The Cherry Orchard
Week #8

Close up his eyes and draw the curtain close;

William Shakespeare, King Henry VI. Part II.


  1. What is the significance of the Jewish orchestra?

  2. How is music used to demonstrate the lack of harmony?

  3. In addition to the broken harp string, there is really a "breaking motif" in the play. What are some examples of this motif and what's the point of it all?

  4. What is the significance of Lyubov's line?
    p. 722, "It's the wrong time to have the orchestra, and the wrong time to give a dance. Well never mind."

  5. What is the significance of Charlotta's "tricks"?

  6. What is the significance of the fact that Lyubov and Anna have very reactions to Trofimov's way of speaking. Compare, or example the following quotes:
    p. 720, Anya: How well you talk!

    p. 723, Lyubov: But that should have been said differently, quite differently.

  7. What is the significance when Anya and and Trofimov race down to river at the end of Act II to avoid Varya?

  8. What, then, is the significance of Trofimov not being able to find his galoshes in Act IV, and Gayev bringing in herring at the end of Act III?

  9. What is the significance of Gaev's caramels?

  10. When the Moscow Art Theatre first did the play, they interpreted it as a tragedy. Yet Chekhov subtitled the play "a comedy in four acts"--he said in a letter, in fact, that the play "in places was almost a farce." What are some of the farcical elements?

  11. Chekhov makes major points through the use of seeingly minor details. What, for instance, is the significance of Lophain getting hit with a stick?

  12. What is the significance of the following line uttered by Firs about the cherries?
    p. 712, In the old days, for forty or fifty years ago, they used to dry the cherries, soak them ... that brought the money in ... they knew the way to do them then ... nobody remembers (the recipe now).

  13. What is the significance of the wayfarer's (the stranger) entrance?

  14. What is the significance of Torfimov being asleep when we first hear of him?

  15. What is the significance of the fact that Lyubov loves coffee?

  16. What is the significance of the stage directions prefacing Act I, specifying "cold dawn," and the "garden?"

  17. What is the significance of Gaev and Lyubov praising the bookcase?

  18. Throughout the play there is what could be called a "reading" motif. Explain the significance of this.

  19. What is the significance of Anya mentioning, "And you know, in Paris, I went up in a balloon?"

  20. What is the significance of landowner Pishtchik's line about the lottery? (see p. 729).

  21. What's the significance of Gayev saying that "there seems to be something wrong with my right eye?" (p. 715).

  22. Lyubov in many respects remains a tragic poetic character. In fact the other characters act as comic conductors, drawing the comedy away from her. In essence the other characters become her comic shadows--i.e. her comic alter egos. Explain.

  23. What is the significance of the triangle: Epihodov and Yash, and Dunyasha?

  24. Why doesn't Lopahin marry Varya?

  25. Explain why Lopakhin, as the realist of the play, is one of the interesting characters.

  26. What is the significance of the fact that at the beginning of the play the train is two hours late, and that all through the play Lophain keeps looking at his watch.

  27. What/s the significance of the sound of the axes at the very end of the play?

  28. What might the setting of an unrealistic (perhaps even expressionistic) setting of the play be like?

GOT AN IDEA FOR A
GREAT DISCUSSION QUESTION?

SUBMIT A POTENTIAL DISCUSSION QUESTION
AND IF YOUR QUESTION IS SELECTED:

YOU'LL WIN 5 POINTS,
EQUAL TO 1 PERFECT QUIZ GRADE.


SEND YOUR WINNING DISCUSSION QUESTION NOW!

WANT TO HAVE FUN, NOT WORK?


CLICK HERE ... FOR FUN AND GAMES

Go back to TOP of page
Go back to PREVIOUS PAGE
Go to NEXT PAGE

BACK to: MAIN MENU

Total number of accesses since page first created: .