Article

Name: Genre Variability of A. P. Chekhov’s Short Stories by 1887 (“In Trouble”, “The Kiss”, “A Lady’s Story”)

Authors: Lуudmila N. Sinyakova

Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation

Abstract: In the following article, we study the genre formation of A. P. Chekhov’s short stories. Chekhov’s new short stories are characterized by complex event structures, stemming from parables, on the one hand, and novel outlook, on the other hand (In Trouble), or novella vs novel (The Kiss). But genres interact and are closely tied in the structure of Chekhov’s short stories. The important concept of fate is a major theme in these three stories. In the first short story, In Trouble, the main character’s doom appears to be a traditional parable theme, but the author individualizes the case. Therefore, the short story is organized as a parabolic subgenre incorporated into the leading plot. The genre content of The Kiss is a fusion of novella and short story as a ‘reduced’ novel. The main character is involved in a strange adventure when he finds himself at someone else’s place. Ryabovich, the protagonist of the story, is an unremarkable person who may choose between the ordinary and the adventurous way of living. Ultimately, he chooses the first option, and this fact also indicates that the short story logic predominates over the genre logic of novella. The last short story, A Lady’s Story, serves as an example of a ‘pure’ short story. Lady NN, the narrator, reflects on her hardships. Ordinary life of ordinary people is among the main short story themes. In conclusion, A. P. Chekhov developed a unique genre of short stories, and his works of 1887 are undeniable examples of this genre.

Keywords: genre, story, short story, event, character

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