Literature Analysis #2

1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read.

                In Anton Chekhov's play Lyubov, a Russian woman returns from France to her family's estate in the 1900’s and discovers that the family fortune's been squandered. It seems the only way to save her beloved home is to sell the surrounding orchard land for development, but Lyubov cannot sacrifice any part of the property, and her despair grows as the mortgage date draws nearer. Lyubov did not save her estate. Instead, Lopahin bought the estate in the auction and decided to continue with the idea of a development to make money. The ones living in the estate all moved out.

2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid cliches.

                The theme of “The Cherry Orchard” would be overcoming the past. Each character have their own personal past to overcome. Lyubon has her past with the lover that cheated on her, Lopahin with his father that abused him all his childhood, Varya and the fact that she was adopted which made her feel out of place.     

3. Describe the author's tone.  Include three excerpts that illustrate your point(s).

                In “The Cherry Orchard” the tones the author uses would be humor, longing, and grieving. As I read I sensed much humor between some characters, especially Trofimov and Lopahin. They were always insulting each other but in a way that made the rest laugh. Lopahin always had something to say about the Trofimov and the fact that he worked his life. He would say he didn’t understand how Trofimov could get up early in the morning just to work the day away. But beneath this Lopahin was inspired by Trofimov’s ways.

·         Lopahin: He’ll soon be fifty, and he’s still a student.

Trofimov: Drop your idiotic jokes.

Lopahin: Why are you so cross, queer fish?

Trofimov: Oh, don’t persist!

Lopahin (laughs): Allow me to ask you what’s your idea of me?

Trofimov: I’ll tell you my idea of you, Yermolay Alexeyevitch: you are a rich man you’ll soon be a millionaire. Well, just as in the economy of nature a wild beast is of use, who devours everything that comes in his way, so you too have your use.

                                                              (All laugh.)

Then there is the longing of the past and how easy things were before.

·         Oh, my childhood, my innocent childhood! This is the nursery where I slept and I used to look out at the orchard from here! Look, Mother's walking in the orchard. In a white dress.

The last tone was grieving. Lyubov expressed grief when reminded of her deceased son.

·         Lyubov: My Grisha… my boy… Grisha… my son!

My boy was lost…drowned. Why? Oh, why, dear Petya...    

4. Describe five literary elements/techniques you observed that strengthened your understanding of the theme and/or your sense of the tone.  Include three excerpts that will help your reader understand each one.

Five literary elements that strengthened my understanding of the theme and my sense of the tone were symbolism, imagery, allegory, 

Symbolism:
The  white orchard means different things to different people. It represents Lubov's heritage and her youth. For Gaev, it's a symbol of status. For Lopakhin the cherry orchard is complicated; his attachment to Lubov makes him want to save it, while his memory of a difficult childhood urges him to destroy it. It's also a financial opportunity. Trofimov sees the orchard as a symbol of injustice, because of the way the aristocrats treated the peasants before the emancipation of the Serfs, and Anya gives up her sentimental attachment to it for a new life.