Tossup

In a play by this author, a bookcase is praised as “dear and honored” (10[1])for serving a family for one hundred years. In another work by this author, a playwright abruptly ends his play about a spirit fighting Satan when his mother mocks (10[1])the production. The aspiring actress Nina leaves that suicidal playwright to become the mistress of this author’s semi-autobiographical character Boris Trigorin. The servant Firs lies down to die at the end of a play by this author, which is accompanied (10[1])by the (10[1])sound of axes chopping (10[1])the title estate down. (10[1])For 10 points, name this Russian playwright of The (10[1])Seagull and The Cherry Orchard, (10[1])who also names a literary principle about a gun firing. ■END■

ANSWER: Anton Chekhov [or Anton Pavlovich Chekhov]
<Imperial A, European Literature>
= Average correct buzz position

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