Too Early! by Anton Chekhov (1905)

Name: Too Early!
Author: Anton Chekhov

The story revolves around a young woman who has been engaged to be married for several years but the wedding has yet to take place due to her fiancé's constant delays and excuses. The narrative explores themes of love, commitment, and the societal pressures that can lead to stagnation in relationships.

By Anton Chekhov · First published 1905 · Genre: Drama, Realism, Tragedy · 2,463 words

First lines

The bells are ringing for service in the village of Shalmovo. The sun is already kissing the earth on the horizon; it has turned crimson and will soon disappear. In Semyon's pothouse, which has lately changed its name and become a restaurant -- a title quite out of keeping with the wretched little hut with its thatch torn off its roof, and its couple of dingy windows -- two peasant sportsmen are sitting. One of them is called Filimon Slyunka; he is an old man of sixty, formerly a house-serf, belonging to the Counts Zavalin, by trade a carpenter. He has at one time been employed in a nail factory, has been turned off for drunkenness and idleness, and now lives upon his old wife, who begs for alms. He is thin and weak, with a mangy-looking little beard, speaks with a hissing sound, and after every word twitches the right side of his face and jerkily shrugs his right shoulder. The other, Ignat Ryabov, a sturdy, broad-shouldered peasant who never does anything and is everlastingly silent, is sitting in the corner under a big string of bread rings. The door, opening inwards, throws a thick shadow upon him, so that Slyunka and Semyon the publican can see nothing but his patched knees, his long fleshy nose, and a big tuft of hair which has escaped from the thick uncombed tangle covering his head. Semyon, a sickly little man, with a pale face and a long sinewy neck, stands behind his counter, looks mournfully at the string of bread rings, and coughs meekly.

What this Textopian page supports

Too Early! is listed on Textopian as a short story by Anton Chekhov, dated 1905 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: 1905 CE
Language: English
Genres: Drama, Realism, Tragedy, Comedy, Social Commentary
Length: 2,463 words
Structure: 1 section, 47 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Too Early! 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 Too Early!?
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 work focuses on character interactions and emotional conflicts, typical of dramatic literature.
Realism — It portrays everyday life and the struggles of common people, reflecting realistic social conditions.
Tragedy — The characters face personal failures and societal limitations, leading to a sense of inevitable loss.
Comedy — Elements of humor arise from the absurdity of the characters' situations and dialogues.