A Gentle Creature

Name: A Gentle Creature
Author: Fyodor Dostoevsky

The story follows a poor, unnamed woman who lives in a small village in Russia. She is a gentle, kind-hearted woman who is devoted to her husband, a soldier who is away at war. She is content with her life, but she is also lonely and yearns for her husband's return. One day, she receives a letter from her husband, informing her that he has been dishonorably discharged from the army and is now a convict. He asks her to come to him in Siberia, where he is being held. The woman is devastated by the news, but she decides to go to him. She sells all of her possessions and sets off on a long and arduous journey to Siberia. Along the way, she encounters many hardships and struggles, but she never loses her faith in her husband or her love for him. When she finally arrives in Siberia, she discovers that her husband has died in prison. She is grief-stricken, but she finds solace in the fact that she was able to fulfill her husband's last wish and be with him in his final moments. Gentle Creature is a powerful story of love, loyalty, and devotion in the face of adversity. It is a timeless classic that has been adapted into several films and plays.

By Fyodor Dostoevsky · First published 1876 · Genre: Philosophical Fiction, Realism, Drama · 11 chapters · 17,530 words

First lines

LUKERIYA has just announced that she won't be staying with me and that after the mistress has been buried she will be leaving. I have knelt in prayer for five minutes; I wanted to pray for an hour, but I couldn't keep from thinking and thinking, sick thoughts and a sick head-what's the use of praying now? It would be sinful! It's odd, too, I don't feel any inclination to sleep: in grief, overwhelming grief, after the first intense outbursts, one always feels like sleep. Condemned men always sleep very soundly on their last night, so they say. That's how it should be, it's the way of nature, otherwise one couldn't stand the strain … I lay down on the sofa, but didn't fall asleep …

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A Gentle Creature is listed on Textopian as a novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky, dated 1876 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: Fyodor Dostoevsky
Date: 1876 CE
Language: English
Genres: Philosophical Fiction, Realism, Drama, Romance
Length: 17,530 words
Structure: 11 chapters, 495 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Work identity for A Gentle Creature by Fyodor Dostoevsky
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering A Gentle Creature?
How does this novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Philosophical Fiction first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Philosophical Fiction — A Gentle Creature is a philosophical novel that explores the themes of morality, justice, and faith.
Realism — The novel is written in a realistic style, with a focus on the psychological and moral development of the characters.
Drama — The novel is full of dramatic moments and intense emotions, as the characters grapple with difficult moral dilemmas.
Romance — The novel contains a romantic subplot between two of the characters, which adds an additional layer of complexity to the story.