CBSE Class 10 English The Proposal Worksheet

 

 

The Proposal‘ is a one-act play. Actually, it is a farce written by Anton Chekhov in 1888-89. The play is about the tendency of wealthy families to seek matrimonial ties. The real purpose is to increase their estates and landed properties. Ivan Lomov was a wealthy neighbour of another wealthy farmer Stepan Chubukov. Lomov comes to seek the hand of Chubukov‘s twenty-five-year-old daughter, Natalya. Tomov, Chubukov and Natalya‘-all three are quarrelsome people. They quarrel over petty or small issues. Each one of them has a claim over a particular piece of land. They also quarrel over their dogs. Amidst this quarrelling, they completely forget the real issue — the marriage proposal. But good sense prevails in the end. Economic good sense ensures that the proposal is made. Chubukov doesn‘t want to miss the opportunity. He puts his daughter‘s hand into Lomov‘s hands. He doesn‘t waste any time and blesses them. However, old habits die hard. The newly married couple starts their married life with a fresh quarrel.

 

Extract Based Questions

1 “Natalya is an excellent housekeeper, not bad-looking, well-educated. What more do I want? But I’m getting a noise in my ears from excitement. And it is impossible for me not to marry. In the first place I’m already 35 - a critical age, so to speak. In the second place, I ought to lead a quiet and regular life”

Question. Who is the speaker of the above line?
Answer. Lomov is the speaker.

Question. What does the speaker mean when he says, “What more do I want?”
Answer. He means that Natalya is a good match for him.

Question. What do the given lines tell us about the speaker?
Answer. The lines clearly tell that Lomov wants to lead a settled life.

Question. “I’m getting a noise in my ears from excitement”. What does this mean?
Answer. This means that Lomov usually gets very excited.

Question. What does a ‘housekeeper’ do?
Answer. Housekeeper’s job is to manage shopping, cooking, cleaning etc. in a house or an institution.

 

2 “Never mind about my people! The Lomovs have all been honourable people, and not one has ever been tried for embezzlement, like your grandfather!”

Question. Who does the speaker say the above lines to?
Answer. Lomov says this Chubukov

Question. What does the line tell about the speaker?
Answer. The line tells us that Lomov considers his family with great pride

Question. How does Lomov describe his people?
Answer. Lomov described his people as honourable.

Question. Find the word from the extract which means ‘steal money that you are responsible for’.
Answer. Embezzlement

Question. Explain ‘Never mind about my people’.
Answer. Lomov said this because his family members are never that type as accused by Chubukov

 

3 “I shall try to be brief. You must know, honoured Natalaya Stepanovna, that I have long, since my childhood, in fact had the privilege of knowing your family. My late aunt and her husband, from whom, as you know, I inherited my land, always had the greatest respect for your father and your late mother. The Lomovs and the Chubukovs have always had the most friendly, and I might almost say the most affectionate, regard for each other. And, as you know, my land is a near neighbour of yours. You will remember that my Oxen Meadows touch your birch woods.

Question. Who is the speaker and who is the listener?
Answer. Lomov is the speaker and the listener is Natalya.

Question. What type of relations they had in the past?
Answer. They had good relations in the past. Both the families had respect and affection for each other.

Question. What is common between the Lomovs and Chubukovs?
Answer. Lomov’s Oxen Meadows touch Chubukov’s birchwoods.

Question. What is the significance Oxen Meadows here?
Answer. It is about this Oxen Meadows that Lomov and Natalya would quarrel bitterly in the story.

Question. Select the word from the extract which means the same as, ‘special right or advantage’.
Answer. Privilege.

 

Multiple Choice Questions:

Question. Why does Lomov call on Chubukovs?
(a) To talk about some business matters
(b) Just a friendly visit
(c) To borrow money from Chubukov
(d) To propose to Natalya
Answer. D

Question. What does Lomov suffer from?
(a) Epilepsy
(b) Palpitations
(c) Back ache
(d) Bronchitis
Answer. B

Question. What happens to Lomov when he is in an excited state?
(a) He starts running
(b) He speaks a lot
(c) His lips start trembling
(d) None of these
Answer. C

Question. How much are the Oxen meadows worth according to Natalya?
(a) 100 roubles
(b) 200 roubles
(c) 300 roubles
(d) 500 roubles
Answer. C

Question. What had Natalya been doing when Lomov called on her?
(a) Shelling peas for drying
(b) Washing clothes
(c) Cleaning the house
(d) Cooking food
Answer. A

Question. How did Natalya react when her father told that Lomov was there to propose her?
(a) She gets angry
(b) She sends her father to get him
(c) She is amazed
(d) Both b and c
Answer. D

Question. Why was Natalya arguing about the land?
(a) She can’t stand unfairness
(b) It was worth a lot
(c) She was jealous of Lomov
(d) All of the above
Answer. A

Question. “And it is impossible for me not to marry.” Why does Lomov say so?
(a) He is 35 already
(b) He suffers from palpitations
(c) He has troubled sleep
(d) All of the above.
Answer. D

Question. What does the expression ‘spit it out’ mean?
(a) Just take it
(b) Just say it
(c) Just leave it
(d) Just listen to.
Answer. B

Question. After hearing Lomov’s proposal, Chubukov is ‘Off his balance’ with ------------ .
(a) Joy
(b) Anger
(c) Hatred
(d) Disgust
Answer. A

Question. To prove their ownership Natalya decided to send ---------- to that land.
(a) Grass Cutters
(b) Brick makers
(c) Lawyer
(d) Government Officials
Answer. A

Question. Which of the following descriptions does not go with Natalya?
(a) Greedy
(b) Quarrelsome
(c) Peace loving
(d) Rigid
Answer. C

Question. Which of the following best describes Lomov?
(a) Generous
(b) Argumentative
(c) Considerate
(d) Honest
Answer. B

Question. Who is squeezed between Lomov and Natalya emotionally?
(a) Natalya’s Aunt
(b) Natalya’s brother
(c) Natalya’s mother
(d) Natalya’s father
Answer. D

Question. Why did Chubukov think it was a curse to be a father of a grown up daughter?
(a) He had to go and call the man they had just shun out.
(b) He had to go and call the man who had just insulted them
(c) He had to go and call the man who had just shouted at them
(d) All the above
Answer. D

Question. In the fight among the characters in the play ‘The Proposal’, who is accused as a drunkard and by whom?
(a) Lomov’s grandfather is accused by Chubukov.
(b) Chubukov’s father is accused by Lomov.
(c) Chubukov’s grandfather is accused by Lomov.
(d) Lomov’s father is accused by Chubukov.
Answer. A

Question. Which of the following is not a good point found by Chubukov in ‘Guess’?
(a) He is purebred
(b) He has a fairly brushy coat
(c) He is firm in his feet
(d) He has well sprung ribs
Answer. B

Question. In the play ‘The Proposal’ whose peasants are said to have baked bricks?
(a) The peasants of Chubukov
(b) The peasants of Chubukov’s grandfather
(c) The peasants of Lomov’s father
(d) The peasants of Lomov’s grandfather
Answer. B

Question. What are the defects in ‘Guess’ as pointed out by Chubukov?
(a) He is old and short in the muzzle
(b) He is old and obese
(c) He is lame and not good at hunting
(d) He barks excessively
Answer. A

Question. According to Chubukov, Lomov’s younger aunt eloped with -----------.
(a) A Singer
(b) A Doctor
(c) A Carpenter
(d) An Architect
Answer. D

 

Question. 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. Why does Chubukov suspect Lomov when he comes to his house?
Answer. When Chubukov sees Lomov, he suspects that he must have come to borrow money from him. Chubukov is not at all sincere in saying “And I’ve always loved you, my angel as if you were my own son.” But in the entire play Chubukov and Lomov are seen fighting over the property or the dogs.

Question. Why does Lomov say that Chubukov is not a good neighbour but a land-grabber ?
Answer. Lomov has his reasons to think that Chubukov is not a good neighbour but a land-grabber. His aunt’s grandmother gave the Meadows for ‘temporary’ and free use to Chubukov’s grandfather's peasants. He doesn't intend to give up his claim over the Meadows. Good neighbours don't behave like this. Only land-grabbers behave in this fashion.

Question. What did Natalya say about Guess?
Answer. Natalya said that Squeezer was superior to Guess - Lomov’s dog. Lomov said that his dog Guess was better than Squeezer. Natalya believed that Guess had become old and ought to be shot. She also claimed that Squeezer was a hundred times better than Guess.

Question. What is the ailment that Lomov is suffering from?
Answer. Lomov is hypochondriac and nervous. He thinks he is cold, he has a roaring in his ears, he complains of a weak heart, insomnia, strange aches and palpitation.He also suffers from numbness of limbs. He gets nervous very often. His heart collapses twice. He considers himself weak and helpless, and needs sympathy.

Question.Describe Chubukov’s reaction when he comes to know about Lomov’s purpose of visit.
Answer. Chubukov is extremely happy and excited to know about Lomov’s proposal. He assures him that Natalya would agree to the proposal. He showers his affection on Lomov and sheds a tear out own happiness and says that it is his heartfelt desire. He does so because he thinks that Lomov would make a good match for his daughter.

Question. 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 to her. She accused Chubukov of driving Lomov out of their home.

Question. Why does Lomov wish to propose to Natalya?
Answer. Lomov wishes to propose to Natalya because he feels she is an excellent housekeeper, not bad looking, and is also well-educated. Moreover, he feels that he is already thirty-five, which is a critical age and he ought to lead a regular and settled life.

Question. 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 about petty things. They even fought over the breed of dogs.

Question. What according to Chubukov is Lomov worth doing?
Answer. The speaker Chubukov doesn't think that his neighbour Lomov is worth anything. He only knows how to argue with people and interfere with their dogs. He can’t be a good hunter at all.

 

Short Answer Questions: 3 mark

Question. Who are Lomov and Chubukov and how are they related to each other ?
Answer. Lomov and Chubukov are landlords. They are neighbours too. According to lomov, he has been coming to Chubukov for help. Chubukov has helped him even earlier. There seems to be a dispute over the ownership of Oxen Meadows. Each one claims that the land belongs to him. Lomov is interested in marrying Chubukov’s daughter Natalya and considers her a suitable match for him.

Question. Justify the title of the play, ’The Proposal’?
Answer. The title of the play “The Proposal” is apt. The title justifies the main theme- the marriage of Natalya and Lomov. No doubt, both Lomov and Natalya want to be life partners. However, unnecessary quarrels over Oxen Meadows and their dogs Squeezer and Guess temporarily spoil their game. The message is very clear. The main issue must not be clouded and lost sight of by indulging in unnecessary and avoidable quarrels.
 

Question. When Natalya comes to meet Lomov she quotes her father's words - "and papa said, "’Go; there's a merchant come for his goods.
What do you think Chubukov meant?
Answer. By this, Chubukov meant that Lomov had come with a proposal to get married to his daughter;
Lomov was a 'merchant' who wanted to ask for his goods' which was Natalya.
 

Question. How does Natalya react when she comes to know that Lomov had come to propose her?
Answer. Mien Natalya knew that Lomov had come to propose her, she changed her stance, cried and asked her father to call him back. Natalya got elated and excited to hear about Lomov’s proposal of marriage. She was a lovesick cat who desperately wanted someone to propose to her for marriage.
 

Question. Why does Chubukov suspect Lomov when he comes to his house?
Answer. When Lomov comes to Chubukov’s house, he suspects that Lomov may be going somewhere because he has come wearing a formal dress but when he explains to him that he has come to seek his help, 'Chubukov suspects that he has come to borrow money from him.
 

Question. How does Chubukov react when Lomov asked for the hand of his daughter in marriage?
Answer. Chubukov got extremely excited when Lomov asked for the bond of his daughter in marriage. He felt relaxed os the burden of getting her daughter married was finally going to get off his shouldersi

Question. Do you think Chubukov is a good father?
Justify your opinion based on your reading of the tert.
Answer. No, I don’t think that Chubukov is a good father because he considered his daughter Natalya as a burden rather than a responsibility. He was desperate to get Natalya married to anyone. Even when he saw that bath Lomov and Natalya were arguing terribly, he was ready to get them married. Also, when Lomov proposed to Natalya, Chubukov gave consent on Natalya's behalf
 

Question. Lomovas and Chubukov's families never got a Long well but still Lomov went to Chubukov with a proposal of marriage for his daughter Natalya. Comment
Answer. Lomov was an unmarried man in his midthirties.
He couldn't get a bride of his choice but Looking at his advancing age and several ailments that he had, he decided to compromise by proposing to Natalya for the marriage. Natalya was Chubukov's daughter and Lomov’s immediate neighbour. Both the families never got along well Even after that, Lomov thought Natalya to be fairly good-Looking, well-educated and a great housekeeper. So, Lomov visited Chubukov’s home with a proposal to marry his daughter.
 

Question. The argument about the dogs reflected that both Lomov and Natalya Loved their respective dogs very much. Do you agree?
Why/ why not?
Answer. No, the argument about the dogs didn't reflect their love for the respective dogs. Instead, it only reflected that both of them ju^z wanted to prove the superiority of their dags over the other person's dog.
 

Question. What idea do you form about Russian weddings from statement that Chubukov made: “Go; there's a merchant come for his goods'?
Answer. This statement shows that during the time of Chekov, Russians used to see matrimonies as business that could enhoce their economic and societaL status. Marriages then weren't based an bond of low or respect but materiaL Thus, Chubukov called Lomov a 'merchant' who came for his 'goods' NataLya.
 

Question. In the end, Chubukov forcefully gave Natalyas hand in Lomov's hand and asked them to kiss each other as they were ready to get married. Imagine yourself as the playwright af this play and depending on their characterstics, write an imaginary conversation between Natalyaa Chubukov and Lomov if Lomov had said no for the marriage in the end.
Ans. Chubukov: Oh my handsome son! It’s time you give your hand in my daughter’s hand. Let the bells of your wedding ring, my child.
Lomov: I won’t deny that my decision, a few minutes ago, was to propose to your daughter Natalya. But now I think I would like to change that I don't think it will work!
Natalya: (crying) Noooo_But what went wrong? Papa and I respect you and your family a lot Lomov.
Chubukov: (angrily) What do you mean it won't work? You son of a beggar, my daughter is of such o high class She doesn't even deserve you.
Natalya: And I was already going to reject you anyway, you poor child. How can you think of marrying the daughter of the owners of Oxen Meadows"?
Lomov: (loudly) Oh Miss Nart:aLya_don’t you forget that the "Oxen Meadows” is ours.

Question. What do you learn about Natalya from the play, The Proposal?
Answer. Natalya is the only daughter of the landowner Chubukov. She was very possessive about her land and was very determined not to part with it. She was a short-tempered lady who used to quarrel with everyone very often. She always pinpointed the amount of help she had offered to her neighbours. Though well educated, she did not use her education wisely and thoughtfully.

Question. Describe the first fight between Lomov and Natalya.
Answer. Although Lomov had come to Chubukov’s house to propose his daughter Natalya, he started fighting with her over a small piece of land. This land adjoined her land and his Oxen Meadows touched her Birch woods. Natalya told Lomov that Oxen Meadows belonged to her, but Lomov claimed that the Oxen Meadows are his. Lomov tried to convince Natalya by telling her that his aunt’s grandmother gave the meadows for the temporary and free use to Chubukov’s grandfather’s peasants. They did not demand money for it for a long time, so the Chubukov’s misunderstood that the meadows belonged to them. While Chubukov insisted that yelling could not prove anything because everyone knows that meadows belonged to Chubukov’s since last three hundred years. Both threatened each other.

Question. “The way Chubukov, Natalya and Lomov fought over pretty issues is against the behaviour and mannerisms of good neighbours.” Comment. What would you have done to resolve this issue if you were in place of Chubukov?
Answer. Lomov and Chubukovs were neighbours. Lomov came to Chubukov’s house to propose Natalya. But instead of proposing, they started fighting over petty issues like Oxen meadows and quality of dogs. This is not the quality of good neighbours. Neighbours should live like friends. There should be a positive relationship between the two neighbours. There should be understanding and patience among neighbours, The fight between Lomov and Chubukovs could have been avoided, if handled carefully. The issue of meadows could be solved calmly peacefully by a good conversation. There must have been some documents showing the ownership of the meadows or both parties could be convinced by making them understand that if they got married, the meadows will belong to both of them. Similarly, the issues of dog could be solved by discussing the positive features of the dogs instead of counting the negative points of each other’s dogs.

 

VALUE BASED QUESTIONS :

Question. Bring out the humorous elements in the one-act play, ‘The Proposal’.
Answer.One can see several humorous elements in Anton Chekov’s play ‘The Proposal’ where the characters act in a silly manner over petty issues yet the play ends on a happy note. Lomov comes to the house of Chubukov with the intention of proposing Natalya, his daughter. But he cannot talk in a straight-forward manner. He beats about the bush. She starts quarrelling with her over a piece of land. When he comes back, he quarrels about the superiority of his dog. She immediately looks to her father to induce them to war, until Natalya discovers that he had come with the purpose of proposing her. Chubukov is also a humorous character. He knows that Lomov has come to ask for his daughter’s marriage, even then he quarrels with him. We laugh at the words used by them and their behaviour. The sudden marriage of Lomov and Natalya creates laughter. Chubukov puts his daughter’s hand in Lomov’s in a foolish manner. Lomov is a comic character. His complaints about his poor health provoke laughter. Thus, the play gives us a lot of laughter.

Question. Write a brief character sketch of Lomov.
Answer. Lomov was a middle aged man of thirty five. He suffered from palpitations and sleeplessness. So, he was desperate to settle down in life, and lead a quiet and normal life. Despite his ailments, Lomov was a rich and prosperous farmer. This makes Chubukov secretly wish him to marry his daughter Natalya. As Lomov was desperate to have a life partner he decided to propose and marry Natalya. Lomov was however hesitant to ask for her hand from Chubukov. This made him beat about the bush, argue with Natalya and leave without proposing. Thus we can find that Lomov’s conditions overpower the other traits he has. He is an eligible, assertive, rich bachelor, who will be liked by any girl. However, we also know that he is nervous, lacks confidence and is prone to talk in a long-winded manner.

Question. Give a brief character sketch of Natalya Stepanova.
Answer.Natalya was the only daughter of Stephan Stepanovich Chubukov.. She was a good housekeeper, not bad to look at and educated, that was why Lomov wanted to marry her. She could be a good wife to him. Natalya wishes that somebody should love her and propose to her. Her father calls her ‘a love-sick cat’.She secretly loved Lomov. She became hysterical when she came to know that Lomov had come to propose to her. She asked her father to call him back. To please Lomov, she asked him to forgive her and agreed to his ownership of the Oxen Meadows. She was greedy and short-sighted. She got the whole field of hay cut. She was also very inquisitive and wanted to know why Lomov was dressed up formally. She was touchy and short-tempered and fell into contradiction and argument on two occasions – Once over the ownership of Oxen Meadows and second time over the superiority of her dog Squeezer. She is as rigid as Lomov. She is not ready to give up even after getting ready to marry him.

Question. Based on your understanding of the play 'The Proposal' how do you think good relationship 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 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 the play the way all the characters lost their temper shows that anger can easily affect a relationship. None of them were ready to forgive and forget. All of them were too self-centric. They never tried to be courteous in their speech nor tried to understand the feelings of others. In today's world too people try to find only the negatives in others and often forget to see and accept the positive qualities. Hence it is becoming extremely difficult to maintain a good and cordial relationship with others.

 

 

 

 

1. It’s cold… I’m trembling all over, just as if I’d got an examination before me. The great thing is, I must have my mind made up. If I give myself time to think, to hesitate, to talk a lot, to look for an ideal, or for real love, then I’ll never get married.

 

(a) Who is saying, ―I‘m trembling all over as if I had got an examination before me‖?

b) What is the great thing that the speaker is talking about?

(c) What state of Lomov‘s mind does the passage reflect?

(d) Why did Lomov not want to wait for real love?

Ans. (a) Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov.

(b) The speaker is talking about real love and marriage.

(c) His mind reflects that way he would never get married because it is difficult to get an idea or real love.

(d) This was because he was anxious to get married.

 

2. He is old, but I wouldn’t take five Squeezers for him. Why, how can you? Guess is a dog, as for Squeezer; well it’s too funny to argue. Anybody you like has a dog as good as Squeezer……You may find them under every bush almost. Twenty-five roubles would be a handsome price to pay for him.

 

 

Ans. (a) He refers to ‗Guess‘ the dog.

(b) Squeezer belongs to Chubukovs.

(c) Lomov.

(d) It would be twenty-five roubles.

 

3. She’s willing… I give you my blessing and so on. Only leave me in peace !

 

 

Ans. (a) The speaker gives his blessing to Lomov and Natalya.

(b) Because both are willing to marry each other and Chubukov agrees to it. So he is giving his blessings.

(c) Chubukov.

(d) She is willing for her marriage.

 

4. It true, was once the subject of dispute but now everybody knows that they are mine. There’s nothing to argue about. You see my aunt’s grandmother gave the free use of these Meadows in perpetuity to the peasants of your father’s grandfather, in return for which they were to make bricks for her.

 

 

Ans. (a) Lomov

(b) Natalya

(c) The ownership of Oxen Meadows.

(d) The peasants worked for forty years for them making bricks.

 

 

Answer. Lomov told Natalya and Chubukov that his aunt‘s grandmother gave the Meadows for the temporary and free use of Chubukov‘s grandfather‘s peasants. So he is the rightful owner of the open meadows.

Question. Lomov was a quarrelsome person. Justify.

Answer. Lomov was a quarrelsome person. He came to Chubukov‘s house to propose Natalya. But he started arguing about the meadows and insisted that those meadows belonged to him. Later he kept on proving that his dog Squeezer is better than ‗Guess‘ – the dog of Chubukov‘s. He did not care for his health or his proposal but kept on fighting for one or the other reason. It proves that he was a quarrelsome person.

 

Question. What did Natalya say about Guess?

Answer. Natalya said that Squeezer was superior to Guess —Lomov‘s dog. Lomov said that his dog Guess was better than Squeezer. Natalya believed that Guess had become old and ought to be shot. She also claimed that Squeezer was a hundred times better than Guess.

 

Question. Describe Lomov’s first meeting with Natalya.

Answer.Lomov goes to his neighbour Chubukov‘s house to ask for the hand of his daughter Natalya. He is in a fix how to make the marriage proposal. He talks in a roundabout manner. He makes a mention of his meadows which touch their birchwoods. At this, a quarrel ensues between them over the ownership rights the meadows.

 

Question. What happens when Lomov is thought to be almost dead?

Answer.Lomov has come with a proposal of marrying Natalya. When he falls down unconscious in an armchair, both Natalya and Chubukov are unnerved and worried. She starts crying thinking him dead. Chubukov calls for a doctor. He threatens to shoot himself or cut his throat. When Lomov comes to senses, Chubukov grabs the opportunity and blesses them for a happy married life.

 

Question. Anton Chekov has used humour and exaggeration in the play to comment on courtship in his times. Illustrate with examples from the lesson, “The Proposal”. Also mention the values, you think, any healthy relationship requires.

Answer. Lomov and Natalaya meet for a serious purpose, i.e., to talk about marriage that decides the progress of one’s life as a member of the conventionally established society. But the purpose of their meeting gets lost on two consecutive occasions because Lomov’s faith in the values of his society disrupts his approach to the topic of marriage. He learns that the girl and her father like him, but, instead of proposing to marry her and discussing how their marriage should be organised, he goes on to talk about properties, relations, family histories, and pets, draws them into an unnecessary argument, and antagonises both of them.

Finally, Chubukov marries Lomov and Natasha by force before another problem crops up. Thus the play ends in a comic note, just because the couple gets together with their father to celebrate their marriage while the dispute over the pets is still continuing. For any healthy relationship there should be mutual understanding and respect. Quarreling over trivial issues like dog cannot guarantee longevity of a relationship.

 

Question. Is Natalaya really a lovesick cat as called by her father? If it is so, why does she quarrel with Lomov?

Answer. Natalaya was a young unmarried girl of twenty five years. She lived in the neighbourhood of Lomov, a young unmarried man. She was an excellent housekeeper and was not bad looking. She wanted love in her life. Her father called her a lovesick cat. Lomov said that she was well educated, but she did not seem to be so.

She was very quarrelsome and abusive by nature. She began a bitter quarrel with Lomov over a piece of land that had little value. She said that those meadows were not much worth to her but she could not stand unfairness. But when she learnt that Lomov had come to propose to her, she forgot all fairness and unfairness.

She began to wail over the lost chance. She forced her father to call him back. But in no time, she started quarrelling with him again. It was on their dogs. Both claimed their respective dogs to be of a superior breed.

 

Question. Justify the title ‘The Proposal’.

Answer.The title of the play ‘The Proposal’ is very appropriate. A young man, Lomov wants to propose Natalya for marriage. He goes to her house for the same. Being confused, he doesn’t propose at once.He beats about the bush. He speaks irrelevantly. As Natalya doesn’t know that he has come to propose her, she thinks that he has come to claim oxen meadows as his own, she starts quarrelling. This results in one after another quarrel. After her father Chubukov reconciles; Natalya comes to know that he has come to propose her. Then at once she forgets the issue of fighting. Then the proposal is made and accepted. Finally, they get engaged.

Question. Neighbours must have a cordial relationship which Lomov and Natalya do not have. Describe the first fight between them.

Answer. Lomov and Natalya were next-door neighbours. One day, Lomov came to Natalya to propose her.Natalya, who didn’t know that he had come to propose her, thought that he had come to claim Oxen Meadows as his own. When Chubukov, Natalya’s father, interfered with them and also pleaded that the Oxen Meadows were the properties of Chubukov, the fight aggravated. For a few moments, Lomov’s real purpose was overshadowed by that issue and he continued the bias that meadows belonged to his aunt’s grandmother who gave them to the peasants of Chubukov’s grandfather on the condition that they would prepare bricks for her. So, how it could be considered as Natalya’s property? Though both Lomov and Chubukov, Natalya’s father, were very rich landlords, they quarreled over a tiny piece of land, called, ‘Oxen Meadows’. But that was not the end of quarrel. Natalya didn’t agree with Lomov’s explanation. Instead, she offered to make a present of it to Lomov who, in turn, rejected the suggestion. And the quarrel continued endlessly. Such first meeting of Lomov and Natalya had in itself seeds of things (quarrels over petty issues) to be expected in their married life.