Read about "The Lady with the Dog"
Class Discussion Questions:
"The Lady with the Dog"
- When the narrator first mentions Gurov's unfaithfulness, how would you describe the point of view and tone? Is the narrator seeing something the character does not himself see? Is there judgment in the tone? If so, where?
- What is free indirect discourse? Can you identify a moment in the narrative that demonstrates this technique? Consider the descriptions of women Gurov has known as an example.
- Look for words like "seemed" (18 times) or "as though" (14 times) or "clear" (4 times) or "probably" (6 times). What do these words suggest about the point of view in this narrative? What type of Realism is Chekhov using?
- Did you notice when the narrative shifted to present tense? How do we account for this narratorial intrusion? I know, big words, but you can make sense of them, right? "Narratorial" means what?
- Before the actual "end" of the narrative, Chekhov is sure to make us think about the idea of endings. How do these moments make the actual end of the narrative more shocking?
- How does this narrative demonstrate the importance of distinguishing between plot and story?
- Is this short story anything more than prelude to what we would really expect a story to be? How is it still a story unto itself?
- How is this story about (the failure of) interpretation?
- How would you describe the narrator in this short story? Is there any evidence that the narrator knows things that Korolyov does not know?
- How can Korolyov think of the devil if he does not believe in the devil? Does the doctor have a religious mindset despite his lack of belief?
- When speaking with the patient about her sleeplessness, which does the doctor prefer seem to prefer, in the words of Dostoevsky, "cheap happiness or exalted sufferings"?
- Is there good reason for a generation to be optimistic about the next?
