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The Proposal Questions and Answers, Question 1., What does Chubukov at first suspect that Lomov has come for? Is he sincere when he later says ‘And I’ve always loved you, my, angel, as if you were my own son”? Find reasons for your answer from the play., Answer:, At first Chubukov suspected that Lomov had come to borrow money as he was in his evening dress. He was not sincere when he, told Lomov that he had always loved him and that he was like his own son, because he had decided to not give any money to, Lomov. It was only when Lomov asked for his daughter’s hand in marriage that his attitude changed and he rushed out to call his, daughter, Natalya., Question 2., Chubukov says of Natalya: “……. as if she won’t consent! She’s in love; egad, she’s like a lovesick cat……” Would you agree? Find, reasons for your answer., Answer:, Yes, Natalya is in love. This is clear by the way she behaves when she gets to know that Lomov came to propose to her. She starts, weeping and asks her father to bring Lomov at once., , Question 3., 1. Find all the words and expressions in the play that the characters use to speak about each other, and the accusations and insults, they hurl at each other. (For example, Lomov in the end calls Chubukov an intriguer; but earlier,Chubukov has himself called Lomov, a “malicious, doublefaced intriguer.” Again, Lomov begins by describing Natalya as “an excellent housekeeper, not bad-looking,, well-educated.”), 2. Then think of five adjectives or adjectival expressions of your own to describe each character in the play., , 3. Can you now imagine what these characters will quarrel about next?, Answer:, The words and expressions that have been used to describe each other by various characters of, the play are Chubukov: intriguer, grabber, old rat Natalya: a lovesick cat, an excellent, housekeeper, not bad-looking’ well-educated. Lomov: a good neighbour, impudent, pettifogger,, malicious, double faced intriguer, rascal, blind hen, turnip ghost, a villian, scare crow, stuffed, sausage, etc., Thinking About the Language, Question I., 1. This play has been translated in English from the Russian original. Are there any expressions or ways of speaking that strike you, as more – Russian than English?, For example would an adult man be addressed by an older man as my darling or my treasure in an English play?, Answer:, Expressions not used in contemporary English are- my angel, my beloved, my beauty (Here these expressions, are used for an, adult man) and ‘all that sort of thing’ (not explaining what it is just leaving it as it is) and ‘how may you be getting on’? reported, speech, 2. You must have noticed that when we report someone’s exact words, we have to make some changes in the sentence structure., In the following sentences fill in the blanks to list the changes that have occurred in the above pairs of sentences. One has been, done for you., Questions., 1., 2., 3., 4., 5., 6., 7., , To report a question, we use the reporting verb asked (as in sentence set 1)., To report a declaration, we use the reporting verb, The adverb of place here changes to _____, When the verb in the direct speech is in the present tense, the verb in reported speech is in the tense (as in sentence set 3)., If the Verb in direct speech is in the present continuous tense, the verb in reported speech changes to ____ tense. For, example, ____ changes to was getting., When the sentence in direct speech contains a word denoting respect, we add the adverb ____ in the reporting clause (as in, sentence set 1), The pronouns I, me, our and mine, which are used in the first person in direct speech, change to third person pronouns to, such as _____ or ____ in reported speech.
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Answer:, 2. declared, 3. there, 4. past, 5. past continuous, is getting, 6. respectfully, 7. he, him, their or his, , Thinking About the Language, (Page 157), Question I., 1. This play has been translated in English from the Russian original. Are there any expressions or ways of speaking that strike you, as more – Russian than English?, For example would an adult man be addressed by an older man as my darling or my treasure in an English play?, Answer:, Expressions not used in contemporary English are- my angel, my beloved, my beauty (Here these expressions, are used for an, adult man) and ‘all that sort of thing’ (not explaining what it is just leaving it as it is) and ‘how may you be getting on’? reported, speech, 2. You must have noticed that when we report someone’s exact words, we have to make some changes in the sentence structure., In the following sentences fill in the blanks to list the changes that have occurred in the above pairs of sentences. One has been, done for you., , Extract Rased Questions [3 Marks each], Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow, Question 1., What are you talking about? Oxen Meadows are ours, not yours!, (a) Who is the speaker here?, (b) Who is being referred to by ‘yours’?, (c) Find a word from the extract which means ‘a piece of grassland’., (d) Who is being referred to as ours?, Answer:, (a) Natalya is the speaker here., (b) Lomov is being referred by ‘yours’., (c) ‘Meadows’ from the extract means ‘a piece of grassland’., (d) Ours is referred Natalya and his father., Question 2., Hear me out, I implore you! The peasants of your father’s grandfather, as I have already had the honour of explaining to you,, used to bake bricks for my aunt’s grandmother. Now my aunt’s grandmother, wishing to make them a peasant…, (a) Who is the speaker here?, (b) What did the peasants do?, (c) Find the exact word from the extract which means ‘to ask something in a very serious way’, (d) What is synonym of ‘high respect in the extract’?, Answer:, (a) Lomov is the speaker here., (b) The peasants used to bake bricks for Lomov’s Aunt’s grandmother., (c) ‘Implore’ from the extract means ‘to ask something in a very serious way’., (d) The word is ‘honour’., Question 3., You may take it that I know whether I have the right or not. Because, young man, I’m not used to being spoken to in that
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tone of voice, and so on. I, young man, am twice your age, and ask you to speak to me without agitating yourself, and all, that., (a) Who is the speaker here?, (b) How did the speaker wanted Lomov to talk to him?, (c) Find the word from the extract which means ‘to disturb, excite or anger someone’., Answer:, (a) Chubukov is the speaker here., (b) Chubukov wanted Lomov to speak to him without agitating himself., (c) ‘agitating’-from the extract means ‘to disturb, excite or anger someone’., Question 4., Never mind about my people! The Lomovs have all been honourable people, and not one has ever been tried for, embezzlement, like your grandfather!, (a) Whom does the speaker say the above lines to?, (b) How did Lomov describes his people?, (c) Find the word from the extract which means ‘theft of funds’., (d) Explain ‘Never mind about my People’., Answer:, (a) Lomov (The speaker) said the above lines to Chubukov., (b) Lomov described his people as honourable., (c) ‘Embezzlement’ from the extract means ‘theft of funds’., (d) Lomov said this line because his family members., Question 5., NATALYA : What proposal?, CHUBUKOV : Why, he came here to propose to you., NATALYA : To propose? To me? Why didn’t you tell me so before?, CHUBUKOV : So he dresses up in evening clothes. The stuffed sausage!, The wizen-faced frump! [CBSE 2014], (a) Who is being referred to as ‘he’?, (b) Why did he meet Chubukov?, (c) Find the word from the extract which means ‘Make an offer of marriage to someone’., (d) Who was dressed in as a stuffed sausage?, Answer:, (a) Lomov is being referred to as ‘he’ in the extract., (b) Lomov met Chubukov’s to ask for Natalya’s hand., (c) ‘Propose’ from the extract means ‘make an offer of marriage to someone’., (d) Lomov was dressed as a stuffed sausage., Short Answer Type Questions [2 Marks each], Question 1., Which qualities are common in all three characters of the play ‘The Proposal’?, Answer:, All the characters in the play are argumentative, full of pride and possessiveness. They are always ready to argue for petty, things., Question 2., How does Lomov come to Chubukov’s house? What for does he come? How is he received?[ CBSE 2012], Answer:, Lomov came to Chubukov’s house in the evening dress with gloves on. He cames to propose to his daughter Natalya. He is, received with all the respect by Chubukov., Question 3., How does Chubukov react when Lomov says that he has come to ask for the hand of his daughter?
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Answer:, When Lomov says that he has come to ask for the hand of his daughter, Chubukov gets off balanced with joy. He embraces, and kisses Lomov, sheds a tear of joy and calls for God’s blessing for Lomov and Natalya., Question 4., Why did Lomov want to get married?, Answer:, Lomov wanted to gel. married as he was already 35 years old. Moreover, he was suffering due to a weak heart and sleepsickness and wanted company of someone to look after him., Question 5., What happens to Lomov when he is in an excited state?, Answer:, When Lomov is in an excited state his heart beat increases, lips tremble and there is a twitch in his right eyebrow. When he, goes to sleep in such a state something pulls him from his left side and he jumps like a lunatic, Question 6., How does Natalya excite Lomov to the point of verbal fighting?, Answer:, Natalya repeatedly insisted that Oxen Meadows are theirs and told Lomov that upto now she considered Lomov as a good, neighbour and friend. This excited Lomov to the point of verbal fighting., Question 7., How does Lomov react when Chubukov says that he is not used to misbehaviour by a young man like Lomov?, Answer:, Lomov reacts by saying that Chubukov thinks that he is a fool. He says that he cannot talk to him calmly and politely as he is, making a false claim to his property. He further accuses Chubukov of being a grabber., Question 8., Why does Natalya ask her father Chubukov to fetch Lomov in at once? Why does she accuse her father?, Answer:, Natalya asked her father to fetch Lomov at once as she, had come to know that Lomov had come to propose her. She accused Chubukov of driving Lomov out of their home., Question 9., How does Natalya react when she comes to know that Lomov had come to propose? CBSE2014, Answer:, When Natalya cames to know that Lomov had come there to propose her she was shocked. She wails, changes her stance, and asks her father to fetch Lomov., Long Answer (Value Based) Type Questions [8 Marks each], Question 1., The principle ‘forgive and forget’, helps a lot in maintaining cordial relations with our neighbors. Do you think Anton Chekov, conveys this message in the play ‘The Proposal’ ?, Answer:, Anton Chekov does convey the message that the principle of ‘forgive and forget’ helps a lot in -maintaining cordial, relationship with one’s neighbours. Initially, the neighbours in the play, Lomov, Natalya and Chubukov were fighting over, petty issues. They were putting important issues behind them and wasting their time by arguing over small things. These, arguments slowly developed into fights and they started hurling abuses at one another. This damaged their relationship with, each other., It was when Natalya came to know that Lomov had come to propose her that she left the topic of argument (Oxen, Meadows) behind. She also asked for forgiveness from Lomov and requested him to come to the point. Hence it is, mandatory to ‘forgive and forget’ if one wants to have cordial relationship with others.
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Question 2., The characters Natalya and Lomov lose their temper on trivial issues. It shows their poor skills at anger management., Suggest some ways that help you in maintaining cordial relationship with people around you., Answer:, The way in which Lomov and Natalya lost their temper shows that how anger can easily effect a relationship. Thus, it, becomes very important to have good anger management skills. Following are a few anger management skills that can be, followed in one’s life. These would also help in building healthy relationships., 1., 2., 3., 4., 5., 6., 7., , Always follow the principle of ‘forgive and forget.’, Try to understand the person to whom you are talking., Be helpful rather than being self-centric., Always have empathy towards others., irst listen and then speak., Be as courteous as possible to everyone., Don’t have the habit of always complaining about others., , Question 3., Based on your understanding of the Play ‘The Proposal’ how do you think good relationships can be maintained? Why in, today’s time we see so many people going away from each other?, Answer:, The play ‘The Proposal’ teaches us how anger and, arguments can easily ruin a relationship. Thus to maintain a good relationship, it is important to have a control over your, anger. Having arguments over unimportant or small issues is extremely harmful and a waste of time. If someone commits a, mistake, one should be ready to forgive and forget rather than being angry and arguing with the person endlessly. In today’s, time people try to find only the positives in others and do not easily accept their negatives. Hence is becoming extremely, difficult to maintain a good and cordial relationship with others., Question 4., It is a common observance that more attention is paid to unimportant issues at the cost of important ones. The play ‘The, Proposal’ beautifully portrays this fact. Suggest some steps how we can avoid this unhealthy practice., Answer:, It is true to an extent that people usually give more importance to the unimportant issues forgetting their priorities. Just like, how Lomov came to propose Natalya but due to their argument that matter was left unaddressed. Thus, it becomes very, important to set your priorities in life. One must ignore the unimportant issues. It is a waste of time to have discussions over, them. One ’ should not pay too much attention on the trivialities. This energy can be saved on spending it over some useful, and important issues that gives a fruitful result., Question 5., Neighbours must have a cordial relationship which Lomov and Natalya do not have. Describe the first fight between, them. [CBSE 2015], Answer:, Lomov and Natalya meet and rather than proposing her he gets off the point. He tells her how he inherited his land and how, he respects her father. He also tells Natalya that his Oxen meadows touch Natalya’s Birchwood. On hearing this, Natalya says, that Oxen Meadows are theirs. They start arguing about it. Lomov clarifies that he is talking about the Oxen Meadows that, are between her Birchwoods and Burnt marsh. Natalya again insists that they are theirs., Lomov refuses it. He tells her that his aunt’s grandmother gave those meadows to her father’s grand father. The peasants, used the land for forty years and started regarding it as their own. Natalya’s father comes and also starts quarreling with, Lomov. They get into a heated argument and resort to name-calling. After some time, Lomov leaves their house.
