Major Issues
Author Links
Essay Questions

Major Issues

Like James Joyce, literary historians view Anton Chekhov as an essential link between the major trends of 19th and 20th century literature. Chekhov, critics observe, combines the precise external details of social realism with the astute internal examination of psychological realism. Structuralists have analyzed his effective use of objective, distant narrators, compressed plots, and unexpected, powerful symbols. Many critical studies have examined the structural and thematic function of irony in Chekhov’s work. Chekhov’s stories are populated by unhappy, lonely, desperate characters, who yearn for spiritual and emotional fulfilment. Their tendency to talk, without communicating, has been noted as exemplifying the gap between our social and essential selves.

Author Links

The Anton Chekhov Page
A well-organized compilation of Chekhov websites, featuring links to online stories, criticism, biography, and photographs.

Anton Chekhov
Bio-critical essay emphasizing highlights of Chekhov’s multiple careers as doctor, playwright, and short-story writer.

Anton Chekhov on Writing
Selection of excerpted Chekhov quotations on topic of writing and literature.

What the Critics Say
Selected excerpts from criticism of Chekhov’s work.