How does Tolstoy describe death in chapters 5-8 of "The Death of Ivan Ilyich"

Answer:When Iván Ilych's brother-in-law comes to visit before New Years, he is shocked to see how Iván Ilych has changed. After admitting that he sees a change, the brother-in-law refuses to speak more about it to Iván Ilych. Iván Ilych locks himself in a room to examine his reflection in the mirror, comparing it to a portrait of himself taken with his wife. The change is immense. He then goes out and eavesdrops on his brother-in-law and wife in the drawing room. Though Praskóvya Fëdorovna denies that the change is great, her brother insists: "Why, he's a dead man! Look at his eyes there's no light in them" (143).