Class 12 Chapter 3.1 Solution
The Proposal
1. MCQs Question Answer
1. Anton Chekhov was a/an
a) Russian writer ✔
b) German writer
c) English writer
d) French writer
2. ‘The Proposal’ was originally written by Chekhov in
a) Chinese
b) French
c) German
d) Russian ✔
3. The format of the play ‘The Proposal’ is
a) one-act play ✔
b) tragedy
c) comedy
d) farce
4. The label you can give the comic turn of the play is
a) melodrama
b) farce ✔
c) comedy
d) clowning
5. Chubukov is a
a) landowner ✔
b) merchant
c) lawyer
d) physician
6. Lomov is a
a) merchant
b) landowner ✔
c) pettifogger
d) land-grabber
7. Natalya is in her
a) teens
b) mid-thirties
c) mid-twenties ✔
d) adolescence
8. ‘The Proposal’ is set in a
a) country-square
b) country-house ✔
c) corporate house
d) farmhouse
9. Chubukov doubts that Lomov has come to
a) borrow seeds
b) borrow money ✔
c) borrow threshing-machine
d) buy a dog
10. Chubukov is
a) ready to lend money to Lomov
b) not going to lend money to Lomov ✔
c) not in a position to lend money to anybody
d) going to borrow money from Lomov
11.Lomov is dressed in formal clothes because
a) it is New Year’s Eve
b) he loves Natalya and is going to propose to her
c) he has come to finalise a business deal with Chubukov
d) he has come to propose to Natalya ✔
12. Chubukov is delighted with the proposal for the following reason
a) Natalya can at least return her love for Lomov
b) Lomov loves Natalya
c) Chubukov had moved this proposal a long time ago
d) Chubukov would like to see his daughter married ✔
13.Lomov has two considerations regarding marriage
a) that he is thirty-five and must lead a stable life ✔
b) that he suffers from lunacy and sleeplessness
c) that he must consolidate property and make gains
d) that he must enjoy love and passion
14.Lomov wanted to talk to Natalya
a) in order to settle a land dispute over Oxen Meadows
b) in order to discuss inheritance
c) in order to seek her consent for marriage ✔
d) in order to discuss about the mowers
15.Lomov does not directly ask Natalya to marry him because
a) he has palpitations
b) he is not sure about her reaction ✔
c) he is trying to be calm
d) he knows Chubukov has already told Natalya
16. Chubukov is
a) Ivan’s father
b) the Count
c) Natalya’s father-in-law ✔
d) Natalya’s father
17. ‘The Proposal’ is written by
a) Habib Tanvir
b) J.M. Synge
c) Anton Chekhov ✔
d) Rudyard Kipling
18. The number of characters in the play is
a) 2
b) 3 ✔
c) 4
d) 1
19. The play ‘The Proposal’ was first performed in
a) 1893
b) 1890 ✔
c) 1901
d) 1904
20. “I’m off my balance…”-The speaker is off his balance because
a) he was sick
b) he was overjoyed ✔
c) he was angry
d) he was griefstricken
2. Long Question Answer
1. “Now this is a surprise, my darling.”
Or, “Now, you know, you shouldn’t forget all about your neighbours, my darling. “-
Who says this and to whom? Why is the speaker surprised? Comment on the approach of the speaker. Or, Why is the speaker so warm about the person spoken to?
Ans. Chubukov says this in Anton Chekhov’s one-act play ‘The Proposal. He says this to Lomov.
• The speaker finds Lomov in his drawing room. Lomov enters wearing a dress-jacket and white gloves. From Chubukov’s behaviour it seems that he feels pleased to have Lomov in his house. Chubukov says that he is extremely glad. Chubukov possibly had an unconscious desire for Lomov. So, when he finds Lomov, it appears as a pleasant surprise to him.
• Chubukov receives Lomov cordially. Possibly he bears in his mind his grown-up yet-to-be-married daughter, Natalya. Chubukov later says that he has been hoping for Lomov’s proposal for Natalya for a long time. Thus Chubukov’s approach can easily be understood as an effort to please Lomov.
2. “My dear fellow, why are you so formal in your get-up?”- Who asks this? Who is the person asked to? What is said about his get-up? Why was he dressed in that way?
Ans. In Anton Chekhov’s one-act play ‘The Proposal, Chubukov says this.
• The person who is asked to is Lomov who has come to Chubukov’s house.
• Lomov enters wearing formal dress-a dress-jacket and white gloves. This formal dress is generally worn as an evening dress for ball or such other occasions. Chubukov asks Lomov why he is in his evening dress. It seems to Chubukov that Lomov has come for a New year’s Eve visit.
• Though it is still unknown to Chubukov, Lomov has worn such dress for a special purpose. He has come to Chubukov to ask the hand of his daughter, Natalya, in marriage.
3. “I’ve come to you… to trouble you with a request.”-Who says this and to whom? What is the ‘request’? What does the person spoken to guess about the request? How does he react hearing the actual request?
Ans. In Anton Chekhov’s ‘The Proposal’ Lomov says this. He says this to Chubukov.
• When Chubukov asks Lomov about his formal dress, he does not directly answer it. He says that he has come to trouble him with a request. He goes round and round before expressing his request. He has come with a
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marriage proposal. He has come to ask the hand of Chubukov’s daughter, Natalya, in marriage.
• Though Chubukov says that this marriage proposal has been his continual desire he cannot rightly guess about it. He guesses that Lomov has come to borrow money.
• For fourth question see the answer to the last part of Q. No. 4 (DAY-1).
4. “I’ve come to ask the hand of your daughter…in marriage.” -Who says this? To whom does he say this? Who is the daughter? What was the immediate reaction of the father on hearing this proposal?
Ans. Lomov says this in Anton Chekhov’s ‘The Proposal.
• He says this to Chubukov.
• Here, the daughter is Natalya.
• Chubukov cannot believe that he has really got such a good news. When Lomov asks for his daughter’s hand Chubukov expresses his gladness, embraces and kisses Lomov. He says that he has been hoping for it for a long time. He sheds a tear and blesses Lomov. This shows how relieved he feels now. Chubukov cannot control himself. He cannot find why he is behaving in that idiotic way. He explains that he is off his balance with joy.
5. Meido you think I may count on her consent?” -Why is the speaker so dubious? How does the speaker ultimately get the consent? [
Ans. Here the speaker is Lomov in Chekhov’s ‘The Proposal He has come with an intention to get married to Chubukov’s daughter, Natalya. When he ultimately unfolds his heart to Chubukov, he becomes extremely glad and proposes to go and call Natasha. But Lomov is glad confident enough. So he asks whether she will consent to his proposal.
co Chubukov assures him and sends Natasha. They get themselves entangled in a spiteful quarrel over Oxen Meadows and then over the hunting dogs. When Lomoy becomes temporarily unconscious, Natalya shows serious concern for him. When Lomov recovers Chubukov asks him to hurry up and get married. At that very moment Natalya expresses her consent “Yes, yes, I’m willing.”
6. “I shall try to be brief. “-Who is the speaker? Is the speaker successful in his/her purpose? Bring out the fun and irony of the situation.
Or, “The Lomovs and the Chubukovs have always had the most friendly, and I might almost say the most affectionate regard for each other”-Who says this? When does the speaker say
so? Bring out the irony of the situation.
Ans. In Chekhov’s ‘The Proposal’ Lomov is the speaker here. • Lomov has come with a proposal to marry Chubukov’s daughter, Natalya. He tries to propose to Natalya. He is too much tense. He wants to finish briefly. But he starts with a long introduction about the family relations of the Lomovs and the Chubukovs. Thus he is diverted from his purpose.
• Firstly, Lomov’s tension and incoherent speech can be enjoyed with fun. Secondly, he declares to express his proposal in brief and starts a long introduction. This becomes funny. The irony lies latent in the situation. While Lomov starts saying about friendly relationship, ironically his ‘brief’ speech initiates a long spiteful quarrel.
7. “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?
Ans. In Chekhov’s ‘The Proposal’ Lomov is the speaker.
• Lomov says this to Natalya.
• The speaker, Lomov, would make a present of the Oxen Meadows.
• When Lomov goes on repeating that Oxen Meadows belong to them, Natalya finds his claim nonsense. Lomov wants to show the evidence but Natalya denies everything. She firmly states that she wants nothing of Lomov and gives up nothing of hers. At this stage of argument Lomov says this to justify his principle.
8. “Bring him back! Back! Ah! Bring him here…Quick, quick! I’m ill! Fetch him!…I’m dying! Fetch him.”-Who says this and to whom? When is it said? Why is the speaker so excited?
Or. What is ironic about Natalya’s request to bring Lomov back?
Ans. Natalya Stepanovna says this in Chekhov’s hilarous farce ‘The Proposal. She says this to her father, Chubukov.
• When Lomov departs from Chubukov’s house without expressing his desire to Natalya, Chubukov tells her about the proposal. He informs that Lomov has expressed his desire to marry Natalya. Love-sick Natalya now understands that the argument over Oxen Meadows has done a harmful act to her life. Natalya now wants to make up the situation by calling him back. She betrays immense passion for him.
• Natalya is a maid of 25. She has not still been able to find her man. She is love-sick. She cannot afford a chance to miss such a proposal. So, she is very-much upset. However, her passion for Lomov has been presented in an exaggerated manner.
9. “Oh, What burden, Lord, to be father of a grown-up daughter”-Who is the father? Who is the daughter? Why is the daughter a burden to the father?
Ans. Here Chubukov is the father in Chekhov’s hilarious farce,
‘The Proposal.
• The daughter is Natalya.
• In a patriarchal society a girl-child is often seen as a liability. It is an embarrassing duty of a father to find groom for his daughter. He wants his daughter anyhow to get married. This will free him from the burden of being the father of a grown-up daughter. Chubukov, however, is not only vexed with that paternal duty, he cannot also make out his daughter’s whimsical mood. Chubukov sends Natalya to settle the issue of marriage, but she starts a furious quarrel. When the impudent man leaves their house, she suddenly becomes violently passionate for him. Social pressure for his daughter’s marriage, handling the whims of a motherless girl and bourgeois mentality combine together to form such attitude.
10. From the arguments of Natalya, Lomov and Chubukov compare Guess and Squeezer
Or, Describe the two dogs mentioned in the play ‘The Proposal’.
Ans. From the argument of Lomov, Natalya and Chubukov we can give a comparative description of Guess and Squeezer with all the chance of doing injustice to both the parties, as all of them have given exaggerated description. Lomov bought Guess from Mironov for 125 roubles, Chubukov bought Squeezer for 85 roubles. Squeezer is young, Guess is old. Lomov describes Squeezer as an ‘overshot’ dog while Natalya describes Guess as an ugly worn-out cab horse. Chubukov admits that Guess is pure-bred, firm on his feet, has well-sprung ribs. But he points out two defects: ‘he’s old and he’s short in the muzzle.’ Lomov admits that Squeezer is good at running, but points out that he is not competent to get hold of anything.
11. Describe Natalya.
Or, Sketch the character of Natalya.
Ans. In the game of the marriage proposal, Natalya remains unaware about her marriage proposal for less a long time. So, the ‘love-sick cat’ does not show any favour for Lomov, a bachelor. Instead, she develops a long and furious quarrel over a disputed plot of land called Oxen Meadows. She is lonely and desperate for a husband. It becomes clear only when she goes frantic to get Lomov back after she learns about Lomov’s marriage proposal from her father. Natalya cannot deny her ego and again gets involved in an outrageous quarrel, now over the hunting dogs. Even after getting married she carries on her argument. She is prepared to spend her life with her hypochondriac, insomniac, unstable husband probably as ‘an excellent housekeeper.
12. Describe Chubukov.
Ans. In Anton Chekhov’s play ‘The Proposal’ Chubukov is a landowner with feudal mindset. He looks at marriage as an economic settlement rather than a personal desire. Chubukov thinks her daughter a liability and wants her to get married soon. Though he does not welcome Lomov
cordially, his address is full of tender words. He is happy with Lomov’s proposal as it will offer him a permanent relief. This attitude can be found in almost every patriarchal family in our time too. Chubukov cannot sacrifice his feudal ego and gets entangled twice in furious arguments with Lomov. However his encouragement helps Lomov and Natalya to get married in spite of their unpreparedness. He remains a firm connector between two unstable characters.