Anna Karenina Ch. 150: Chapter 150

Summary

The day before his birthday Seryozha returns rosy from his walk and greets Kapitonitch, the tall hall-porter. He asks whether the bandaged clerk came and whether Papa helped him. The clerk with his face tied up has visited seven times saying he and his children face death; when Kapitonitch says Papa left the man almost dancing, Seryozha is delighted. The porter whispers that Countess Lydia sent a birthday present, and Seryozha learns Papa received the Alexander Nevsky today.

He shares the good news from Lydia Ivanovna's niece during his walk and imagines everyone should be glad on such a day. With tutor Vassily Lukitch he daydreams about orders higher than the Alexander Nevsky, planning to win every decoration invented. The grammar teacher finds him unprepared on adverbs; Seryozha tried but cannot hold that suddenly is an adverb of manner. The teacher is hurt, which wounds Seryozha more than scolding would.

Seryozha asks the teacher's birthday and hears that birthdays mean nothing to a rational being. Studying the teacher's beard and spectacles, he falls into reverie: why do they all speak the dreariest and most useless stuff in the same manner? Why does he keep me off; why doesn't he love me? No answer comes. The chapter leaves a sensitive child joyful about others' fortunes yet starving for affection in a formal house.

In this chapter: Terms Characters Key Quotes Modern Story

Why This Matters

Hearing the Love Question Under Homework

Children often ask for affection in sideways complaints about boring rules. Seryozha rejoices that a desperate clerk left almost dancing yet ends the day wondering why adults speak dreary useless stuff and why no one loves him.

When a kid fails a lesson but names loneliness, respond to the loneliness first.

Coming Up in Chapter 151

Waiting for his father's Bible lesson Seryozha will search the streets for his mother and pray she appears on his birthday. Waiting for his father's lesson Seryozha plays with a penknife and dreams. Searching for his mother on walks is a favorite occupation: every dark-haired graceful woman might be she..

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Original text

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Chapter 150

The day before his birthday Seryozha returns rosy from his walk and...

“Well, Kapitonitch?” said Seryozha, coming back rosy and good-humored from his walk the day before his birthday, and giving his overcoat to the tall old hall-porter, who smiled down at the little person from the height of his long figure. “Well, has the bandaged clerk been here today? Did papa see him?” “He saw him. The minute the chief secretary came out, I announced him,” said the hall-porter with a good-humored wink. “Here, I’ll take it off.” “Seryozha!” said the tutor, stopping in the doorway leading to the inner rooms. “Take it off yourself.” But Seryozha, though he heard his…

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Critical Thinking Exercise

10 minutes

Who Teaches Seryozha

List what Seryozha learns from Kapitonitch versus the grammar teacher the same afternoon. Which lessons touch his heart?

Consider:

•Include bandaged clerk
•Include Alexander Nevsky
•Include adverbs

Journaling Prompt

Write about an adult who spoke useless stuff when you needed love.

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Chapter 150

Summary