The Slanderer by Anton Chekhov

Name: The Slanderer
Author: Anton Chekhov

The story follows a young man named Ivan, who is a gossip and a slanderer. He is constantly spreading rumors and lies about people in his small town, and his behavior has caused him to be ostracized by the other villagers. One day, Ivan meets a stranger who tells him a story about a man who was falsely accused of a crime and sentenced to death. Ivan is moved by the story and decides to change his ways. He begins to spread only the truth and to help those in need. The story ends with Ivan being accepted back into the village and becoming a respected member of the community. He is no longer a slanderer, but a man of integrity and honor.

By Anton Chekhov · First published 1901 · Genre: Drama, Comedy, Realism · 1,343 words

First lines

Sergey Kapitonlch Akhineyev, the teacher of calligraphy, gave his daughter Natalya in marriage to the teacher of history and geography,

Ivan Petrovich Loshadinikh. The wedding feast went on swimmingly. They sang, played, and danced in the parlor. Waiters, hired for the occasion from the club, bustled about hither and thither like madmen, in black frock coats and soiled white neckties. A loud noise of voices smote the air. From the outside people looked in at the windows;--their social standing gave them no right to enter.

What this Textopian page supports

The Slanderer is listed on Textopian as a short story by Anton Chekhov, dated 1901 CE.

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Work type: Short story
Author: Anton Chekhov
Date: 1901 CE
Language: English
Genres: Drama, Comedy, Realism, Romance
Length: 1,343 words
Structure: 1 section, 36 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Drama — The Slanderer is a play written by Anton Chekhov, which is a genre of literature that is focused on the emotional and psychological development of characters through dialogue and action.
Comedy — The Slanderer is a comedic play, as it contains humorous dialogue and situations that are meant to entertain the audience.
Realism — The Slanderer is a realistic play, as it portrays characters and situations that are believable and relatable to the audience.
Romance — The Slanderer contains a romantic subplot between two of the characters, which is a common element in Chekhov's plays.