Chekhov’s
Short Stories
In this course we will read and
analyze some of the most acclaimed short stories by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov
(1860-1904), one of the greatest short-story writers and literary innovators in
the history of world literature. As we discuss Chekhov’s short fiction and
ponder the fundamental questions of human existence that this author raises in
his works, we will venture to grasp reasons for his perennial appeal to many
audiences. Special attention will be given to Chekhov’s style with its
celebrated economy, subtlety, and the impressionistic use of detail. For the
reading assignments and discussion questions see this course’s web page found
on www.slavdom.com (follow the COURSES link).
***
Below you
will find a rather ambitious reading list, yet I intend to explore with you if
not all of these short stories, then the majority of them. We will read most of
the stories in chronological order. Some of them will be discussed in depth,
while others will be addressed in the course of the lectures. The first two
classes will cover Chekhov’s early short stories as well as several stories
written after 1886, the year of the new beginning in Chekhov’s life and art. In
the 3rd class we will discuss in depth A Boring Story, which opens the succession of Chekhov’s mature
masterpieces. The last two classes will be devoted to Chekhov’s latest and best
known short stories. Discussion questions to select short stories will be
posted on this site a few days before each class.
Readings:
Selected Short Stories of Anton Chekhov, trans. Richard Pevear and Larissa
Volokhonsky
And a
collection of Chekhov’s short stories found on a web site 201 Stories by Anton
Chekhov.
Discussion Questions
Select Bibliography:
Jackson, Robert Luis (ed.) Chekhov: A Collection of Critical Essays. Englewood Cliffs, NJ:
Prentice-Hall, Inc, 1967.
Bloom, Harold (ed., introd.). Bloom’s Modern Critical Views: Anton Chekhov. New York: Infobase
Publishing, 2009.
Clyman, Toby. A
Chekhov Companion. London: Greenwood Press, 1985.
Heim, Michael Henry (transl.) and Simon Karlinsky. Anton Chekhov's Life and Thought: Selected
Letters and Commentary. Berkeley: University of California Press.
1975.
Melchinger,
Siegfried. Anton Chekhov. New York:
Frederick Ungar Publishing Co, 1972.
Mirsky, D. S. A
History of Russian Literature. Northwestern University Press, 1958.
(368-383)
Shestov, Lev. Creation from the Void. http://www.angelfire.com/nb/shestov/all/pw_1.html
Schedule:
Class 1,
October 21
Early short
stories
Death of a
Clerk (1883)
Fat and
Thin (1883)
Small Fry (1885)
Chameleon (1884)
The
Malefactor (1885)
The
Marshal’s Widow (1885)
Vanka (1886)
Sleepy (1888)
Grisha (1886)
Kashtanka (1887)
Easter Night (1886)
Class 2,
October 28
Stories of Women and their Men
The Cook’s
Wedding (1885)
The
Huntsman (1885)
Agafya (1886)
Anyuta (1886)
A Chorus
Girl (1884)
Sorrow (1886)
Misery (1886)
The Witch (1886)
Mire (1886)
Peasant
Women (1891)
Class 3,
November 4
Mature Chekhov
A Boring
Story (1889)
Gusev (1890)
The Black
Monk (1894)
Anna on the Neck (1895)
Rothschild’s Fiddle (1894)
Additional:
The Bet (1889)
Class 4,
November 11
Chekhov's Later Masterpieces
Ward #6 (1892)
In Exile (1892)
The Student (1894)
The House with the Mezzanine (1896)
The Man in
a Case (1898)
Additional: Fidget (1892)
Three Years (1895)
A Medical Case (1898)
My Life (1896)
Class 5,
November 18
Chekhov's Later Masterpieces
The Lady
with the Little Dog (1899)
Gooseberries (1898)
About Love (1898)
The Fiancee (1903)
Additional: In the Ravine (1900)
The Bishop (1902)
The Darling (1899)
