Questions for “The Bet”
Thinking about the selection (Interpreting)
1. How does Chekhov convey the banker’s feeling of anxiety in the opening
paragraph?
2. (a) Why do you think Chekhov chose to explain the origin of the bet in the
form of flashback, rather than beginning the story on the night of the
banker’s party? (b) How does his use of flashbacks make the story more
suspenseful?
3. (a) How does the lawyer’s behavior change from year to year during his
imprisonment? (b) How would you explain each of these changes?
4. After being imprisoned for fifteen years, would the lawyer still argue that
“any sort of life’s better than none at all”? Explain.
5. Considering the banker’s assumption that the lawyer is “probably asleep
dreaming of all those millions,” what is ironic, or surprising, about the
lawyer’s note?
6. (a) After reading the lawyer’s note, why does the banker kiss the lawyer’s
head and leave “the lodge weeping”? (b) Why does the banker feel
contempt for himself?
7. Think about the argument at the opening of this story. If you had been one
of the guests, which side would you have taken? Why?
Noting the Effect of Point of View
Generally, when a writer uses a first-person or limited third-person point of view, he or
she can use only thoughts and feelings to develop the character from whose point of view the
story is being told. However, although “The Bet” is told from the banker’s point of view,
Chekhov is able to convey the thoughts of the lawyer by having the banker read the letter in
which the lawyer expresses his feelings regarding his imprisonment.
1. What does the lawyer’s letter reveal about his character?
2. Explain how the banker’s own attitudes and beliefs shape his impressions
of how the lawyer will respond to winning the bet.
Memories of the Rich and Infamous
In pairs, create a radio interview between
the Banker (or the Lawyer) and an
investigative journalist. The interview
should be set in the year 1905, twenty
years after the Lawyer vanished from his
cell. The interview should contain a
summary of the events of the story and the
Banker/Lawyer’s refLections on the
lessons of the events (1st person account).
You should strive to develop questions that
iLLustrate the Banker/Lawyer’s thinking
about the moral issues involved in the bet.