Gusev by Anton Chekhov (1890)
The story revolves around a young officer who dies on his way to join the war effort. His belongings are carried by a peasant named Gusev, who becomes obsessed with the idea of returning them to the officer's family. Along the way, Gusev meets various people and experiences different situations that shape his perspective on life and death. The narrative explores themes of mortality, morality, and the human condition.
By Anton Chekhov · First published 1890 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Realism, Short Story · 5 chapters · 6,489 words
First lines
It was getting dark; it would soon be night.
Gusev, a discharged soldier, sat up in his hammock and said in an undertone:
"I say, Pavel Ivanitch. A soldier at Sutchan told me: while they were sailing a big fish came into collision with their ship and stove a hole in it."
The nondescript individual whom he was addressing, and whom everyone in the ship's hospital called Pavel Ivanitch, was silent, as though he had not heard.
What this Textopian page supports
Gusev is listed on Textopian as a short story by Anton Chekhov, dated 1890 CE.
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: 1890 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Realism, Short Story, Psychological Fiction, Tragedy
- Length: 6,489 words
- Structure: 5 chapters, 128 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Gusev by Anton Chekhov
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores deep themes of life, death, and the human condition through character introspection and dialogue.
- Realism — The narrative presents a realistic portrayal of the struggles and thoughts of soldiers, emphasizing their experiences and societal issues.
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative that encapsulates a complete story arc within a limited word count.
- Psychological Fiction — The focus on the internal thoughts and emotions of the characters reveals their psychological states and existential dilemmas.
Tags
Russian Literature · Short Story · War Fiction · Tragic Ending · Loneliness · Isolation · Soldier's Life · Circumstance vs Choice · Futility of War · Human Cost of War · Existential Crisis · Mortality
Contents
More by Anton Chekhov
- The Horse-Stealers and Other Stories (1900)
- The Schoolmaster and Other Stories (1900)
- The Party and Other Stories (1900)
- The Cook's Wedding and Other Stories (1900)
- The Bishop and Other Stories (1900)
- The Duel and Other Stories (1900)
- The Schoolmistress and Other Stories (1900)
- The Wife and Other Stories (1900)
- All works by Anton Chekhov