Lessons 30 · 1 lessons · M. E. Rozhnova, U. T. Yaminova. Russian Language, Grade 8 (textbook for general secondary schools with Uzbek and other languages of instruction), 2nd revised edition. “Uzbekistan” Publishing and Printing Creative House, Tashkent, 2019
30
A. P. Chekhov: life. The story «Хамелеон»
Textbook: pp. 111–116
GoalLearn about A. P. Chekhov; retell the story «Хамелеон»; explain the meaning of the characters’ names and the image of the “chameleon”.
New words
юмористический рассказ · hajviy hikoyaпсевдоним · taxallusбазарная площадь · bozor maydoniсобака · it
Explanation
A. P. Chekhov was born on 29 January 1860 in Taganrog in southern Russia; his father kept a grocery shop. The children grew up strictly, helping their father in trade and singing in the home and church choir. He studied first at a Greek school and then, in 1868–1879, at the classical gymnasium, where he produced a handwritten journal. Books, music and theatre played a great role in his life. After the gymnasium he entered the medical faculty of Moscow University and, to help the family, wrote humorous stories under pseudonyms such as Antosha Chekhonte. At first his main genre was the short humorous story; later laughter gave way to dramatic notes. «Смерть чиновника» and «Толстый и тонкий» appeared in 1883. For the theatre he wrote «Чайка», «Дядя Ваня», «Три сестры» and «Вишнёвый сад». Seriously ill, he died in Badenweiler, Germany, on 15 July 1904.
Worked examples
Summary of «Хамелеон»: the police inspector Ochumelov, in a new overcoat, crosses the market square and finds a crowd round the goldsmith Khryukin, who shows a bitten finger and demands compensation. Ochumelov at first angrily orders the dog destroyed.
Continuation: someone in the crowd says the dog may be General Zhigalov’s, and Ochumelov at once changes his mind and blames Khryukin. The policeman Eldyrin wavers, and when the cook Prokhor says the dog belongs to the general’s brother, Ochumelov speaks tenderly of the “nice little dog”. The crowd laughs at Khryukin, and Ochumelov goes off threatening him.
Class activity
“Who is the chameleon?”. List in order the points where Ochumelov changes his mind and say what caused each change.
Practice
1
Under which pseudonym did Chekhov write?
«Антоша Чехонте» and others.
2
Where does «Хамелеон» take place?
On the market square, in the crowd round Khryukin and the dog.
3
Why does Ochumelov change his mind?
He fears an important person when he hears the dog may belong to the general.
4
Why is Ochumelov called a “chameleon”?
Like a chameleon changing colour, he keeps changing his opinion with the situation.