The document discusses polarization and double refraction of light passing through anisotropic crystals like calcite. It explains that when light passes through such crystals, it is split into two rays that are plane polarized with mutually perpendicular planes of polarization. These two rays are called the ordinary ray (O-ray) and extraordinary ray (E-ray). The O-ray follows Snell's law of refraction, while the E-ray violates it, though its wave normal still follows Snell's law. This phenomenon of double refraction was first reported when light passed through calcite crystals.