Abstract
In the article, the author's attention is focused on the analysis of manor pastime in early works of A. P. Chekhov («Late-Blooming Flowers», «The Virtuous Innkeeper», «Hopeless»). Manor leisure in the literature preceding Chekhov consisted of philosophical conversations, an interest in music, reading, and variety of other entertainments. Pastime was determined by the personality of the estate owner. Chekhov rethinks parodically the traditions of depicting the manor leisure in previous literature. The teatime scene in «Late-Blooming Flowers» is devoid of philosophical reflections and ideological disputes. Moreover, such conversations are impossible here, therefore the rapprochement of the main characters is also impossible. The comic effect is created with the help of semantic shift. In «The Virtuous Innkeeper» a reader comes across the substitution of a servant and a landowner role. Chekhov plays parodically the stereotype of «forgiving people». The story «Hopeless» presents several kinds of the master's pastime. If in the previous literature admiring nature, playing checkers or a screw, referring to an album is a way to a dialogue, reflection, referring to the past, then for Chekhov's hero it is just a way to pass the time. Based on the analysis of the above-mentioned works, the author concludes that Chekhov shows the loss of manor culture, destroying the stereotyped manor pastime of the nobles.
Keywords
A. P. Chekhov, parody, manor, manor pastime, «Late-Blooming Flowers», «The Virtuous Innkeeper», «Hopeless».