The Lottery Ticket by Anton Chekhov

A young man buys a lottery ticket and wins the top prize, but his life does not change for the better. He becomes disillusioned with the superficiality of society and the emptiness of wealth. The story explores themes of materialism, social class, and the human condition.

By Anton Chekhov · First published 1900 · Genre: Short Story, Satire, Psychological Fiction · 2,284 words

First lines

Ivan Dmitritch, a middle-class man who lived with his family on an income of twelve hundred a year and was very well satisfied with his lot, sat down on the sofa after supper and began reading the newspaper.

"I forgot to look at the newspaper today," his wife said to him as she cleared the table. "Look and see whether the list of drawings is there."

What this Textopian page supports

The Lottery Ticket is listed on Textopian as a short story by Anton Chekhov, dated 1900 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: 1900 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Short Story, Satire, Psychological Fiction, Drama, Social Commentary
• Length: 2,284 words
• Structure: 1 section, 47 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Lottery Ticket by Anton Chekhov
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

• What should a reader notice first when entering The Lottery Ticket?
• How does this short story by Anton Chekhov fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Short Story first become important in the reading?

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Genres

• Short Story — The work is a concise narrative focusing on a single event and its implications.
• Satire — It critiques human nature, particularly greed and the fleeting nature of hope.
• Psychological Fiction — It explores the inner thoughts and emotions of the characters, revealing their desires and fears.
• Drama — The tension between the characters and their conflicting desires creates a dramatic narrative.

Tags

Short Story · Russian Literature · Fiction · Satire · Social Commentary · Dark Humor · Irony · Absurdity · Existentialism · Philosophical · Psychological Insight · Human Nature

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