Discussion Questions & Activities: Doctor Zhivago After the war I learned that I had a reputation with some people and so I said to myself, 'I must first deserve this name -- not by poems, but by prose, by something which would cost me more work, effort, time, perhaps even something else.'       -- Boris Pasternak, on why he wrote Doctor Zhivago Background Doctor Zhivago, the epic Russian masterpiece by Boris Pasternak, takes place during a time of suffering caused by World War I, the political turmoil of the Russian Revolution, and the rise of communism. Some view Doctor Zhivago as a historical novel, since outside events are such a driving force in the story. Others see it as a romantic novel. Based on Pasternak's own life, this complex drama tells the tale of an accomplished doctor and poet caught between his love for two women. The film, like the book, portrays the tragic ways in which Yury's, Tonya's, and Lara's lives become entwined. Doctor Zhivago depicts the timeless struggle to attach meaning to life, despite human failings on both the personal and the historical level. It also offers opportunities to discuss choice, freedom, relationships, and the impact of society on each of us. Boris Pasternak was born in 1890 in Moscow to Leonid Pasternak, a well-known portraitist and art professor. His mother Rosa was a brilliant pianist who made her debut at age 13 on the concert stage. Like his fictional counterpart Zhivago, Pasternak was a poet. He was also highly regarded as a translator of poetry from foreign literature, including Shakespeare, Shelley, Keats, and others. The manuscript for Doctor Zhivago was smuggled out of Russia in 1957 and published in Italy. Pasternak was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1958 for Doctor Zhivago, but was forced by the Soviet government to decline the award. He died two years later. Doctor Zhivago was finally published in the U.S.S.R. in 1987. Discussion Questions 1. What are Yury Zhivago's strengths? What are his flaws? Do you feel empathy for his character in the film? Why or why not? 2. Compare Tonya and Lara in the film. What draws Zhivago to each of them? Why do you think Zhivago chooses Lara over Tonya? Does he display courage in his personal life? In his professional life? Discuss the scene where the two women meet. How do you interpret what happens? 3. Many people remember the 1965 version of Doctor Zhivago, starring Omar Sharif and Julie Christie. Compare the opening of the Masterpiece Theatre film with the earlier version. How are they similar? Which details have been changed? Which version do you prefer? 4. Why do you think Yury Zhivago writes poetry? In the film he says he writes about "What a gift it is to be alive in the world and to know you're alive." Does this comment surprise you? Why or why not? How do other characters react to his poetry -- Tonya, Lara, Masha, Viktor, Strelnikov? Why does Zhivago's poetry put him at risk politically? 5. How does Lara feel about Viktor Komarovsky? Revisit the scene in which she offers herself to Viktor. Why does she do this? How do her feelings change over the years? If you were Lara's best friend, what would you advise her to do? 6. Is Doctor Zhivago a love story or a political/historical story? What other works of literature or films cross this boundary? 7. Compare Doctor Zhivago to other famous Russian literature, such as War and Peace by Tolstoy, Crime and Punishment by Dostoyevsky, and The Cherry Orchard by Chekhov. What themes do these stories have in common? How does the harshness of the Russian climate affect the characters in these titles? How are women portrayed? How do political events affect the plot or characters? Activities The theme of family is integral to Doctor Zhivago. Right before Yuri leaves for war, a photographer snaps a photo of his family. Invite patrons to bring in old family photographs and share family stories or memories. Explore how decisions made by ancestors impact the lives of people today. Your group might also wish to explore family genealogies with a librarian's help. Poetry has a special place in Russia. Both Pasternak and Zhivago were poets. Organize an international poetry reading. Readers can choose a favorite poem to read aloud -- in translation or in its original language. You may want to pick a theme (e.g., poems about love). Invite a high school foreign language class to participate. Serve refreshments with an international flavor. Invite a local historian, history professor, or teacher to discuss the Russian Revolution or conditions in Russia before, during, and after WWI. Create an exhibit that displays the changing political geography of Russia over time. Use captions on each map to explain the political events that precipitated these changes. Coordinate with the children's librarian to read Russian folk and fairy tales during story hour. Display children's drawings of the characters and stories. Hold a food fair specializing in Russian food such as borscht (see recipe), blintzes, prianiki (honey cookies), etc. Play Russian music while people sample the dishes. Borscht 4 qts of water 2 lbs of beets, shredded 1 bunch of parsley, chopped 2 1/2 lbs short ribs, chuck, or beef shin with meat, cut in 2-inch pieces juice of 1 lemon 1 cup red wine vinegar 1 red cabbage, cut in 6-inch pieces 3 tablespoons brown sugar 2 medium onions, diced 1 bay leaf 5 potatoes, cut in cubes salt and pepper to taste 2 large carrots, shredded sour cream 1. Add the beef to the water. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat and let simmer for about 90 minutes. Strain out the meat and set it aside. Let the beef stock come to a boil. Add potatoes, salt, and parsley and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes. 2. Sauté the onions in a large pan. Stir in the beets, vinegar, and carrots and let the whole mixture simmer until soft. 3. Add the simmered onions and beet mixture as well as the beef to the rest of the soup. 4. Stir in the cabbage and the bay leaf and let simmer another 5 minutes. 5. Turn off the heat; then add other seasonings to taste. 6. Serve hot or cold in soup bowls garnished with sour cream. Note: There are many different versions of borscht, commonly made in many Eastern European countries. Although this recipe includes beef, borscht is often made without meat. 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