# Endnotes explained — The House of the Dead

> Chapter companion for The House of the Dead by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

## What happens

The endnotes provide translator's and author's notes clarifying historical and cultural references in the text, including punishments under Nicholas I, the kantonist system, the term 'sirota,' political prisoners, a reference to Gogol's Dead Souls, corporal punishment reforms, the Polish rising of 1863, passports, tramps, military jargon, and superstitious murders.

## Key lines

> The torture of palki or the 'sticks,' described in Part II , Chapter II is meant. It was a favourite form of punishment under Nicholas I , who was nicknamed Nicholas Palka or the 'stick.'

The punishment of 'palki' (sticks) mentioned in Part II, Chapter II was a common method under Nicholas I, who was called Nicholas Palka.

_Clarifies the historical context of a specific punishment._

> Kantonists were soldiers' sons brought up in a military settlement and bound to serve in the army—a special class no longer existing.

Kantonists were sons of soldiers raised in military settlements and required to serve in the army, a class that has since disappeared.

_Defines a historical social class._

> Orphan—in Russian sirota .

The Russian word for orphan is 'sirota'.

_Provides a translation note._

> I.e. political.

This refers to political prisoners.

_Clarifies a reference to political status._

> A character in Gogol’s Dead Souls .

This is a reference to a character from Gogol's novel Dead Souls.

_Identifies a literary allusion._

> All that I am writing here about corporal punishment was true in my time. Now I am told that all this is changed and still changing.

The descriptions of corporal punishment were accurate for the author's era, but reforms have since occurred.

_Notes the evolution of punishment practices._

> The year of the Polish rising.

This refers to the year of the Polish uprising.

_Provides historical context for a date._

> Passports are meant.

The reference is to passports.

_Clarifies a term used in the text._

> That is, living in the woods. He means that they too were tramps.

This phrase means living in the woods, implying they were also vagrants.

_Explains a colloquial expression._

> This expression was literally used in my time, not only by the major, but by many petty officers, especially those who had risen from the lower ranks.

This phrase was commonly used in the author's time by officers who had risen from lower ranks.

_Provides linguistic and social context._

> That is, killed a man or woman, suspecting that he or she had put a spell on the cattle, causing their death. We had one such murderer amongst us.

This refers to killing someone suspected of cursing cattle, a crime that occurred in the prison.

_Explains a superstitious motive for murder._

> Tatar word.

This is a word from the Tatar language.

_Identifies the origin of a term._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_house_of_the_dead_se/chapters/part-ii-endnotes
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_house_of_the_dead_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_house_of_the_dead_se/chapters