Uprooted by Anton Chekhov (1921)

Name: Uprooted
Author: Anton Chekhov

The story revolves around a young woman who lives with her family on the outskirts of a rural village. She is struggling to cope with the loss of her mother and the difficulties of caring for her younger siblings. As she navigates her daily life, she begins to experience strange and unsettling occurrences that seem to be connected to an old, abandoned house on the edge of the village. The house has a dark history, and it's said to be haunted by malevolent spirits. The woman becomes increasingly obsessed with uncovering the truth about the house and its connection to her family's past. She starts to experience terrifying visions and is eventually forced to confront the evil presence that haunts the house. Throughout the story, themes of grief, trauma, and the supernatural are explored in a way that creates a sense of tension and foreboding. The narrative builds towards a shocking climax that reveals the dark secrets of the woman's family history.

By Anton Chekhov · First published 1921 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Social Commentary, Historical Fiction · 7,221 words

First lines

I was on my way back from evening service. The clock in the belfry of the Svyatogorsky Monastery pealed out its soft melodious chimes by way of prelude and then struck twelve. The great courtyard of the monastery stretched out at the foot of the Holy Mountains on the banks of the Donets, and, enclosed by the high hostel buildings as by a wall, seemed now in the night, when it was lighted up only by dim lanterns, lights in the windows, and the stars, a living hotch-potch full of movement, sound, and the most original confusion. From end to end, so far as the eye could see, it was all choked up with carts, old-fashioned coaches and chaises, vans, tilt-carts, about which stood crowds of horses, dark and white, and horned oxen, while people bustled about, and black long-skirted lay brothers threaded their way in and out in all directions. Shadows and streaks of light cast from the windows moved over the carts and the heads of men and horses, and in the dense twilight this all assumed the most monstrous capricious shapes: here the tilted shafts stretched upwards to the sky, here eyes of fire appeared in the face of a horse, there a lay brother grew a pair of black wings. There was the noise of talk, the snorting and munching of horses, the creaking of carts, the whimpering of children. Fresh crowds kept walking in at the gate and belated carts drove up.

What this Textopian page supports

Uprooted is listed on Textopian as a short story by Anton Chekhov, dated 1921 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: 1921 CE
Language: English
Genres: Literary Fiction, Social Commentary, Historical Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Character Study
Length: 7,221 words
Structure: 1 section, 86 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Literary Fiction — The work explores complex themes of identity, belonging, and the human condition through rich character development and introspective narrative.
Social Commentary — It critiques societal norms and the struggles of individuals within a larger social context, particularly focusing on the experiences of marginalized characters.
Historical Fiction — Set against the backdrop of a specific cultural and historical setting, it reflects the social dynamics and religious practices of the time.
Philosophical Fiction — The narrative delves into existential questions and the search for meaning, particularly through the protagonist's reflections on faith and identity.