Doe 1
Jane Doe
Mrs. Rice
World Literature
April 19, 2010
Anton Chekhov: A Russian Legend
Anton Chekhov once wrote, “It's curious that we can't possibly tell what exactly will be considered great and important, and what will seem paltry and ridiculous.” While these words were part of his play The Three Sisters, the meaning behind his quote can also apply to the vast collection of world literature. With close to 200 countries, there is no telling how many writers have put pen to paper and created works that will transcend time. Trying to determine which works will seem both “great and important” to students, and which will seem “paltry and ridiculous” is a dilemma that many high school English teachers face (Chekhov). These teachers strive to select authors and texts that will engage, excite, and challenge the students who sit in their classrooms. It would be a nearly impossible task for any teacher to incorporate the works of all the great authors from around the world into a yearlong World Literature class, but there are certain authors who should, without a doubt, be included in the curriculum. Anton Chekhov, one of the most widely read writers of Russian literature, is one of those authors who should be integrated into the curriculum. His focus on the inner-conflicts of characters rather than action-packed plot allows students to understand life on a different level, his subtle humor opens the door to discussions of satire, and his short stories have inspired numerous writers to imitate his style and challenge conventional plot forms.
One of the biggest challenges facing teachers today is competing with action-packed video games, movies with special effects, and social networking websites. It can be difficult to
find students who enjoy reading books that do not offer that same instant gratification and constant action. It becomes even more challenging when the book, or short story, does not have very much action in its plot. Such is the case with many of Chekhov’s most famous short stories. One such story, “A Problem,” focuses on the internal conflicts facing the two main characters—Sasha Uskov and Ivan Markovitch.