A Day in the Life of Ivan DenisovichThe novel: A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich (written by Alexander Solzhenitzyn), tells the story of the life of a Russian soldier in a Siberian environment labor camp during the Second World War. The protagonist of the story, Ivan, better known as “Shukhov”, is wrongly accused of treason and sentenced to 10 full years of imprisonment in the camp. Throughout the story, the author makes vivid references to help the reader identify with the setting, climate, and overall feel of what Ivan faces on a daily basis. This helps the reader better understand the points and reality of what it was like to live in one of these camps. Summary The story begins with a daily wake-up call in the barracks. Shukhov, normally on time, woke up with aches and pains and decided to sleep well past the ringing of the bell. Obviously being in a labor camp, he is captured and ordered to clean the floors in the officers' headquarters. After completing this task, he rushes to the mess hall and then to the infirmary to have his pain and fever checked. Unfortunately for Shukhov, the medical examiner explains that the clinic is closed in the morning, and if he had been there the previous night, he would have had the day off. Returning depressed to his quarters, Shukhov comes across the body count and notices that they are searching the men today. (They must not bring with them any prohibited items of clothing, i.e. clothing that has not been expressly given to them by the authorities). Without being seen, Shukhov quickly sews a piece of bread he took from breakfast into the mattress for later. After the body count, his group is sent to work at the power plant. He meets with colleagues and works for a while. During dinner, he once again eats food for later, and returns to the station after eating two bowls of gruel. For the rest of the afternoon the group works tirelessly to complete the laying of the bricks. Shukhov manages to find a piece of steel in the snow and hides it in his clothes, hoping to make a knife when he has time. The dinner bell rings and the men set out for their last meal of the day, only to find that someone from their group is missing..