Как сделан рассказ А. П. Чехова ‘Толстый и тонкий’

Chekhov's ‘Tolstyi i tonkii’ for a long time was included in the Russian school program, attracting both students and teachers for its “simplicity and self-evidence”, although, according to Zara Mints, it is a “complex simplicity”. In this article the author reviews understudied aspects of the semantics of the story. Analysis includes the examination of the historical tradition, the language, and the narrative technique. Particular attention is paid to how the characters are built in relation to the plot (siuzhet). The article suggests additional points for interpreting ‘Tolstyi i tonkii’ not merely as an “early Chekhov's humorous sketch” but also as a complex and challenging short story.