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Stream of Consciousness
Style
Explanation and Analysis:
The style of Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina is very unique in how it uses techniques of literary Realism, including multiple protagonists, a third-person omniscient perspective, stream-of-consciousness narration, and ellipses.
The novel follows two protagonists, Konstantin Dmitrich Levin and Anna Arkadyevna Karenina, who are only related through their relationship to Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky. Even though the novel is titled Anna Karenina, the story focuses on both of these protagonists, following Levin in his journey towards happiness and Anna in her journey towards death. Throughout all of this, Tolstoy uses a third-person omniscient perspective, which allows the reader to gain insight into the mental, physical, and emotional landscapes of each character. With these greater insights into characters such as Dolly, Stiva, Kitty, Karenin, and Vronsky, the reader is able to better understand the plights of Anna and Levin.
What's more, Tolstoy's use of stream-of-consciousness narration acts as something of a precursor to literary Modernism, which made liberal use of the technique. In turn, Tolstoy he cements Anna Karenina as an innovative work that has inspired future generations of writers.
Finally, ellipses play a crucial role in the novel, communicating nonverbal messages and actions in a work full of dialogue and descriptions. For example, ellipses represent the passing of long periods of time in the plot, as well as the moment in which Vronsky and Anna first sleep together.
