The Lady With The Dog

Write one entry in Anna’s journal after she spends the night with Gurov and another entry after Gurov visits her in the hotel room in the last chapter of the story. What might she include in the entries that she did not express to Gurov at the time? How do these journal entries influence the development of Anna’s character in the story as a whole?

Reflect on Gurov’s background in the arts before his marriage. Using textual clues, imagine and write (1) the educational background of Gurov’s life and he how ended up working at a bank, or (2) the circumstances of his courtship and marriage. How does such a background story inform his character’s actions in the text?

Examine Gurov’s attitude toward women. How does he regard them at the beginning of the story, and how does his perspective change by its end? How does Chekhov suggest these changes or their lack? How do they affect Gurov’s relationships, particularly with Anna? Use textual evidence to support your arguments.

Imagine that you are a detective hired to investigate Gurov’s or Anna’s frequent absences from home. Write a transcription of your 10-question interview with Mrs. Gurov about her husband or a transcription of your 10-question interview with Von Diderits about Anna. Use textual evidence to inform your questions and the answers you expect. How does this additional information change our perspective of Mrs. Gurov and Von Diderits in the context of Chekhov’s story?

Using textual evidence, write an alternative ending to the story. What advantages and/or disadvantages does this ending lend to Chekhov’s story?

Write a series of imaginary letters between Anna and Gurov while they are apart before their meeting in the hotel room in Moscow. Use evidence from the text to inform the contents of these letters.

Research social conventions related to marriage in 19th-century Russia. How does Chekhov’s story specifically reflect and/or reject these conventions?

Select another, earlier story by Chekhov that focuses on marriage. Using textual evidence from both stories, compare and contrast Chekhov’s view of marriage in that earlier story with his treatment of marriage in “The Lady with the Dog.”