Anna Karenina Ch. 167: Chapter 167

Summary

Veslovsky drives so smartly they reach the great marsh too early while it is still hot. Levin and Stepan Arkadyevitch both want to shed Veslovsky and hunt freely; Oblonsky's face shows a sportsman's anxiety mixed with good humored slyness. Levin maps the reeds, divides the party, and lands on the wider right with Veslovsky while Stiva takes the left alone.

Kitty's parting warning returns: Mind you don't shoot one another. Veslovsky fires at distant ducks and scares the snipe; Oblonsky kills cleanly while Levin misses his first birds and, as always on such days, grows hot, out of temper, and shoots worse the longer he tries. Veslovsky pops away merrily, killing nothing yet not abashed, which deepens Levin's sense of disgrace before a spectator.

When peasants invite them to vodka, Levin sends Veslovsky off with Allons, c'est curieux and hopes solitude will save the day, but alone he still misses. Exhausted, bitter tasting, he keeps walking until a disgraceful miss makes him fling his gun and his hat on the ground. He recovers, drinks stagnant water, tries to keep cool, and ends with only five birds against Oblonsky's fourteen at the alders, softened by Stiva's gracious blame of Veslovsky and the single dog.

In this chapter: Terms Characters Key Quotes Modern Story

Why This Matters

Recovering After an Early Miss

One botched start can hijack an entire day if you treat it as proof. Levin misses early, watches Veslovsky killing nothing without shame, and flung his gun and his hat while Oblonsky bags fourteen birds.

When performance collapses, stop long enough to reset instead of doubling down in fury.

Coming Up in Chapter 168

At the peasant hut Veslovsky will already be laughing over vodka and bread while Levin and Stiva argue justice in the hay barn. Levin and Stepan Arkadyevitch reach the hut to find Veslovsky enthroned amid muddy boots, praising peasant bread and vodka. After supper the gentlemen lie in the hay barn talking guns until Oblonsky describes capitalist Malthus's preserved moors and luncheon pavilions..

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Original text

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Chapter 167

Veslovsky drives so smartly they reach the great marsh too early wh...

Vassenka drove the horses so smartly that they reached the marsh too early, while it was still hot. As they drew near this more important marsh, the chief aim of their expedition, Levin could not help considering how he could get rid of Vassenka and be free in his movements. Stepan Arkadyevitch evidently had the same desire, and on his face Levin saw the look of anxiety always present in a true sportsman when beginning shooting, together with a certain good-humored slyness peculiar to him. “How shall we go? It’s a splendid marsh, I see, and there are hawks,” said…

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Critical Thinking Exercise

12 minutes

Track Levin's Marsh Day

List Levin's plan, what goes wrong with Veslovsky present, what happens when he is alone, and the final bird count.

Consider:

•Include Mind you don't shoot one another
•Include killing nothing
•Include flung his gun and his hat

Journaling Prompt

Write about a time early failure made you perform worse because you could not reset.

Master this chapter. Complete your experience

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Chapter 167

Summary