Chekhov’s Gun Definition & Meaning Chekhov’s Gun is a dramatic principle that asserts that every element in a story must be necessary, and irrelevant elements should be removed. Named after the Russian playwright Anton Chekhov, the principle is commonly phrased as, “If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then… Continue reading What is Chekhov’s Gun? Definition, Examples & How to Use It