The Cossacks (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Leo Tolstoy
- First Published: 1863
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Psychological realism
- Time of Work: Nineteenth century
- Setting: The Caucasus
- Genres: Long fiction, Psychological fiction
- Subjects: Love or romance, Nineteenth century, Villages, Ethnic relations, Aristocracy or aristocrats, Soldiers, Hunting or hunters, Russia or Russian people
- Locales: Caucasus
Characters Discussed
Dmitri Andreyevitch Olyenin (dih- MIHT-rihy ahnd-RAY-ehv-ihch ohl- YEHN-ihn), a young man of noble birth attached to a Russian military company. Stationed in a Cossack village, Olyenin feels a strong sympathy for these wild and happy people so different from the effete, useless society that he knew at home. An idealistic young man, he lives in the home of a beautiful Cossack girl who is alternately affectionate and disdainful toward him. In his somewhat confused idealism, he at first believes that “happiness consists in living for others.” He decides to...
[The entire page is 839 words long]
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