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. (10[1])In another work by this author, a playwright abruptly ends his play about a spirit fighting Satan when his mother mocks the production. The aspiring actress Nina (10[1])leaves that suicidal playwright to become the mistress of this author’s semi-autobiographical character Boris Trigorin. (10[1])The servant Firs lies down to die at the end of a play by this author, (10[1])which is accompanied by the sound of axes (10[1])chopping (10[1])the title (10[1])estate down. (-5[1])For 10 points, (10[1])name this Russian playwright of The Seagull and The Cherry Orchard, (10[1])who also (10[1])names a literary principle about a gun firing. ■END■ (10[1])

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

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