Anna Karenina Study Guide

Anna Karenina

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Anna Karenina is a sweeping novel that follows two Russian aristocrats: the beautiful Anna, who is unhappily married and soon embarks upon a whirlwind affair that leaves her reputation ruined, and Konstantin Levin, a wealthy landowner who falls in love with the daughter of a family friend. As Anna's life becomes more difficult, Levin's becomes happier, and they both ponder the unexpected power of love to shape one's life and views of the world. Levin, although content, still questions the idea of God, and strives for spirituality.

  • Princess Anna Arkadyevna Karenina (Анна Аркадьевна Каренина): Stepan Oblonsky's sister, Karenin's wife and Vronsky's lover.
  • Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky (Aлекceй Kиpиллoвич Bpoнcкий): Lover of Anna, a cavalry officer
  • Prince Stepan "Stiva" Arkadyevich Oblonsky (Cтeпaн "Cтивa" Aркaдьевич Oблoнский): a civil servant and Anna's brother, a man about town, 34. His nickname is a Russianized form of Steve .
  • Princess Darya "Dolly" Alexandrovna Oblonskaya (Дарья "Дoлли" Aлeксaндрoвна Oблoнскaя): Stepan's wife, 33
  • Count Alexei Alexandrovich Karenin: a senior statesman and Anna's husband, twenty years her senior.
  • Konstantin "Kostya" Dmitrievich Lëvin/Lyovin (Константин Дмитриевич Лёвин): Kitty's suitor, old friend of Stiva, a landowner, 32.
  • Nikolai Dmitrievich Levin (Николай Дмитриевич Лёвин): Konstantin's elder brother, an impoverished alcoholic.
  • Sergej Ivanovich Koznyshev (Сергей Иванович Кознышев): Konstantin's half-brother, a celebrated writer, 40.
  • Princess Ekaterina "Kitty" Alexandrovna Shcherbatskaya (Екатерина Aлeксaндрoвна Щербацкая): Dolly's younger sister and later Levin's wife, 18.
  • Princess Elizaveta "Betsy" (Елизавета "Бетси" Тверская): Anna's wealthy, morally loose society friend and Vronsky's cousin
  • Countess Lidia Ivanovna (Лидия Ивановна): Leader of a high society circle that includes Karenin, and shuns Princess Betsy and her circle. She maintains an interest in the Russian Orthodox mystical and spiritual
  • Countess Vronskaya: Vronsky's mother
  • Sergei "Seryozha" Alexeyich Karenin (Сергей "Серёжа" Каренин): Anna and Karenin's son
  • Anna "Annie": Anna and Vronsky's daughter

You'll need to sign up to view the entire study guide.

Sign Up Now, It's FREE
Source: Wikipedia, released under the Creative Commons Attributions/Share-Alike License
Filter Your Search Results: