concept
Leshy
wood-sprite
also: леший, wood-goblin, forest spirit
A forest-guardian spirit of Slavic folklore, often a shapeshifter capable of passing among humans; Chekhov casts one as his naive protagonist.
Reading notes
- The Naive Wood-Sprite §2 wood-sprite
The leshy (леший) of Slavic folklore: a forest spirit or guardian of the woods, often depicted as a shapeshifter who can pass among people. Chekhov borrows the figure purely as a device for a man forced out into human society.