enemies by anton chekhov.ppt

1、Enemies,by Anton CHekhov,Anton CHeKHOV,Anton Chekhov(1860-1904) was a Russian short story writer and playwright. His best short stories are held in high esteem by writers and critics. Chekhov practiced as a doctor throughout most of his literary career: Medicine is my lawful wife, he once said, and

2、literature is my mistress.,Major Works,Plays The Seagull (1896) Uncle Vanya (1899) The Cherry Orchard (1904),Short Stories Easter Eve(1886) The Black Monk(1894) The Lady with the Dog(1899) The Bishop(1902),Words,slant fidget scrape scrutinize adjoin contort brandish,lean in a particular position mak

3、e small restless movement make clean, smooth look at or examine carefully be next or nearest to and joined with twist out of its natural shape wave sth in a threatening way,Words,perceptibly duplicity puff up thrash placid indigence,In a way that can be observed with the senses deliberate deception

4、cause sth to swell with air beat with a stick or whip calm & peaceful poverty,Questions,1. Why does the author repeatedly emphasize “the numbness”? 2. What does the doctor mean by saying “Humanity-that cuts both ways”? 3. How do you understand “dumbness is most often the highest expression of happin

5、ess or unhappiness”? 4.What may be the reason that the doctor agrees to save the young mans wife? 5. What image do you have according to the descriptions of the atmosphere? What is implied by such an image?,Questions,6.What was the young mans profession? 7. How does the young man know his wife has e

6、loped with the guest? 8. Why does the young man reveal his disgraceful secret to the doctor? 9. What prejudices does the doctor have on wealthy people?,Plot Summary,Kirilov is the district doctor. His six-year old son has just died of diphtheria. He stands watching his wife caress the body as the do

7、orbell rings. It is a wealthy stranger (Abogin) who begs the Doctor to come treat his wife who is in great pain. Kirilov says that he cannot possibly leave his wife at this time. Abogin insists, however, claiming that the doctor must know how terrible it is to witness the illness of a loved one and

8、that his home is close-by. Kirilov relents.,Plot Summary,But when they arrive at Abogins house, his wife is not home. She has pretended to be ill so that her husband would leave the house allowing her to run away with her lover. Abogin is crushed and begins to complain to Kirilov. Kirilov is fiercel

9、y angry that he has been dragged from his sons death-bed to hear Abogins love troubles. They scream at one another, and the doctor returns home, with a firm and undying conviction that all those with money deserve his hatred.,Chracters,1. Find out the sentences describing the doctor and the young ma

10、n respectively. 2. Work in groups to discuss the characters.,Themes,Grief and Misery Social Status,Themes,Chekhov suggests that grief and misery do not bring people together to share, but force them apart. Pain is egotistic. The story also reflects on the status of doctors. When Abogin tries to lure the Doctor from his house, he speaks of the noble, self-sacrificing profession of medicine. However, he has so