink eye or the common cold. They didn’t know how it spread, whether it be through touch, air, or contact with blood. When Charley gets sick, Esther offers to take care of her one-on-one not letting anyone else come in contact with her, which is all the more heroic because she will almost inevitably become sick as well. Basically, this is a strange offer to make, and it supports the theme of Duty as it pertains to Esther and her need to take care of Charley.

CHAPTER 32

Krook spontaneously combusts at the end of this chapter. This is terrible because Krook was supposed to hand over the letters Snagsby is supposed to give to Lady Dedlock over to Weevle, from whom Guppy will steal them. Back when this book came out, Dickens was mocked for his use of combustion because it seemed so improbable, but his only defense was that he thought it could happen.

CHAPTER 33

Krook, the storeowner who combusted was actually Mrs. Smallweed’s brother! This means the Smallweeds will inherit all of Krook’s property, since he has no other living relations. But in addition to the property, they will also inherit all of the documents in Krook’s office (which might include the letters).