Chekhov: The Peasants

1
Chekhov The Peasants
2
Evolution of Style Gogol

• Emphasis on the metaphoric axis symbols (e.g.
  the overcoat), extended metaphors
• Rambling, complex sentences with many
  subordinate clauses (hypotaxis)
• The story is even told of some titular
  councillor who, on being put in charge of some
  minor department, at once partitioned off a room
  of his own, calling it Chambers and posting
  beadles at the door in red collars and gold
  braid, who would step forward to open the door
  for any visitor, although the Chambers were
  barely big enough to accommodate an ordinary
  desk.

3
The Evolution of Style Tolstoy

• Tolstoys metonymic style metonymic accumulation
  of detail, synecdoche
• Absence of symbols, rare metaphors or similes
  used for effect (e.g. Vronsky and Annas first
  tryst)
• Complex sentences (hypotaxis) with extensive use
  of adjectives greater use of dialogue
• Meanings generated through resonances between
  motifs, situation rhyme, parallels between
  characters

4
The Evolution of Style Garshin

• Garshin extension of metonymic style with
  absence of symbols, metaphors, similes.
• Simple, spare coordinate sentences (parataxis)
  with few adjectives
• The sun is scorching and baking me as usual. My
  hands and face have long been all blisters. I
  have drunk all the water that was left. My thirst
  was so maddening that I decided to take just one
  sip, but swallowed all that was left at one
  gulp.

5
The Evolution of Style Chekhov

• Continued emphasis on metonymic detail
  continued absence of symbols, metaphors
• Paratactic style somewhat modified more
  coordinate sentences joined by semicolons
  continued paucity of adjectives

6
The Evolution of Style Chekhov II

• Nikolay and Olga realized at first glance what
  life was like here, but said nothing to each
  other silently they put down their bundles, and
  silently went out into the village street. Their
  cabin was the third from the end and seemed the
  poorest and oldest-looking the second was not
  much better but the last one had an iron roof
  and curtains at the windows. That cottage stood
  apart, and was not enclosed it was the tavern.
  The cabins were all in a single row, and the
  entire little village quiet and pensive, with
  willows, elders and mountain ash peeping out from
  the courtyards had a pleasant look.

7
Thematics in Peasants (1897)

• The contrast of human frailty and the eternal
  movement of nature
• Pushkin on death and nature
• Double perspective of the town dwellers, esp.
  Olga and Sasha, of beauty and squalor.
• For Chekhov all is appearance and deception it
  seemed vs. it turned out to be (Rus. ????????
  ?????????)