The Tutor by Anton Chekhov (1895)

Name: The Tutor
Author: Anton Chekhov

The story revolves around a tutor named Mr. Smerdyakov who is employed to teach the son of a wealthy family, Ivan, at their estate. However, Mr. Smerdyakov's true intention is to corrupt and manipulate Ivan, as he sees him as a means to gain revenge on his employer, who had once wronged him. Throughout the story, Mr. Smerdyakov's manipulation of Ivan becomes more and more evident, leading to a climactic confrontation between the two. What is your question or request?

By Anton Chekhov · First published 1895 · Genre: Drama, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction · 1,324 words

First lines

The high-school boy Gregory Ziboroff condescendingly shakes hands with little Pete Udodoff. Pete, a chubby youngster of twelve with bristling hair, red cheeks, and a low forehead, dressed in a little grey suit, bows and scrapes, and reaches into the cupboard for his books. The lesson begins.

According to an agreement made with Udodoff, the father, Ziboroff is to help Pete with his lessons for two hours each day, in return for which he is to receive six roubles a month. He is preparing the boy for the second grade of the high-school. He prepared him for the first grade last year, but little Pete failed to pass his examinations.

What this Textopian page supports

The Tutor is listed on Textopian as a short story by Anton Chekhov, dated 1895 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: 1895 CE
Language: English
Genres: Drama, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Russian Literature
Length: 1,324 words
Structure: 1 section, 38 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

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Discussion starters

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

Similar titles

Genres

Drama — The Tutor is foremost a dramatic work, with strong emphasis on character development and interpersonal relationships.
Historical Fiction — Set in 19th century Russia, The Tutor incorporates specific historical contexts into the narrative.
Literary Fiction — The narrative style and themes of the book follow the conventions of literary fiction.
Russian Literature — Written by a Russian author, this book is firmly placed within the tradition of Russian Literature.