The Bear by Anton Chekhov (1888)

Name: The Bear
Author: Anton Chekhov

A man and a bear meet in the forest. The man is on his way to visit a friend, while the bear is out for a stroll. They engage in a conversation that reveals their respective loneliness and isolation. The story ends with the man continuing on his journey, while the bear returns to its cave.

By Anton Chekhov · First published 1888 · Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance · 6,300 words

First lines

CHARACTERS ELENA IVANOVNA POPOVA, a landowning little widow, with dimples on her cheeks GRIGORY STEPANOVITCH SMIRNOV, a middle-aged landowner LUKA, Popova's aged footman

[A drawing-room in POPOVA'S house.]

What this Textopian page supports

The Bear is listed on Textopian as a play by Anton Chekhov, dated 1888 CE.

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

Work type: Play
Author: Anton Chekhov
Date: 1888 CE
Language: English
Genres: Drama, Comedy, Romance, Farce
Length: 6,300 words
Structure: 1 section, 164 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Work identity for The Bear by Anton Chekhov
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Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering The Bear?
How does this play by Anton Chekhov fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Drama first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Drama — At it's core, The Bear by Anton Chekhov is a play that revolves around the intricacies of human relationships and emotions, hence it is primarily a drama.
Comedy — The Bear also contains elements of humor and absurdity, rendering it a comedy.
Romance — The unexpected romantic involvement between two main characters gives the play a touch of romance.
Farce — As the situation in the play involving a widow, a creditor, and a valet gets exceedingly ridiculous, it also can be considered a farce.