1. The Bet
Anton Chekhov

2. SETTING Set in Russia in 1885 Autumn Party at the Banker’s estate
Lodge where the young lawyer resided on the Banker’s property

3. CHARACTERS The Old Banker Young Lawyer Spoiled and frivolous
Places a bet with the Young Lawyer concerning an argument over capital punishment
Young Lawyer
25 years old
Would rather choose life in prison over death
Takes the Banker’s bet

4. THE BET
The Young Lawyer must live isolated for 15 years with no human contact
Live in the lodge on the Banker’s property
Can have books, food, wine, mail, etc.
Cannot see or talk to anyone

5. Plot Exposition/Basic Situation Flashback interrupts the story
Banker introduced as the main character
Dark autumn night
Remembers the dinner party he had given 15 years ago
Flashback interrupts the story

6. Plot Flashback Leads to the bet between the Banker and Lawyer
Dinner party
Autumn
Disagreement arises
over the use of capital
Punishment
Leads to the bet
between the Banker
and Lawyer
Lawyer accepts the bet

7. Plot Flashback Year 1: loneliness and depression/ constantly
played the piano/refused
wine and tobacco
Year 2: No piano/ asked for the classics
Year 5: music again/ ate/ drank wine/lay in his bed

8. Plot Flashback Year 6: studied languages, philosophy, and history
Year 10: sat immovably at the table and read only the Gospels, theology, histories of religion
Last 2 years: read immense quantities of natural sciences, Shakespeare, Bryon, and medicine

9. Plot Rising Action/Complications Climax
Banker remembers how he gambled his millions
Realizes the lawyer has won the bet, but he has no money to be able to pay
Climax
Banker goes to the lodge late at night with the intention of killing the lawyer

10. Plot Falling Action Denouement/Resolution
Finds the lawyer face down asleep
Discovers and reads the letter
Returns to the house
Is informed by the watchmen that the lawyer had left
Denouement/Resolution
Takes the letter from the table and locks it up in a fireproof safe

11. CONFLICTS
Elemental: Capital punishment more immoral vs. life imprisonment more immoral
Internal: The prisoner – the meaning of his life vs. his desire for money
Internal: The Banker – desire to kill the lawyer vs. paying the bet

12. POINT OF VIEW 3rd Person Limited
The story is told from the Banker’s thoughts and feelings. The narrator is outside the story. 3rd person pronouns are used.

13. THEME
Consider theme from the perspective of both characters and what they struggled with in the story and how they handled their conflicts.
Lawyer: Freedom and social interaction are essential human needs.
Banker: Earthly accomplishments are worthless in the face of death.

14. OTHER ELEMENTS
Situational Irony: The lawyer has spent his entire imprisonment gaining knowledge and wisdom, but as a result has lost his capacity for hope and no longer sees any use for knowledge and wisdom.

15. TECHNIQUES USED
Flashback – interrupting the present action in a story to show earlier events and is triggered by the present event.