Rewriting Chekhov: a comparison of Mansfield's "The Child-Who-Was-Tired" and Chekhov’s "Sleepy"

Seminar Paper , 2001 , 15 Pages , Grade: 2,3

English Language and Literature Studies - Literature

This paper will discuss differences and similarities of The Child-Who-Was-Tired first published on February 24 in the New Age and later, short after her return from Bavaria, in ‘In a German Pension’ published in 19112 by Katherine Mansfield and Anton Chekhov’s Sleepy, which was written nearly 20 years earlier3. The parallels between the characters and the plots, especially in the outcome of both short stories, make Katherine Mansfield suspicious of having committed plagiarism.
“Anton Chekhov’s short stories were first welcomed in England and America just after the turn of the century as examples of late nineteenth-century realism [...].“ Characterised as ‘slices of life’ they could have served as patterns or examples for Mansfield’s stories, which are characterised in the same way. In so far she writes at least in Chekhov’s tradition. She “could have read Sleepy at Queen’s College as early as 1903, when [...] her literary interest was expending.”
The question of plagiarism will be answered in the conclusion of this paper, when the differences and similarities are worked out properly.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• 1 Introduction
• 1.1. Background of the Texts
• 1.2. Summary of Chekhov's Sleepy
• 2. Comparison
• 2.1. The Setting
• 2.2. The Plot
• 2.3. The Characters
• 2.3.1. Varka/The Child-Who-Was-Tired
• 2.3.2. The Shoemaker/The Man and The Mistress/The Frau
• 2.3.3. The Baby
• 2.3.4. Missing and Additional Characters
• 2.4. Symbolism
• 3. Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper aims to compare and contrast the short stories "The Child-Who-Was-Tired" by Katherine Mansfield and "Sleepy" by Anton Chekhov, exploring both their similarities and differences. It also aims to address the possibility of plagiarism by Mansfield, considering the parallels between the two stories.

• Comparison of setting and plot
• Analysis of character development and motivations
• Exploration of symbolism and thematic similarities
• Examination of the influence of Chekhov on Mansfield's writing
• Evaluation of the plagiarism accusation against Mansfield

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The first chapter provides background information on both stories, including their publication dates and literary contexts. It also offers a brief summary of Chekhov's "Sleepy", introducing the protagonist, Varka, and the setting of the story.

The second chapter delves into a detailed comparison of the two stories, focusing on their setting, plot, and characters. It highlights similarities and differences between the protagonists, Varka and The Child-Who-Was-Tired, and explores how their experiences and motivations differ.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This paper explores key themes and concepts such as literary comparison, plagiarism, realism, short story analysis, symbolism, character development, and the influence of Anton Chekhov on Katherine Mansfield. It examines the stories "The Child-Who-Was-Tired" and "Sleepy" through a critical lens, comparing their settings, plots, and characters to highlight both similarities and differences.

• College: Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (Fachbereich Englische Philologie)
• Course: Proseminar 'Katherine Mansfield'
• Grade: 2,3
• Author: Christian Schlegel (Author)
• Publication Year: 2001
• Pages: 15
• Catalog Number: V78180
• ISBN (eBook): 9783638827980
• ISBN (Book): 9783638832144
• Language: English
• Tags: Rewriting, Chekhov, Mansfield, Child-Who-Was-Tired, Chekhov’s, Sleepy, Katherine, Mansfield