43 pages • 1 hour read
Anton ChekhovThe Duel
Fiction | Novella | Adult | Published in 1891A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
Compare and contrast Von Koren and Laevsky. What are their views on the role of individuals, both in relation to the needs of others and society as a whole? How do these characters understand and feel about one another? How are they bound together in relation to the themes of the novella? Make sure to use textual evidence in your response.
How does social rank and social class determine the actions and the worldview of the characters? Consider the historical and cultural context in which Chekhov wrote.
How does Chekhov use speech to aid in characterization? In what way does speech help to reveal motivation, emotions, or even social and personal characteristics in The Duel?
Select one of the many literary and cultural references in the novella, such as Leo Tolstoy or Herbert Spencer, and research it. How does Chekhov draw inspiration from his predecessors and contemporaries? What role do these references play in helping to shape the plot and thematic preoccupations of The Duel?
What is the role of debt and money in the story? How do different characters view issues of money and debt, and how are they affected by it?
Analyze the image of the fly in the inkwell as it relates to at least two of the novella’s themes: women’s role in society, zoology and sociology, and nature in relation to humanity. Use textual evidence.
What is the role of religion in the ethical arguments about personal responsibility that structure the novella as a whole? How do characters grapple with concepts such as sin and redemption? How do they dispute or reject such notions?
What role do truth and deceit play in the novella? How do the characters embody these concepts in their own views and behavior?
Consider Von Koren’s argument for critical thinking and the need for action in contrast to the received ideas and passivity that other characters promote. How does the novella advocate critical thinking, work, and action even in the face of the flaws of Von Koren’s philosophy?
Related Titles
By Anton Chekhov
