The Bear by Anton Chekhov,Background, Biography

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1. The Bear Anton Chekhov

2. Background One Act play performed in 1888 Anton Chekhov , in full  Anton Pavlovich Chekhov , (born January 29 [January 17, Old Style], 1860,  Taganrog , Russia—died July 14/15 [July 1/2], 1904, Badenweiler , Germany),  Russian playwright and master of the modern  short story .

3. Biography

4. Biography

5. Backgroound

6. Famous plays

7. Chekhov's death Chekhov's death has become one of "the great set pieces of literary history", [94]  retold, embroidered, and fictionalised many times since, notably in the 1987 short story "Errand" by  Raymond Carver . In 1908 Olga wrote this account of her husband's last moments: Anton sat up unusually straight and said loudly and clearly (although he knew almost no German):  Ich sterbe  ("I'm dying"). The doctor calmed him, took a syringe, gave him an injection of  camphor , and ordered champagne. Anton took a full glass, examined it, smiled at me and said: "It's a long time since I drank champagne." He drained it and lay quietly on his left side, and I just had time to run to him and lean across the bed and call to him, but he had stopped breathing and was sleeping peacefully as a child ... [95]

8. The Play The 3 main characters in the play create humour with their absurd behaviour and dialogues.  Their emotions are exaggerated and change unexpectedly. Emancipation of women

9. Characters  1. Elena Ivanovna Popova - Landowning rich widow 2. Grigory Stephanovitch Smirnov - Middle aged landowner 3. Luka - Elena's aged footman

10. PLOT

11. Characterization Popova A widow with dimples on her cheeks. Smirnov is attracted by the beauty of her eyes.  Very emotional She stares at her dead husband's photo and weeps and talks to him. Strong determination Though it's impractical to mourn, she vows to do it. Bold and courageous. When Smirnov challenges her to a duel, she accepts it.  She does not give up even when he confesses his love for her. 

12. Smirnov He's rude and ill mannered. He enters the house without a show of courtesy and behaves rudely. When Popova refuses to pay him, he gets angry and shouts at her without any sympathy for a woman in mourning. Chauvinistic He highlights his male superiority over women. Manipulative He has lent money to many men and they have all evaded him.  His intention is to get what Popova owes him at any cost . 

13. Luka Loyal-He advises Popova to stop mourning as she should enjoy life. He tries to save her from Smirnov's insults.

14. Themes Money The effect of money on human behaviour Infidelity Popova reveals her late husband's relationships. Smirnov shares his loss. Emancipation of women Popova's behaviour suggests the extent of action a woman is capable of. Smirnov is t

15. Inconsistency of human behaviour Popova and Smirnov's attitudes towards each other change rapidly.  They're enslaved by emotions. Both think that they can control their emotions 

16. Setting Pre-revolutionary Russia Main characters- Landowning class

17. Literary tech HUMOUR Absurd behaviour and dialogues METAPHOR Popova says You're a boor! A coarse bear! INCONGRUITY and CONTRAST Violence and love are juxtaposed at the end SUSPENSE The arguments between Popova and Smirnov bring about a tense situation. 

18. IRONY ABSURD BEHAVIOUR Cats/Midges/Spiders Popova looks at her late husband's photo and calls him a 'bad child' She asks her enemy "Smirnov" to teach her. She changes her mind repeatedly. 

19. Title BEAR- rude, ill mannered, bad tempered Smirnov- Aggressive, unpredictable