Expensive Lessons by Anton Chekhov

Name: Expensive Lessons
Author: Anton Chekhov

The story revolves around a young woman who marries an older man for financial security. She struggles with the moral implications of her decision and the emptiness of her new life. The narrative explores themes of materialism, love, and personal growth through the protagonist's experiences.

By Anton Chekhov · Genre: Literary Fiction, Romance, Comedy · 2,780 words

First lines

For a cultivated man to be ignorant of foreign languages is a great inconvenience. Vorotov became acutely conscious of it when, after taking his degree, he began upon a piece of research work.

"It's awful," he said, breathing hard (although he was only twenty-six he was fat, heavy, and suffered from shortness of breath).

What this Textopian page supports

Expensive Lessons is listed on Textopian as a short story by Anton Chekhov, dated Date unknown.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: Anton Chekhov
Date: Date unknown
Language: English
Genres: Literary Fiction, Romance, Comedy, Drama, Social Commentary
Length: 2,780 words
Structure: 1 section, 51 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Expensive Lessons by Anton Chekhov
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering Expensive Lessons?
How does this short story by Anton Chekhov fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Literary Fiction — The work explores complex characters and their emotional and intellectual struggles, focusing on personal growth and societal issues.
Romance — The narrative centers around the protagonist's unrequited love and emotional turmoil regarding his teacher.
Comedy — The interactions between the characters often contain humorous elements, particularly in the misunderstandings and social dynamics.
Drama — The story presents serious themes of love, ambition, and the struggles of everyday life, creating a dramatic tension.