1. “THE BET”by Anton Chekhov This story is set in Russia in the late 1800s. A banker and a lawyer make a strange bet to prove a point. This unusual bet leads to a surprising outcome.

2. Russian Author, 1860-1904 Fiction writer & playwright Considered to be one of the best short story writers in the history of world literature. Although famous for his writing, Chekhov was a physician and practiced medicine throughout his literary career. Anton Chekhov

3. LITERARY FOCUS Flashback- A scene from an earlier time that interrupts the ongoing action of a story. Sequence of Events- The order in which events happen. Cause/Effect Relationship- The connection between an event and a result; one event directly causes another event to occur. Theme- What the author wants you to learn from the story; a lesson, moral, or message about life. Review: Setting; Mood; Tone; Irony.

4. Background: Russia Chekhov wrote “The Bet” in 1889—a time of widespread social unrest in the country. Some reforms were put into effect to help Russia catch up to more developed countries in the West. For example, the czar’s government encouraged foreign investment for industrialization—but it was too little too late. Secret revolutionary groups were plotting to overthrow the czar and usher in a communist government.

5. ANTICIPATION GUIDE Which is worse? Circle the bubble that matches your opinion. Death Penalty Life Imprisonment Written Response: 1 Paragraph Sometimes, society pays attention to superficial ideas and ignores important problems. Sometimes, people try to act or appear a certain way rather than really caring about each other. What is one thing you wish you could change about society to make it better? 1 Word Responses: Write the first word that comes to your mind when you think of the following terms… Jail Bet Banker Money Books Death