TUTORIALEvolurion

As You Like It

1.     Where did the usurper rule?

He ruled in a province or Dukedom in France.

2.     Where did the lawful Duke flee away?

The lawful Duke fled to the forest of Arden.

3.     Why did the lawful Duke flee away?

The lawful Duke fled away because he was dethroned and banished by his brother Duke Frederick.

4.     Who accompanied the lawful Duke?

A few faithful followers accompanied the lawful Duke.

5.     How did the old Duke and his followers spend life in the forest?

They led the life like that of Robin Hood of England and felt it be more relaxing than the life of a court.

6.     How did they spend the summer in the forest?

In the summer they lay under the shade of the trees watching the playful sports of the forest deer.

7.     Why were the chilling winds were called true counsellors?

They are called true counsellors as they do not flatter but represent truly one's own condition, and though they bite sharply, their tooth is nothing like that of unkindness and ingratitude.

8.     Who was Rosalind? Rosalind was the daughter of the banished Duke. Who was Celia?

Celia was the daughter of Duke Frederick.

9.     Who was Duke Fredrick?

Duke Frederick was the brother of the lawful Duke, and he was the usurper as he drove away from the lawful Duke.

10.  Why did Rosalind stay back in the court?

Rosalind stayed back in the court as she was the close companion of her cousin Celia.

11.  Why did Celia agree to watch the wrestling match?

Celia agreed to watch the match as she thought that it would amuse Rosalind.

12.  Who were the contestants of the wrestling match?

The contestants of the wrestling match were the court wrestler and young Orlando.

13.  Why did Rosalind and Celia try to dissuade Orlando from fighting the match?

They tried to dissuade Orlando as it was an uneven match between a skilled wrestler and young man.

14.  What did Rosalind and Celia speak to the young wrestler?

Rosalind and Celia forbade him to take part in the unequal wrestling match.

15.  What was the effect of the entreaties of the fair ladies?

The effect of the entreaties of the fair ladies was that the young wrestler became more determined to prove his valour in front of the fair ladies.

16.  What made the young wrestler wish to die?

The young wrestler wished to die for his helpless misfortune.

17.  Why did Rosalind feel pity for the young wrestler?

Rosalind felt pity for the young wrestler for his friendless condition.

18.  Why was the Duke Frederick displeased with Orlando?

The Duke Frederick was displeased with Orlando as he came to know that he was the son of Sir Rowland de Boys, a friend of the banished Duke.

19.  What did Rosalind give Orlando and why?

Rosalind gave Orlando her chain from her neck as a token of love to him.

20.  Why was the Duke Frederick angry with Rosalind?

He was angry with Rosalind because people praised her virtues more than her own daughter Celia.

21.  What order did Frederick give to Rosalind?

Frederick ordered Rosalind to leave the court and join her father in the forest.

22.  What did Celia decide after the banishment of Rosalind?

Celia decided to accompany Rosalind in the forest.

23.    Why did Rosalind and Celia disguise themselves?

They disguised themselves for their protection on the way to the forest of Arden.

24.  How did Rosalind and Celia disguise themselves?

Rosalind disguised herself as a countryman named Ganymede and Celia disguised herself as a country maid named Aliena.

1.     Who did Ganymede and Aliena meet in the forest when they were tired and hungry?

They met a countryman who was a servant of a shepherd.

2.     Who provided Ganymede and Celia food and rest?

A servant of a shepherd provided them food and rest.

3.     How did Ganymede and Aliena settle in the forest?

They bought the cottage from the shepherd and kept his servant to wait on them.

4.     What was Oliver's duty to Orlando? Did he do it perfectly?

Oliver's duty to Orlando was to provide him with good education. But he did not take proper care of him, rather hated him.

5.     What did Adam tell Orlando when he returned from the wrestling match?

Adam asked Orlando to flee away as he overheard that his brother Oliver had planned to burn him to death in his room.

6.     How did Oliver plan to kill Orlando?

Oliver planned to kill Orlando by setting Orlando's chamber on fire while he was asleep.

7.     How much money did Adam give to Orlando?

He gave Orlando five hundred crowns.

8.     What did Orlando do to get food?

Orlando drew his sword to grab the food from the Duke and his men.

9.     Who carved the barks with the name of Rosalind and wrote sonnets on her?

Orlando carved the barks with the name of Rosalind and wrote sonnets on her.

10.  How did Ganymede recognize Orlando in the forest?

Ganymede recognised Orlando as he was wearing the chain gifted earlier by her.

11.  Why could not Orlando recognize Rosalind?

Orlando could not recognize Rosalind as she was in the guise of Ganymede, a countryman.

12.  What did Ganymede prescribe Orlando for curing his love?

Ganymede prescribed Orlando to visit and court him every day, as if, he was his Rosalind.

13.  Whom did Orlando see lying on the ground on his way to visit Ganymede?

Orlando saw his own brother Oliver lying on the ground on his way to visit Ganymede.

14.  Why was it waiting for the sleeping man(Oliver)?

It was waiting for the man to wake up in order to kill and eat his flesh as lions do not attack a sleeping or dead man.

15.  What did Oliver do when he woke up?

When Oliver saw Orlando fighting with the lioness to save him at the cost of his own life, he was full of remorse and begged his mercy.

16.  How did Orlando get injuries in his arms?

Orlando got injuries in his arms while fighting with the lioness.

17.  Why did Ganymede faint?

Ganymede fainted as he heard the report of Orlando's injury while fighting with a lioness.

18.  How did Rosalind meet her father in the forest?

At the wedding ceremony of Oliver and Aliena, Rosalind met her father in the forest.

19.  What did the old Duke ask Ganymede first?

The old Duke asked Ganymede his name and parentage.

20.  Why did Ganymede ask Orlando to put on his best clothes?

Ganymede asked Orlando to put on his best clothes because he would find his Rosalind for the wedding.

21.  What was the joyful news from an unexpected messenger?

Duke Frederick had restored the dukedom to the banished Duke.

22.  Who turned Frederick's heart from his wicked design?

A hermit in the forest changed his heart from his wicked design.

23.  How did Frederick intend to spend the rest of his life?

He intended to spend the rest of his life in a religious house.

 

TUTORIALevolution

The Proposal, a one-act play by Anton Chekhov

Complete Over-view with the Characters of the Drama

StepanStepanovitchChubukov–A Landowner / Natalya’s Father

NatalyaStepanovna –25Years Old Daughter of Chubukov

Owner of Birchwood and Burnt Marsh inherited from her father’s grandfather.

Ivan VassilevitchLomov –A Kind but Very Suspicious Land Owner of Oxen Meadows inherited from his aunt’s grandmother. The peasants of the father’s grandfather of Natalya made bricks for the grandmother of Lomov’s aunt.

1^st Quarrel/Abuses :

Chubukov abuses Lomov – his father was a guzzling gambler, All of Lomov’s family are pettifogger, Lunacy, drunkard grandfather, aunt NastasyaMihailovna eloped with an architect, malicious, double-faced intriguer, Devil, Scarecrow, Blind hen, Turnip ghost, Stuffed sausage, Wizen-faced frump.

Lomov to Chubukov–  Grabber, embezzlement (grandfather), His mother was a hump-backed, intriguer (Natalya), The offence they do in the last election was an open secret.

Natalya abuses Lomov –His  aunt was the most backbiter, Lomov was low, dishonest, mean, rascal, monster.

2^nd Quarrel/Abuses :

After a long quarrel when Lomov came again, Natalya came to know from her father that he had come to propose her. So, she said (Aside) “I wish I know how to get started… (Aloud) Are you going to shooting soon? But soon they involved in another quarrel.

Lomov’s Dog – Guess was a the first-rate dog, He brought it from Mirnov with 125 roubles [Natalya’s dog was overshot (lower jaw is shorter than the upper) means a bad hunter, In Mariinsky hunt Guess ran well with Count’s Dog, while Squeezer was left behind, All dogs are running after a fox while Squeezer is worrying a ship]

Natalya’s Dog – Squeezer is the son of Harness and Chisels, bought with 85 roubles [There is no getting at the pedigree of Lomov’s dog at all, It is old, ugly, a worn-out cab-horse, Teasingly: what kind of hunter Lomov is? He ought to lie on the kitchen oven and catch black beetles, not go after foxes]

Chubukov –Found out two defects- it is old and it’s short in the muzzle. I’ll shoot you like a partridge. In the mid of the quarrel Lomov become senseless. When he came to sense, Chubukov forced them to get married.

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MCQ

1)        Anton Chekhov’s The Proposal is a Russian- …

2)        The character suffered from awful palpitation was / worse kind of nervous disorder was-…

3)        By the expression ‘having a go’ Lomov means to say-…

4)        Natalya’s dog (Squeezer )was blamed as-…

5)        Nataly teasingly advised Lomov to-…

6)        Lomov does not ask Natalys for marriage because-…

7)        The engagement of Lomov and Natalya became complete by-…

8)        Primarily Chubukov guessed that Lomov had come to-…

9)        By the expression ‘spit it out’ Chubukov means to mean-…

10)     Hearing Lomov, Chubukov said ‘glad’ because-…

11)     Lomov was afraid of never getting married if-…

12)     Chubukov said that a merchant had come ‘for his goods’-…

13)     In the first meeting Natalya wore-…

14)     Natalya told Lomov that she was / they were-…

15)     Regarding Lomov’s evening dress Natalya says, ‘I never!’ she means-…

16)     Natalya objected Lomov’s claim on-…

17)     ‘Oxen meadows’ refers to the land-…

18)     According to Lomov his aunt’s grandfather had made a grant of ‘oxen Meadows’ to-…

19)     According to the condition for the grant, Chubukov’s grandfather was-…

20)     Measurement of Oxen Meadows is 5 destinations, is equivalent to-…

21)     The unit of currency mentioned in the play ‘The Proposal’ is-…

22)     Chubukov abuses Lomov as ‘Petty Fogger’ which means-…

23)     Lomov blamed Chubukov as ‘grabber’ which means-…

24)     Whom did Chubukov described as drunkard?-…

25)     The word ‘lunacy’ with reference to Lomov means-…

26)     The word ‘embezzlement’ means-…

27)     Chubukov blamed Lomov’s grandfather as-…

28)     Natalya called Lomov a ‘monster’ because-…

29)     Natalya wanted that Lomov should come back because-…

30)     The label of the play can be summed up as-…

31)     The sub-genre of the play is-…

32)     Chubukov delighted with the proposal because-…

33)     Lomov, Chubukov and Natalya approach marriage-…

34)     Lomov has two consideration regarding marriage-…

35)     Lomov wanted to talk to Natalya in order to-…

36)     Being heated in an argument, over ownership, the three characters behaved-…

37)     Natalya learns about the proposal when Chubukov-…

38)     Lomov and Natalya again engaged in argument immediately-…

39)     Chubukov asked the coup[le to get married because-…

40)     Chubukov is calling for champagne in order to-…

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BAQ

1. Discuss the reason why the marriage proposal is important to all the characters in “The Proposal”.

Ans : The marriage proposal of Ivan Lomov with Natalya in the play “The Proposal” was not only important to the concerned characters but also to Chubukov, Natalya’s father. Lomov was already thirty-five. He wanted a restrained life and that is why he wanted a settled married life for him. On the other hand, Natalya was twenty-five. She was expert in domestic affairs. She was very eager to marry Lomov. Chubukov, on the other side wanted to grab the opportunity in order to shake down all the responsibility of a daughter’s father from his shoulders in social front. He also knew that the echonomic and social responsibility regarding Natalya would be over when Lomov would marry Natalya. So, he celebrated the occasion by offering champagne. Keeping in view all the reasons, we can conclude that the marriage is very important to all the characters.

2. Describe in detail the character of Lomov.

Ans : Ivan Lomov is one of the leading characters played a significant role in “The Proposal”. We find him as a funny character in the play. He believes that he had a number of illness including nervous disorder. Although he came to propose Natalya but he could not, as he got involved into an argument with Natalya centering the ownership of ‘Oxen Meadows’. Being a patient of nervous disorder, Lomov was prone to unusual excitement. Lomov failed to propose Natalya formally. It was Chubukov under whose instruction Lomov kissed Natalys and the marriage proposal of Lomov got the final seal of assert through Chubukov’s intervention. Lomov’s argumentative nature and nervous representation make us enjoy his character very much in the play.

3. Write in detail the character of Chubukov. Or, Discuss, whether Chubukov is a responsible father.

Ans :In the play “The Proposal”, StepanovitchChubukov is basically more a shrewd/clever land-owner and a business-minded father, than a sensible one. Chubukov makes unusual welcome to Lomovusuing words like ‘my precious’, ‘my darling’ etc. but he remains in doubt about Lomov’s real purpose of visiting his house. He takes Natalya’s side of argument only to display that he is a supportive father. He is pleased at the marriage proposal of Lomov but latter when he requires to callLomov back to his daughter, he is greatly offended. He timely intervenes to put the seal of assert to Lomov’s marriage proposal. He offers them champagne to celebrate the occasion as he  feels greatly relieved from the echonomic and social responsibility of a grown-up daughter. It is clear from his behavioural aspects that  Chubukov is out and out  a matter-of-fact father with lack of personality and very little sensibility.

4. Describe in detail the character of Natalys.

Ans : In Anton Chekhov’s play “The Proposal”, the character, Natalya appears in her negligee and a house coat. This is enough to draw out attention to two important aspect of her character. First of all, she is not a very fashionable lady. Secondly, she is expert in managing homely affairs. Later on, we find her argument with Lomovcenteringaround the ownership of ‘Oxen Meadows’ and the superiority of their dog Squeezer in comparison to Lomov’s dog, Guess. Natalys suffers from hysterics as she becomes excited when she comes to know that Lomov wants to propose her. She is  greatly tensed when Lomov was found dead-like on the armchair. She becomes happy when Lomov comes into sense. She is the only woman character in the play and plays a very significant role.

5. Give a short description of the social life as you see in the play?

Ans : In “The Proposal” Anton Chekhov focuses on the contemporary Russian society of his time. We come to know that then marriage use to be negotiated ridiculously and often without considering the age gap in between the spouses. Marriages are mostly arranged and the quality, qualifications, temperaments, attitudes etc. Hardly mattered. In most cases , marriage was either a case of economic benefit or of other gains. Girls could not decides or choose their partners.  Daughters were considered as economic liability. Natalya was not an exception. He timely intervenes to put the seal of assert to Lomov’s marriage proposal and felt greatly relieved from the economic and social responsibility of a grown-up daughter. It depicts well the pettiness of Russian landowners who place the consideration of property and personal pride over love and marriage. Thus the play, “The Proposal” can be considered as a piece of contemporary Russian social life.

6. How did Chubukov alternate the arguments in order to serve his real purpose ?

Ans : … Natalya appears before Lomov and he started to describe the bond of love and respect between the Lomovs and Chubukovs. While doing that Lomov mentions his ownership upon ‘Oxen Meadows’ to face the chalanging demand of Natalya upon the same. Chubukov takes Natalya’s side and the marriage proposal of Lomov takes the back seat. Natalya comes to know about Lomov’s proposal. He was brought back. But soon they engaged in another argument regarding the superiority of their respective dogs. The marriage proposal of Lomov is never clearly focused.

7. Do you consider Chubukov’s play “The Proposal” to be a satire/farce on marriage ? Explain with reason.

Ans :Anton Chekhov's "The Proposal" is usually classified as a farce, rather than satire, because it is a short work that focuses on a single idea in a limited way and in a  comical way such as the hypochondriac [Lomov], the shrew [Natalya], and the hypocrite [Chubukov]. Farce is further identified by exaggeration and absurdity, two other elements in Chekhov's one-act play.It is full of such exaggerated actions that exceed the limits of common sense. For instance, Lomov who gulps down water, puts his hand over his heart, runs to the door and "staggers out."  After he leaves, Natalya becomes "hysterical," falling back into an armchair "and groans for some time. The quick turn of feeling from cordiality to hurling of insults such as Lomov's calling Chubukov a "Grabber" and his returning the insult to Lomov, terming him "Intriguer!" Next is Chubkov's screaming that he will kill himself.Later Joining the hands of his daughter and neighbour, Chubukov shouts,"Get married! She's agreed! Only leave me in peace!"Thus, the farcical basis of "The Proposal" is the fact that Lumov himself is never able to propose.Another form of humour is practical jokesthat the father plays upon his daughter whenChubukov, instead of telling his daughter about Lomov’s marriage proposal, informs her that there is "a dealer who has come to buy something."These elements of exaggeration and absurdity set the tone of ridicule by Chekhov in depicting the pettiness of Russian society. Their hypocrisy is also depicted comically in the placement of economic considerations over those of love and romance.

8. Justify the title of ‘The Proposal’

Ans :The Proposal, a one-act play of Anton Chekhov, explores the process of getting married in a comical way. This one act paly can be read as a satire upon the upper middleclass people of Russia and their courtship. This one-act play depicts the conflicts that the characters face in the play in search of economic value of marriage. It shows the character’s desperation for marriage in a comical way. In Chekhov’s Russia, marriage was a means of economic stability for majority of people. They use to marry to gain wealth and economic possessions or to compromise with the social pressure. The characters in the play involve in arguments over small and irrelevant things. The main argument revolves round the Oxen Meadows and the two dogs called Guess and Squeezer. However the play queerly ends with the acceptance of Lomov’s proposal of marriage by Natalya. Thus the title is highly significant and ironically important.

9.  Explain The Proposal as a one-act play.

Ans :A one-act play, as the name suggests, is a play that takes place, from beginning to end, in a single act. The Proposal, written by Anton Chekhov also introduces a comic one-act play centering round three characters :Chubukhov, Lomov, Chubukhov’s neighbour and Natalya, Chubukhov’s daughter. It is a fast-paced play of dialogue based action with situational humour. The setting of the play is Chubukhov’s country house where Lomov, a long-time neighbour of Chubukhov, has come to propose marriage to Chubukhov’s 25 years old daughter, Natalya. Stating his purpose, Lomov receives joyful permission from Chubukhov to marry his daughter. Lomov is a nerve-patient and is prone to unwanted excitement. Having welcomes by Natalya when he tries to explain the reason for being there, he gets into argument for twice  with Natalya regarding the ownership of Oxen Meadows and the superiority of their respective dogs, Guess and Squeezer. In the mid of their argument Chubukhov intervenes and forces them to accept the marriage proposal with a kiss. Thus, we find the play from the beginning to end is taken place in a single act securing all the features of an ideal one-act play.

New year’s Eve-According to the Russian calendar, Russians celebrates the new yearfron 6thro 12th January. Therefore, New Year’s Eve here refers to the evening of 5th January, the last day of the year.

She is like a lovesick cat- The expression is an expression of simile. A simile is an explicit comparison between two different things or ideas. In the above case Natalya, 25 years old daughter of Chubukhov and a cat are two dissimilar things. They have been compared having a common feature called ‘lovesickness’.

Open Secret- It is an example of Oxymoron. Oxymoron is a figure of speech where two opposite ideas of seemingly opposite ideas are placed side by side to create an effect on the logical process of thinking. In this case ‘secret is described as ‘open’ which is not possible in reality.

 “Bring him back”---Natalya says this in Chekhov’s hilarious face 'The Proposal’. She says this to her father Chubukov.

When Lomov departs from Chubukov’s housewithout expressing his desire to Natalya,Chubukhov tells her about the proposal. He informs that Lomovhas expressed his desire to many Natalya.Love-sick Natalya now understands thatthe argument over Oxen Meadows has done aharmfulact to her life. Natalya now wants to makeup the Situation by calling him back. She betraysimmense passion for him.

Natalya is a maid of 25. She was 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.

Arguments over Dogs:Inspite of her every caution Natalya contradicts Lomov whenhe describes his dog, Guess' the best. Natalya comments that it was toomuch to spend 125 roubles for Guess. They got better dog, Squeezer for 85 roubles only. Lomovreadily finds Squeezer’s faults- it is overshot; as aresult it is a bad hunter. Natalya then describesSqueezer as a pure dog and Guess as impure, old,ugly and like a worn-out cab-horse. Chubukovsays Guess is old and short in the muzzle. Lomovmentions how Squeezer was left behind but Guessran neck and neck with the Count’s dog. Then theyleave the issue of the dogs and starts excavatingeach other’s family scandals.

 

10.  How did Chubukov and Lomov contaminate each-other’s family ?

11.  “I’m ill ! Fetch him !” ---Who is the speaker ? Whom does the speaker to be fetched and why ? Why does the speaker feel ill ?

12.  What are Chubukov’s and Natalya’s opinions about the hunting strategy of Lomov ?

13.    What is the reason behind Lomov’s thinking that Natalya can be an acceptable wife ?

Some Special Notes :

One Act Play:ln Anton Chekhov’s one-act play ‘Theproposal’ all of the characters are some way orthe other influenced by the marriage proposal.Lomov is desperate for a wife. Natalya has notfound her man. Chubukov wants his daughter toget married soon. Lomov’s intention makesChubukov jubilant. However before unfolding hisproposal to Natalya Lomov becomes entangled intwo long arguments with her, first over a disputedplot of land and then over their hunting dogs. SoNatalya does not get any proposal from Lomov.However, the proposal is successfullyComplemented by the marriage at the endbecause of Chubukov’s presence of mind. Thetitle ‘The Proposal’ appears to be moremeaningful for that.