Chekhov’s World in 16 Stories

Class Description

Though known primarily as a playwright in the West, Chekhov is a master of the short story. Chekhov’s understated sense of humor and his humanistic vision make his stories universal and accessible to modern readers. In contrast to Tolstoy’s and Dostoevsky’s moral clarity, Chekhov withholds judgment, allowing readers to form their own understanding and sympathies. While Chekhov may seem the most accessible of all Russian authors, his subtlety, understatement, and irony make him an elusive writer who invites multiple interpretations, intent on posing questions rather than answering them.

We will focus on close analysis of sixteen Chekhov short masterpieces spanning his career, from early humorous sketches to profound late stories exploring mortality and spiritual awakening. The leader will draw on her Russian background to illuminate cultural concepts and nuances inevitably lost in translation, including discussions of multiple translations and glimpses into Chekhov’s evocative original Russian. Readings will be supplemented by biographical, historical, and critical perspectives, Chekhov’s letters, and episodes from notable film adaptations.

All virtual classes are recorded and made available to participants registered in the class. These recordings are password-protected and available for up to two weeks after the class ends.

Julia Kriventsova Denne studied literature at St. Petersburg University, Russia and teaches Russian literature in the Chicago area.

What to Expect

Format: Virtual

Class Capacity: 30

Class Style: Mix of lecture and discussion; participation encouraged

Materials List

Required

• Instructor-Distributed Materials available on her Canvas page (she will send instructions for access)

• Link to Chekhov’s stories: https://www.ibiblio.org/eldritch/ac/jr/

First Assignment

• Please read “Fat and Thin,” “A Chameleon,” and “Oysters.”

• Required story for online discussion on Canvas: “Sleepy” (after the first class)

A Brief Syllabus

1. Early Chekhov
2. Chekhov as a Mature Writer
3. Realism and Chekhov
4. Chekhov’s Later Writing

Cost and Registration

4 Sessions, $220 ($198 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.

We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($220), Community Supported ($205), and Sponsor ($235)Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.

To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.

Having trouble signing up? Take a look at our step-by-step guide to registration by clicking here.

The views and opinions expressed in this class and/or by the instructor are not necessarily representative of the Newberry. We aim to ensure that in our classes, participants can have respectful disagreement to foster critical thinking. This is a space to challenge and expand our own worldviews to work towards better understanding and appreciating humanity.

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