The Death of Ivan Ilych Lesson Plan

Ivan Ilyich's illness makes him angry, but not everyone reacts the same way to illness. How have you reacted to your own illnesses? Even something as mundane as a cold has an effect on the mind.

The range of responses to this question is nearly infinite, but will often point towards issues of weakness and vulnerability, need for the care of others, and the trauma inflicted by near-constant pain (even in the short term). Everybody deals with illness differently, and in understanding their own responses, students will develop a visceral understanding of Ilyich's situation.

This question may be used as either a writing prompt or a group discussion question. If the latter is...