“The Proposal” Long Questions and Answers (L.A.Q) by Anton Chekhov, Class XII, WBCHSE

The Proposal LAQ • The Proposal Long Questions and Answers

The Proposal Questions and Answers • The Proposal Question and Answer

The Proposal by Anton Chekhov

(1) Describe the character of Chubukov as a sensible father in “The Proposal”. [6] [HS 2016]

Ans. Chubukov, in Anton Chekhov’s “The Proposal,” is portrayed as a sensible father with a practical and pragmatic outlook. As a landowner, he is concerned about maintaining his family’s social standing and financial stability. When Lomov, a neighbouring landowner, proposes to his daughter Natalya, Chubukov initially welcomes the match due to Lomov’s wealth and social status. Throughout the play, Chubukov tries to mediate the misunderstandings between Lomov and Natalya, displaying a calm and level-headed approach to conflicts. However, his intentions are often comically hindered by his own impatience and hotheadedness. In the end, Chubukov’s efforts to secure his daughter’s future highlight his role as a sensible and protective father.

(2) Give a brief sketch of the character of Lomov in the play “The Proposal”. [6] [HS 2018, 2022 ]

Ans. Lomov, the central character in Anton Chekhov’s play “The Proposal,” is a 35-year-old, socially awkward, and hypochondriac landowner. He is portrayed as a timid and indecisive individual with a number of nervous disorders and health issues. Lomov’s primary motivation is to propose to his neighbour’s daughter, Natalya. However, he gets involved in quarrels, particularly during the proposal, and struggles to express his true feelings. Despite his faults, Lomov’s persistence in pursuing his objective and his humorous, exaggerated personality make him a comic figure in the play.

(3) Give a brief sketch of the character of Natalya in the play “The Proposal.” [6]

Ans. Natalya Stepanovna, the daughter of Chubukov, in Anton Chekhov’s play “The Proposal,” is a young (25 years old) and spirited woman. She is witty, flirtatious, and headstrong. Natalya is pursued by Ivan Lomov, her neighbor, who seeks her hand in marriage. Despite her apparent interest in Lomov, she enjoys teasing and challenging him, often leading to comical situations. Natalya is assertive and confident, not hesitating to express her opinions and desires. Throughout the play, her playful nature and quick wit add depth to her character, making her a compelling figure in the comedic exploration of love and courtship.

(4) “Why are you formal in your get up?” – Who is the speaker? Who is being spoken to? What leads the speaker to make this comment? [1+1+4] [HS 2019, 2022]

Ans. In Anton Chekhov’s ‘The Proposal’, Natalya’s father, Chubukov is the speaker of the quoted line.

Chubukov said this to Lomov, his neighbour.

Chubukov was surprised at Lomov’s attire. He wore a dress jacket, gloves, and so on, as if he were going to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Lomov was a neighbour of Chubukov. Generally, a neighbour does not visit another neighbour’s house in such gorgeous clothes without any occasion. That’s why Chubukok uttered these words with great amazement.

(5) “I have been hoping for it for a long time.” – Who is the speaker? What does ‘it’ refer to? How did the speaker come to know about it? What more did the speaker say in this context? [1+1+1+3] [HS 2020]

Ans. Chubukov is the speaker of the quoted line in Anton Chekhov’s play “The Proposal”.

‘It’ refers to Lomov’s marriage proposal to Chubukov’s daughter, Natalya Stepanovna.

Chubukov came to know about it when Lomov in his formal get up informed that he had come to ask the hand of his daughter in marriage.

Chubukov was overjoyed to hear Lomov’s marriage proposal. He assured Lomov that he has always loved him as his own son. He prayed to God to bless, love, and prosper them. He was so elated that he acted foolishly and felt practically unbalanced. Finally, he went to call his daughter to share the good news.

(6) “She is like a love-sick cat.” – Who said this about whom? Analyse the character of the person, referred to here, under the light of the comment above. [1+1+4] [HS 2017]

Ans. Chubukov said this about his daughter, Natalya in Anton Chekhov’s play “The Proposal.”

Natalya had a strong desire to marry Lomov. Hes father’s remark was accurate. Natalya felt sick after the argument when she learned that Lomov had come to ask her to marry him. She sank into an armchair and began to moan about the missed opportunity for marriage. She urged her father to bring him back. Her severe love-sickness is evident in her overwhelming determination to marry Lomov.

(7) Why did Lomov think about taking a decision about getting married? Whom did he want to marry? Why? [3+1+2] [HS 2016]
OR,
“And it’s impossible for me not to marry.” – Why is the speaker so interested to marry? Whom does he want to marry and why? [3+1+2] [HS 2020]

Ans. Lomov thought about making a decision about getting married because he was already 35 years old, a critical age for getting married. He wanted to lead a quiet and regular life. He had several nervous disorders. So, instead of looking for ideal or real love, he decided to get married without wasting any time.

Lomov wanted to marry Natalya Stepanovna, the daughter of Chubukov.

Natalya Stepanovna was an excellent housekeeper. She was good-looking and well-educated. Lomov was quite satisfied with the qualities of Natalya.

(8) Lomov came with a proposal to marry Natalya Stepanovna. What logic does he give for his decision? [6] [HS 2019]

Ans. Lomov wanted to marry Natalya because he was already 35 years old, a critical age for getting married. He wanted to lead a quiet and regular life. He had several nervous disorders. So, instead of looking for ideal or real love, he decided to get married without wasting any time. Natalya Stepanovna was an excellent housekeeper. She was good-looking and well-educated. Lomov was quite satisfied with the qualities of Natalya.

(9) “If you like, I’ll make you a present of them.” – Who is the speaker? Who is the person spoken to? What would the speaker make a present of? Why did the speaker say so? [1+1+1+3] [HS 2017]

Ans. The speaker is Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov in Anton Chekhov’s play “The Proposal.”

The person spoken to here is Natalya Stepanovna.

Lomov would make a present of the land Oxen Meadows.

Lomov said this when he was having an argument with Natalya over the possession of the Oxen Meadows. Both Lomov and Natalya claimed their ownership of the land. Natalya told Lomov that she did not require anything from him and she did not want to give up any of her right. In response, Lomov said that he would follow his principle. He didn’t care about the property’s value. That’s why he offered her the land as a present.

(10) “We have had the land for nearly three hundred years.” – Who is the speaker? Who is spoken to? What is referred to as ‘the land’? What do you know of the land from their conversation? [1+1+1+3] [HS 2018, 2022]

Ans. The speaker is Natalya Stepanovna in Anton Chekhov’s play ‘The Proposal’.

The person spoken to is Lomov.

‘The land’ referred to here is Oxen Meadows.

From their conversation, we came to know that Oxen Meadows had been a subject of dispute between the Lomovs and the Chobukovs for years. The Oxen Meadows were wedged between birch woods and Burnt Marsh. They were five dessiatins in size and worth 300 roubles. Both Natalya and Lomov claimed their ownership of the land. According to Lomov, he inherited the land from his late aunt and her husband. But Natalya claimed that her grandfather and great-grandfather had extended the land up to Burnt Marsh.

(11) “Go there is a merchant come for his goods.” – Who said this and to whom? Who is the merchant? What is referred to as goods? In what way does it bring out the attitude of the person and the society at the time? [2+1+1+2] [HS 2018]

Ans. Chubukov said this to his daughter, Natalya in Anton Chekhov’s play “The Proposal.”

Lomov is referred to here as a merchant.

Natalya is referred to here as ‘goods’.

By these words, we can assume a business-like mentality of the speaker and the humiliating attitude towards women in the Russian society. Chubukov considers his daughter nothing but a commodity to be sold to a merchant. It reflects the inferior values of women in a patriarchal society.

(12) “Bring him back! Back! Ah! Bring him here.” – Who says this and to whom? When is this said? What impression of the speaker can be formed from this comment? [1+1+2+2] [HS 2020]

Ans. Natalya Stepanovna says this to her father, Chubukov in the play “The Proposal.”

When Lomov left the house, Chubukov informed Natalya that Lomov had come to propose her in marriage. On hearing this, Natalya says these words.

By this remark, we can form an impression that Natalya is desperate to accept the marriage proposal of Lomov. She is very much disappointed with the missing chance of marriage. This expression also shows her passion for Lomov.

(13) “I am the most unhappy of men.” – Who said this? Why did he say so? How did the speaker get rid of his unhappiness? [1+3+2] [HS 2019, 2022 ]

Ans. Chubukov said this in Anton Chekhov’s play “The Proposal.”

For the second time, Natalya entangled herself in the argument over the pet dogs with Lomov. Lomov felt highly physical and mental infirmity and fainted. Natalya thought that he was dead. She imposed the liability on her father Chubukov as he also took part in the quarrel and continually abused Lomov. That was why infuriated with the situation, the poor father made this remark.

When Lomov got his sense back, Chubukov instantly put Lomov’s hand into his daughter’s hand and asked them to get married. In this way, he got rid of his unhappiness.

(14) “Forgive us, Ivan Vassilevitch, we were all a little heated.” – Who is the Speaker? Who are referred to by ‘us’? Why were the persons referred to ‘a little heated’? Why does the speaker ask for forgiveness? [1+1+2+2] [HS 2016]

Ans. Natalya Stapanovna is the speaker in Anton Chekhov’s play ‘The Proposal’.

Natalya and her father Chubukov are referred to here by ‘us’.

They were in ‘a little heated’ because of their argument with Lomov over the land Oxen Meadows.

After the argument over the Oxen Meadows, Natalya came to know from her father that Lomov had actually come to propose her in marriage. On hearing this, she regretted her rude behaviour and asked him for forgiveness.

(15) “I have come to you, … to trouble you with a request” – Who is the speaker? Who is he speaking to? What is the request? How did the person spoken to react to the request? [1+1+1+3]

Ans. Here the speaker is Lomov in Anyon Chekhov’s play, “The Proposal”.

He is speaking to his neighbour, Chubukov.

He came to Chubukov to ask for his daughter’s hand in marriage.

Chubukov was overjoyed on hearing Lomov’s proposal. He couldn’t believe his ears. He behaved like a lunatic. He hugged and kissed him. He told Lomov that he had been expecting this for a long time. He then blessed Lombov and his daughter.

(16) “Then why are you in evening dress, my precious?” – Who says this to whom? Why is the person spoken to in his evening dress? What does speaker guess? [1+1+2+2]

Ans. Chubukov says this to Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov in the play “The Proposal”.

Lomov came to Chubukov’s house to ask for his daughter’s hand in marriage. So he came in evening dress in order to impress Natalya.

When Lovmov informed Chubukov that he had come here for a favour, Chubukov assumed that he had come to borrow money from him. But when he came to know that Lomov had come to propose his daughter, Natalya.

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