The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Stories · Chapter
Milton and Búlka explained
The narrator describes his two dogs: the intelligent setter Milton, used for hunting pheasants, and the formidable Búlka, whom no other dog dares to fight.
What happens
The narrator describes his two dogs: the intelligent setter Milton, used for hunting pheasants, and the formidable Búlka, whom no other dog dares to fight. During a hunt, Búlka insists on following and repeatedly interferes with Milton's tracking. Despite the narrator's attempts to stop him, Búlka ruins the chase by rushing ahead. Milton cleverly solves the problem by feigning interest in false trails to mislead Búlka, allowing him to follow the correct scent and successfully guide the hunt.
Themes in this chapter
Rural Life and the Landowner
The chapter depicts a scene of hunting, a common pastime associated with rural estate life and the relationship between a master and his working animals.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“He needed only to show his teeth, and the dogs would take their tails between their legs and slink away.”
Búlka's mere threat of aggression was enough to intimidate and repel other dogs.
Highlights Búlka's dominant and fearsome nature.
“Milton found a better way of cheating Búlka... he gave up the trail and turned in another direction, pretending that he was searching there.”
Milton devised a deceptive strategy, feigning interest in a false trail to misdirect Búlka's interference.
Illustrates Milton's intelligence and problem-solving ability in the face of a disruptive companion.