Rose May C.

Tobias

BSE 3D

Questions:

1. Who are the characters in the story? Characterize the protagonist and the
antagonist.

The characters in the story are Ivan Dmitrich Aksionov, his wife, his
merchant friend from Ryazan, and Makar Semyonich. The protagonist is a young
man who is handsome, fair-haired, curly-headed fellow, full of fun, and very fond of
singing and the antagonist is a new inmate a tall, strong man of sixty, with a closely
cropped grey beard.

2. Where did the story take place? How does the setting affect the life of the
characters? How does it create a mood?

Aksionov lives in town of Vladimir, but he went to Nizhny Fair and got arrested, they
bring him to Siberia. He lives his life in Siberia for 26 years because of a wrong
accusation that he knew he will never do. During his imprison, he met the one who
really killed the merchant, the one who destroy his life.

3. How do the events in the story relate to one another?

Aksionov left his town of Vladimir, although his wife dreamed of him going
home with a white hair. He still went to Nizhy Fair, because of that an unexpected
circumstance happened. Aksionov got arrested in Siberia, there are lot of things
happened in 26 years of his life in prison. And one of it is, he met the man who really
killed the merchant. Even though this man is the reason why his life is ruined,
Aksionov did not use it to tell that Makar, the new convict planned to escape from
the prison. It makes Makar realized what he did and asked for forgiveness. But it’s
all too late, When the order of the release came, he is already dead.

4. Who is the narrator in the story? What is his/her participation in the story?

The story is narrated from a third person, narrating the thoughts and actions
of the characters clearly and follows to Aksionov point of view.
5. What is the conflict of the story? Is the conflict resolved? At what point in this story
is the tension highest?

The conflict of the story is when the convoy soldiers noticed that one or other
of the prisoners emptied some earth the boots. Because of that they search the
prison and found the tunnel. The governor came, he asked the prisoners who dug
the hole, but all of them denied. The tension part is where, the governor asked
Aksionov because he knew he is a truthful man. However, Aksionow did not tell who
did it. Because of that, Makar, ask for his forgiveness, that he is willing to tell the
truth for Aksionov to be free, unfortunately it’s all too late.

6. What is the theme of the story? Express your answer in a one declarative
sentence.

The theme of the story is about forgiveness and acceptance that will set you free.