Fat And Thin Flashcards
by Anton Chekhov — tap or click to flip
Flashcard Review
Flashcards: Fat And Thin
Where do the two old friends meet at the beginning of the story?
They meet at the Nikolaevsky railway station.
What sensory details does Chekhov use to introduce the fat man?
His greasy lips shine like ripe cherries, and he smells of sherry and fleur d'orange, suggesting wealth and fine dining.
What sensory details describe the thin man when he first appears?
He is laden with portmanteaus, bundles, and bandboxes, and smells of ham and coffee grounds, suggesting modest means.
What does the thin man do immediately after learning the fat man is a privy councillor?
He turns pale and rigid, then his face twists into a broad smile as he physically shrinks and begins using formal, obsequious language.
How does the fat man respond to the thin man's sudden servility?
He frowns and protests that they are childhood friends with no need for official obsequiousness, but the thin man only grows more deferential.
How does the story end?
The fat man turns away in disgust and offers only his hand at parting, while the thin man, his wife, and son are all described as agreeably overwhelmed.
What is the thin man's civil service rank?
He is a collegiate assessor who has been promoted to head clerk, and he holds the Order of Stanislav.
What does the thin man do to supplement his salary?
He carves wooden cigarette cases and sells them for a rouble each, offering a discount for orders of ten or more.
What is the fat man's (Misha's) civil service rank?
He has risen to privy councillor, a third-rank position equivalent to a general, and has two stars.
What were the childhood nicknames of the two friends and why?
The fat man was called Herostratus because he burned a hole in a schoolbook with a cigarette, and the thin man was called Ephialtes because he was fond of telling tales.
Who is Luise and how is she described?
She is the thin man's wife, maiden name Vantsenbach, of the Lutheran persuasion, described as a thin woman with a long chin.
How does Nafanail react to his father's changing behavior?
He mirrors his father by drawing himself up to attention, fastening all his uniform buttons, and at the end dropping his cap and scraping his foot in deference.
Why does the thin man introduce his wife twice?
He first introduces her naturally to his old friend, then re-introduces her formally after learning the fat man's rank, showing how rank has overtaken personal connection.
What does the contrast between the fat man and thin man physically represent?
Their physical appearances mirror their social positions: the fat man's bulk and fine scents signal prosperity and high rank, while the thin man's leanness and baggage suggest lower status.
What does the story suggest about the effect of social hierarchy on friendship?
It shows that deeply internalized class consciousness can instantly destroy genuine human connection, even between childhood friends.
Why is the thin man described as 'agreeably overwhelmed' at the end?
The word 'agreeably' reveals that the thin man finds comfort in servility; he is not merely forced into deference but actively embraces the hierarchical dynamic.
What is the Table of Ranks and why is it relevant to this story?
The Table of Ranks was the Russian imperial civil service hierarchy. The vast gap between the thin man's collegiate assessor (rank 8) and the fat man's privy councillor (rank 3) triggers the thin man's transformation.
How does Chekhov use physical transformation to convey the thin man's psychological change?
The thin man's body crumples and shrinks, his baggage seems to shrink too, and even his wife's chin grows longer, externalizing his sudden self-abasement.
What technique does Chekhov use by having inanimate objects mimic the thin man's reaction?
This is hyperbole and pathetic fallacy: the portmanteaus, bundles, and boxes seem to shrink and crumple up, comically extending the thin man's servility to his possessions.
What is the structural turning point of the story?
The revelation that the fat man is a privy councillor is the pivot. Everything before is warm reunion; everything after is servile formality.
How does Chekhov use the smells of each character as a literary device?
The contrasting scents function as shorthand characterization: sherry and fleur d'orange signal luxury, while ham and coffee grounds signal modest, practical living.
What does 'fleur d'orange' mean in the context of the story?
Fleur d'orange is a French term for orange blossom, referring to an expensive perfume or cologne, emphasizing the fat man's wealth and refinement.
What is a 'portmanteau' as used in the story?
A portmanteau is a large traveling bag or suitcase, typically made of stiff leather and opening into two equal halves.
What does 'obsequiousness' mean in the fat man's protest?
Obsequiousness means excessive eagerness to serve or please someone of higher status, characterized by fawning, servile deference.
What does the thin man mean when he calls the fat man's attention 'refreshing manna'?
Manna refers to the miraculous food God provided to the Israelites. The thin man uses it as exaggerated flattery, comparing the fat man's notice to a divine gift.
What is the significance of the fat man saying 'What's this tone for? You and I were friends as boys'?
It reveals that the fat man values their personal bond over rank and is genuinely disturbed by how quickly hierarchy has erased their friendship.
What does the phrase 'his face twisted in all directions in the broadest smile' reveal?
The contorted smile shows the thin man's reaction is not genuine joy but a physically strained performance of deference, blending shock, anxiety, and forced pleasantness.