Three Deaths

Style and Technique

In «Three Deaths», Leo Tolstoy employs a realistic style characteristic of his work. The language is simple and concise, allowing the reader to focus on the depth and philosophical content of the text. Tolstoy uses contrast as a primary literary device, juxtaposing the deaths of a wealthy lady, a peasant, and a tree to highlight differences in the perception of life and death among different social strata and nature. The structure of the story is linear, with a clear division into three parts, each dedicated to one of the deaths. This allows the author to sequentially explore the theme of the inevitability of death and show how it is perceived differently depending on the characters' life circumstances and inner states. Tolstoy also uses symbolism, especially in descriptions of nature, to emphasize the cyclical nature of life and death. The story is rich with philosophical reflections on the meaning of life and death, making it a profound and multilayered work.