Plot+Summary

Return to Other Links **//Plot Summary//** [|The Plot Summary] on this webpage is very helpful to everyone. It gives a straight to the point idea of what occurs in each section of the book. It helps us by allowing us to realize what is happening in the midst all these events and intertwined relationships. It can also help us decide on which plan we find most appropriate to us. Based on how the summary catches our interest will help us decide how much focus we can put into each plan, and therefore choose the right one to use.

Part one describes the characters for the reader. "Fyodor Karamazov is introduced as many things, a buffoon, a philanderer, and in the lightest sense a father to three (legitimate) sons: Dmitri, Ivan and Alexei. Ivan has become an intellectual who questions faith and religion. Dmitri has become a soldier and a sensualist much like his father. Alyosha (Alexei) has adopted the world of god and lives at the monastery following the teachings of Father Zossima." This section of the website is important because we, the students, can review the characters and minor events that could potentially lead to major events. It also explains a little basis on the relationships between the characters. It can be helpful so the relationships are made clearer to the students.
 * // PART ONE //**

//**PART TWO**// Part two focuses mostly on Alyosha (Alexei) and Father Zossima's death. Alyosha is originally returning home to "fulfill his duties to his father and brothers." Later, "Alyosha stops by the Madam Khokhlakov's house, to which Lise has summoned him. He speaks with Katerina, who says that she will never leave Dmitri, and Ivan decides to leave for Moscow. Alyosha then goes off under Madam Khokhlakov's orders to give 200 rubles to the captain that Dmitri roughed up a few days earlier." This section is important because it helps us clarify what relationships Aloysha forms with Fyodor, Madam Khokhlakov, and Father Zossima. This is also important because it is starting to establish a plot.

//** PART THREE **// Part three is the climatic part of the book. Alyosha deals with an internal strugle with his faith due to the death of Father Zossima. Father Zossima's death "attains post-mortem significance as the body begins to putrefy almost immediately after death, signifying possible corruption." After this corruption, Fyodor is murdered and that then leads to "the subsequent arrest of Dmitri (who we know killed Grigory, but know nothing as to his involvement with the murder of his father). Dmitri is hauled off to prison where, instead of maintaining his innocence, he decides that he is somewhat guilty of his father's murder. Although they do not bear direct responsibility, Dmitri, Grushenka and later Ivan will all feel a portion of guilt and suffering over the death of Fyodor." This is important to us because it tells us what is exactly going to happen, and the effects of the death. Each of the brothers will feel some sort of guilt as an aftermath to the death. //** PART FOUR **// The last part of the book describes Dmitri's trial and other surrounding events. This is also where relationships are permanently severed. The final deaths occur. "Smerdyakov, ultimately bearing the guilt for the murder, kills himself, no one cares, and Ivan, Grushenka, Alyosha and Katerina all testify to the upstanding character of Dmitri. In the end, Katerina produces the note that will eventually condemn Dmitri in her efforts to shield her own beloved, Ivan, from implication in the murder. She thinks that Ivan only came to the rescue of his brother in a nervous fit, and that he did not intend to free Dmitri at his own expense." This area of the website sums up the conclusion of the novel. Students can read this and remember parts that happened since it is a heavy part. Also, with smaller reading plans this can piece together little parts the student may not have read.

//** EPILOGUE **// The epilogue sums up the events in a few chapters after Dmitri's trial. "Katerina ends up asking Dmitri's forgiveness just after Dmitri decides that he will indeed escape to America (with the help of Ivan) for a while and bear the burden of an exile. Alyosha, who has consistently been the voice of moral probity, is last seen walking off with the children he will undoubtedly mold in Father Zossima's image." It also shows the difference between the two graphics. All the characters were intertwined at the beginning of the book, but after the murder, trial, love affairs, deaths, and other things--those relationships are broken up and no longer linked between the brothers. These show the students not only what will happen, but after they finish reading it helps them remember events that happened to form the breaks and new links.

media type="youtube" key="gB9js2rLk-8" height="344" width="425" Here's a video of the plot of the book summed up in ten minutes. It focuses mainly on the characters' relationships and a little bit on major events that happen throughout the novel.