“The Bet” by Anton Chekhov
Elements of Literature Fourth Course
Pg. 209 - 221
NJ Detention Center Puts Immigrants in Solitary, The Brian Lehrer Show, 09/14/2015
“Reports have surfaced about two immigrant detention centers in North Jersey where
immigrants who yell or talk back are being placed in solitary confinement for days at a time.
Andrew Lyubarsky, a member of the NYU School of Law Immigrant Rights Clinic who recently
authored a report on harsh and unnecessary treatment at NJ detention centers, and Khalil
Cumberbatch, a former detainee who saw how the box was used to intimidate detainees, discuss
the confinement tactics being used today.”
For more information:
http://www.wnyc.org/story/nj-detention-center-puts-immigrants-solitary/
Word(s) of the Day
Elements of Literature Fourth Course
Pg. 209 - 221
Plot Analysis
The Proper Ingredients to Making a Well-Structured (Short) Story
a. Short story (pg. 1005)
Short piece of narrative fiction.
- Edgar Allen Poe is often credited with writing the first short stories.
- He defined the short story as a narrative that can be read in a single sitting and that
creates a “single effect”.
b. Exposition (pg. 998)
Type of writing that explains, gives information, or clarifies an idea.
- Exposition is generally objective and formal in tone
Ex. A magazine article on nutrition
Exposition is also the term for the first part of a plot (also called the basic situation),
which presents the main characters and their conflicts.
c. Rising Action
The conflict, or complication, in a story
Round-Table Discussion
Elements of Literature Fourth Course
Pg. 209 - 221
Important Quotes & Topics for Discussion
- “In the opinion of some of them, the death penalty ought to be replaced everywhere by
imprisonment for life.” (pg. 210)
- “The banker believes the death penalty is more moral and more humane than imprisonment
for life.” (pg. 211)
- Capital punishment kills a man at once, but lifelong imprisonment kills him slowly. (pg.
211)
- Which executioner is the more humane, he who kills you in a few minutes or he who drags
the life out of you in the course of many years? (pg. 211)
- “Both are equally immoral for they both have the same object - to take away life. The state
is not God. It has not the right to take away what it cannot restore when it wants to.” (pg.
211)
- “Think better of it, young man, while there is still time. To me two million is a trifle, but
you are losing three or four of the best years of your life. I say three or four, because you
won’t stay longer. Don’t forget either, you unhappy man, that voluntary confinement is a
great deal harder to bear than compulsory. The thought that you have the right to step out in
liberty at any moment will poison your whole existence in prison. I am sorry for you.” (pg
211)
- What was the object of that bet? What is the good of that man’s losing fifteen years of his
and my throwing away two million? Can it prove that the death penalty is better or worse
than imprisonment for life? No, no. It was all nonsensical and meaningless. On my part it
was the caprice of a pampered man, and on his part simple greed for money… (pg. 211)
Excerpts from Other Works by Chekhov
Elements of Literature Fourth Course
Pg. 209 - 221
“Joy” by Anton Chekhov
It was twelve o'clock at night.
Mitya Kuldarov, with excited face and ruffled hair, flew into his parents' flat, and
hurriedly ran through all the rooms. His parents had already gone to bed. His sister was in bed,
finishing the last page of a novel. His schoolboy brothers were asleep.
"Where have you come from?" cried his parents in amazement. "What is the matter with
you?
"Oh, don't ask! I never expected it; no, I never expected it! It's . . . it's positively
incredible!"
Mitya laughed and sank into an armchair, so overcome by happiness that he could not
stand on his legs.
"It's incredible! You can't imagine! Look!"
His sister jumped out of bed and, throwing a quilt round her, went in to her brother. The
schoolboys woke up.
"What's the matter? You don't look like yourself!"
"It's because I am so delighted, Mamma! Do you know, now all Russia knows of me! All
Russia! Till now only you knew that there was a registration clerk called Dmitry Kuldarov, and
now all Russia knows it! Mamma! Oh, Lord!"
Mitya jumped up, ran up and down all the rooms, and then sat down again.
"Why, what has happened? Tell us sensibly!"
"You live like wild beasts, you don't read the newspapers and take no notice of what's
published, and there's so much that is interesting in the papers. If anything happens it's all known
at once, nothing is hidden! How happy I am! Oh, Lord! You know it's only celebrated people
whose names are published in the papers, and now they have gone and published mine!"
"What do you mean? Where?"
The papa turned pale. The mamma glanced at the holy image and crossed herself. The
schoolboys jumped out of bed and, just as they were, in short nightshirts, went up to their
brother.
"Yes! My name has been published! Now all Russia knows of me! Keep the paper,
mamma, in memory of it! We will read it sometimes! Look!"
Mitya pulled out of his pocket a copy of the paper, gave it to his father, and pointed with
his finger to a passage marked with blue pencil.
"Read it!"
The father put on his spectacles.
"Do read it!"
The mamma glanced at the holy image and crossed herself. The papa cleared his throat
and began to read: "At eleven o'clock on the evening of the 29th of December, a registration
clerk of the name of Dmitry Kuldarov . . ."
"You see, you see! Go on!"
". . . a registration clerk of the name of Dmitry Kuldarov, coming from the beershop in
Kozihin's buildings in Little Bronnaia in an intoxicated condition. . ."
"That's me and Semyon Petrovitch. . . . It's all described exactly! Go on! Listen!"
". . . intoxicated condition, slipped and fell under a horse belonging to a sledge-driver, a
peasant of the village of Durikino in the Yuhnovsky district, called Ivan Drotov. The frightened
horse, stepping over Kuldarov and drawing the sledge over him, together with a Moscow
merchant of the second guild called Stepan Lukov, who was in it, dashed along the street and
was caught by some house-porters. Kuldarov, at first in an unconscious condition, was taken to
the police station and there examined by the doctor. The blow he had received on the back of his
head. . ."
"It was from the shaft, papa. Go on! Read the rest!"
". . . he had received on the back of his head turned out not to be serious. The incident
was duly reported. Medical aid was given to the injured man. . . ."
"They told me to foment the back of my head with cold water. You have read it now? Ah!
So you see. Now it's all over Russia! Give it here!"
Mitya seized the paper, folded it up and put it into his pocket.
"I'll run round to the Makarovs and show it to them. . . . I must show it to the Ivanitskys
too, Natasya Ivanovna, and Anisim Vassilyitch. . . . I'll run! Good-bye!"
Mitya put on his cap with its cockade and, joyful and triumphant, ran into the street.
“Life as a Series of Questions and Exclamations” by Anton Chekhov
Childhood. What is it, a boy or a girl? When’s the christening? A strapping lad! Mama,
don’t drop him! Ah, Ah! He’ll fall!! Has he cut his teeth? Has he got eczema? Take the cat
from him, otherwise she’ll scratch him! Pull grandpa’s moustache! That’s it! Don’t cry! The
goblins will get you! He’s already walking! Take him away, that’s not polite! What’s he done to
you? Your poor jacket! Never mind, we’ll get it dry! He’s upset the ink! Go to sleep,
chickabiddy! He’s already talking! Ah, what a charmer! Come on then, say something! He was
nearly run over! Time to get rid of nanny! Don’t stand in the draught! You should be ashamed,
how could you smack such a little one? Don’t cry! Give him a cakey! Boyhood. Just you come here, I’ll teach you a lesson! Where did you manage to smash
your nose? Don’t upset mummy! You’re not a toddler! Don’t come up to the table, it’s your turn after! Read it! So you
don’t know it! Stand in the corner! One out of ten! Don’t put nails in your pocket! Why won’t
you listen to what mummy says? Eat properly! Don’t pick your nose! Was it you who hit
Mitya? He fired it! Read me ‘The Bear’s Ear’! What is the nominative plural? Decline it and
learn it! Leave the classroom! No dinner for you tonight! Bedtime, beddybyes! It’s ten
already! He always plays up when we have visitors! You’re lying! Comb your hair! Leave the
table! Come on then, show me your marks’ book! You’ve already torn those boots?! A grown
up like you shouldn’t cry! How did you get this uniform dirty? You’re eating us out of house
and home! One out of ten again? Thrashing is too good for you! If you’re going to smoke, then
I’ll throw you out of the house! What is the superlative of facilis? Facilissimus? Rubbish! Who polished off this wine? Children, there’s a performing monkey in the yard! Why have you stopped my son from going
up a form again? Grandma is here! Youth. You’re too young to drink vodka! Tell me the sequence of tenses of verbs! Not
yet, not yet, young man! At your age I knew nothing at all about that! Are you still afraid to
smoke in front of your father? Ah, what a disgrace! Ninochka sends her best wishes! We’ll take
Bellum Gallicum! Is this the ut consecutivum? Ah, my sweetheart! Don’t, young Sir, or else…
I’ll tell papa! Enough, enough… you swine! Hurray, at last my beard is growing! Where? You
painted that on, its not growing! Nadine has a most wonderful chin! What class are you in
now? You must agree, papa, that it’s unthinkable for me not to have pocket money! Natasha? Yes I know her! I was at her place! So it was you? You’re a quiet one! Let’s have a fag! If
only you knew how much I love her! She’s a goddess! I’ll finish my course here and I’ll marry
her! It’s none of your business mother! I’ll dedicate my poems to you! Do stop smoking! I get
drunk after only three glasses! Encore! Encore! Braaavo! Do you mean to say you haven’t
read Bourne? Not the cosine, the sine! Where’s the tangent? Sonya has not got pretty legs! What about a kiss? Let’s drink to it! Hurrah, I’ve finished my course! Write to me! Lend me
25 roubles! Father, I’m getting married! But I promised her! Where were you last night? Homework
Elements of Literature Fourth Course
Pg. 209 - 221
1. Please finish reading and taking notes on “The Bet”. There will be a formative one question
quiz next class.
2. Please complete your essay due either Friday or Monday. Please hand in a physical, printed
copy of the assignment. I cannot and will not accept an e-mail or digital copy.
3. Attend SAP.
*S.A.P. is available.*
*Three days a week.*
*Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.*
Mr. Rooney’s Notes on Anton Chekhov’s “The Bet”
Elements of Literature Fourth Course
Pg. 209 - 221
- Pg. 210
- It was a dark autumn night.
- old banker remembering
- given a party one autumn evening
- many clever men there
- interesting conversations
- talked about capital punishment
- intellectual men
- disapproved of the death penalty
- In the opinion of some of them, the death penalty ought to be replaced everywhere by
-
imprisonment for life.
the banker does not agree
- Pg. 211
- The banker believes the death penalty is more moral and more humane than imprisonment
-
-
for life.
Capital punishment kills a man at once, but lifelong imprisonment kills him slowly.
Which executioner is the more humane, he who kills you in a few minutes or he who drags
the life out of you in the course of many years?
Both are equally immoral for they both have the same object - to take away life. The state is
not God. It has not the right to take away what it cannot restore when it wants to.
Young lawyer
The death sentence and the life sentence are equally immoral, but if I had to choose
between the death penalty and imprisonment for life, I would certainly choose the second.
To live anyhow is better than not at all.
the banker, once young
It’s not true! I’ll bet you two million you wouldn’t stay in solitary confinement for five
years.
I’ll take the bet, but I would stay not five, but fifteen years.
Fifteen? DoneI Gentlemen, I stake two million!
Agreed! You stake your millions and I stake my freedom!
And this wild, senseless bet was carried out!
the banker - spoiled - frivolous - millions beyond his reckoning
Think better of it, young man, while there is still time. To me two million is a trifle, but you
are losing three or four of the best years of your life. I say three or four, because you won’t
stay longer. Don’t forget either, you unhappy man, that voluntary confinement is a great
-
-
deal harder to bear than compulsory. The thought that you have the right to step out in
liberty at any moment will poison your whole existence in prison. I am sorry for you.
What was the object of that bet? What is the good of that man’s losing fifteen years of his
and my throwing away two million? Can it prove that the death penalty is better or worse
than imprisonment for life? No, no. It was all nonsensical and meaningless. On my part it
was the caprice of a pampered man, and on his part simple greed for money…
It was decided
captivity - strictest supervision
lodges in the banker’s garden
fifteen years
he should not be free
to cross the threshold of the lodge
to see human beings
to hear the human voice
or to retrieve letters and newspapers
He allowed
to have a musical instruments and books
to write letters
to drink wine
to smoke
relations - outer world
little window
any quantity
every detail
every trifle
his imprisonment strictly solitary
stay there exactly fifteen years
beginning from twelve o’clock of November 14, 1870
ending at twelve o’clock of November 14, 1885
First year in confinement
brief notes
the prisoner
suffered
severely from loneliness
depression
sounds of the piano
day and night
refused win and tobacco
- Wine - excites desires
- Desires are the worst foes of the prisoner
- Pg. 213
- Dreary - drinking good wine and seeing no one
- tobacco spoiled the air of his room
- the first year
- the books
- novels with a complicated love plot
- sensational and fantastic stories
- The Second Year
- piano was silent
- the prisoner
- asked for classics
- The Fifth Year
- music was audible again
- the prisoner
- asked for wine
- Those who watched him through the window
- eating and drinking and lying on his bed
- yawning
- talking angrily to himself
- He did not read books.
- Spend hours writing
- in the morning tear up all that he had written
- More than once he could be heard crying.
- The Second Half of the Sixth Year
- zealously studying languages - philosophy - history
- He threw himself eagerly into these studies
- the banker
- In the course of four years
- six hundred volumes were procured
- During this period
- the banker received the following letter from his prisoner
- My dear jailer
- six languages
- Let them read them.
- If they find not one mistake, I implore you to fire a shot in the garden
- Pg. 214
- That shot will show me that my efforts have not been thrown away.
- the same flame burns in them all
- unearthly happiness my soul feels now from being able to understand them
- The prisoner’s desire was fulfilled
- The banker ordered two shots to be fired in the garden.
- The Tenth Year
- The prisoner
- sat immovably at the table
- the Gospels
- The Last Two Years
- Immense quantity of books
- Natural sciences
- Byron
- Shakespeare
- Chemistry
- Manual of medicine
- novel
- treatise on philosophy or theology
- His reading suggested a man swimming in the sea among the wreckage of his ship and
trying to save his life by greedily clutching first at one spar and then at another.