Prologue
Act I

Barrack. Political prison camp.

Early morning. A warder named The Tartar is about to penalize Ivan Denisovich Shukhov, who didn’t get up at the signal, by putting him in a punishment cell for three days. However, then he pities Shukhov and forces him to clean the floor in the guardhouse. In the Commandant’s Office warders mock Shukhov. When Shukhov is finally able to leave the guardhouse, he goes to a dispensary to report his illness. In a dispensary an orderly Kolya refuses to send him to hospital and forces him to go back to work. The search is carried out in the barrack. The lieutenant Volkovoy threatens to send Captain who disagrees with the camp orders to the punishment cell for ten days.

Zeks read out a Camp Glossary.

The prisoners set off for work. On the way Shukhov recalls his previous peaceful and carefree life, his beloved wife; he dreams of his home village.