Textbook Questions Thinking about the Play : 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. लोमोव के आने पर पहले चुबुकोव किस बात का शक करता है ? क्या वह ईमानदार है जब वह उसे बाद में कहता है, “मेरे देवदूत मैंने हमेशा तुम्हें प्यार किया है जैसे तुम मेरे अपने बेटे हो।” Answer: Chubukov at first suspected that Lomov had come to borrow some money from him. I don’t think that Chubukov was sincere in his statement that he always loved him as his own son. Nobody treats his own son so rudely rather harshly on petty matters like the ownership of worthless oxen meadows or superiority of the dogs. He even abused and cursed him and called him as malicious, double faced intriguer, the villain, the scarecrow, blind hen, turnip ghost, etc. He least bothered about his palpitating, weak heart and kept on quarrelling till he became unconscious. If he really loved him as his own son he would have treated him kindly and compassionately, All the above facts prove that Chubukov was not sincere in his statement. 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. चुबुकोव नतालया के बारे में कहता है: “…. जैसे वह राजी नहीं होगी। उसे प्यार हो गया है, इगाद, वह प्यार से बीमार बिल्ली की तरह है….” क्या आप सहमत होंगे? अपने उत्तर के लिए कारण ढूँढो। Answer: I definitely agree that Natalya loves Lomov. She feels happy to see and receives him warmly. She even wants to be excused for her improper dress. When she comes to know that Lomov had come to propose her, she becomes hysterics and tells her father to fetch him back. Again when Lomov becomes unconscious, she screams, “Papa! Papa! Look he’s dead! What have you done to me?” She again becomes hysterics and repeates. “A doctor! A doctor! He’s dead.” Her hysteric condition reflects her love for Lomov. Though she quarrels with him as a compulsion of her habit, yet she loves him in her heart. Question 3. i. Find all the words and expressions in the play that the characters use to speak about each other. (For example, Lomov in the end calls Chubukov an intriguer ; but earlier Chubukov has himself called Lomov “a malicious double faced intriguer.” Again Lomov begins by describing Natalya as “an excellent housekeeper, not bad looking, well educated.”) नाटक में उन सब शब्दों और कथनों को ढूँढो जो पात्रों ने एक दूसरे के लिए कहे हैं। [उदाहरण के लिए लोमोव चुबुकोव को अन्त में एक षड्यन्त्रकारी कहता है परन्तु पहले चुबुकोव ने स्वयं लोमोव को ‘ईर्ष्यालु, दोहरे चेहरे वाला षड्यन्त्रकारी कहा था। और लोमोव नतालया का वर्णन एक बहुत अच्छी गृहिणी ‘जो देखने में बुरी नहीं और पढ़ी लिखी भी है’ से आरम्भ करता है।”] Answer: Following are some of the words and expressions that the characters in the play speak for each other :
ii. Then think of five adjectives or adjectival expressions of your own to describe each character in the play. फिर अपने पाँच विशेषण व विशेषण-कथन सोचो जो नाटक के पात्रों का वर्णन करें। Answer: Adjectives or Adjectival expressions that describe the characters in the play are as follow :
iii. Can you now imagine what these characters will quarrel about next? क्या आप कल्पना कर सकते हैं कि अब यह पात्र किस बात पर झगड़ेंगे। Answer: Perhaps on the quality of champagne. This play has been translated into 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? Additional questions extract based questions Answer the questions that follow the extracts in 30-40 words: 1. My dear fellow … I’m so glad, and so on … Yes, indeed, and all that sort of thing. [Embraces and kisses Lomov] I’ve been hoping for it for a long time. It has been my continual desire, (sheds a tear) and I’ve always loved you, my angel, as if you were my own son. May God give you both – His help and His love and so on, and so much hope . what am I behaving in this idiotic way for? I am off my balance with joy, absolutely off my balance ! Oh, with all my soul … I’ll go and call Natalya and all that. Question i. Whose dialogues are these and why is he so excited? Answer: These dialogues are of Chubukov. His daughter is Natalya. Lomov is Chubukov’s neighbor. When Lomov comes to his house, Chubukov thinks he has come to borrow money. But, to his surprise, Lomov says that he has come to propose Natalya. That makes Chubukov excited. Question ii. There is some hypocrisy in Chubukov’s attitude towards Lomov. Elaborate Answer: Yes, there is hypocrisy in the way Chubukov tries to please Lomov, his neighbor. Initially he thinks Lomov has come to borrow money. But when he comes to know that he has come to propose Natalya, Chubukov’s tone changes to cordiality. 2. 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. Question i. Why does Lomov getting anxious? Answer: Lomov has come to Natalya’s house to propose her. He had been in love with her for quite lone, but did not know if she reciprocated. So, he is 9nxious all over if Natalya will accept his proposal or not. Question ii. What do you know about Lomov? Answer: Lomov is a large, hearty but suspicious landowner. He is thirty five years old, a critical age, when he ought to have got married. He suffers from palpitations of heart, and has some nervous problem. Being so diseased he is anxious about whether Natalya would accept him or not. 3. “It’s true, were 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.” Question i. What is being explained here and by whom? Answer: Lomov tells Natalya about the ownership of the Oxee Mendows. It all starts when Lomov tries to explain Natalya how not only they but also their lands are neighbours. When Natalya questions the ownership of Oxen Meadows, Lomov justifies how he has a claim on the land. Question ii. What actually is the dispute with the meadows referred to by Lomov? Answer: Lomov’s aunt had given the free use of the Oxen Meadows to the peasants of Natalya’s ancestors in return for the bricks they made for her. After using the meadows for forty years, those peasants had started claiming ownership to the land. Natalya now disputes that her ancestors’ land extended till the Oxen Meadows. 4.”No, you’re simply joking, or making fun of me. What a surprise! We’ve had the land for nearly three hundred years and then we’re suddenly told that it isn’t ours ! Ivan Vassilevitch, I can hardly believe my own ears. These Meadows aren’t worth much to me. They only come to five dessiatins, and are worth perhaps 300 roubles, but I can’t stand unfairness”. Question i. Who utters these words and why? Answer: Natalya utters these words to Lomov, who has come to propose her. When he tries to point out how their lands too are neighbours just like them, Natalya starts questioning his ownership. When Lomov challenges it by saying that he has documents to prove his ownership of the Oxen Meadows, Natalya tells him that he is joking and making fun of her. . Question ii. How does a proposal turn into a dispute between Lomov and Natalya? Answer: When Lomov tries to propose Natalya, he points out how their lands too are neighbours like them both. That starts a dispute when Natalya questions Lomov about the ownership of Oxen Meadows. She tries to strongly establish the fact that her ancestors’ land extended upto and including Oxen Meadows. 5. What a surprise ! We’ve had the land for nearly three hundred years, and then we’re suddenly told that it isn’t ours ! Ivan Vassilevitch, I can hardly believe my own ears. These Meadows aren’t worth much to me. They only come to five dessiatins and are worth perhaps 300 roubles, but I can’t stand unfairness. Say what you will, I can’t stand unfairness. Question i. Which land is being discussed about, by whom and under what circumstance? Answer: Natalya and Lomov are discussing about Oxen Meadows. They are neighbours. Lomov comes to Natalya to propose to her. To please her he points out how both their lands are neighbours. When Lomov utters ‘my Oxen Meadows’ Natalya starts questioning his ownership to the land. Question ii. Describe Natalya’s character as revealed in these lines uttered by her. Answer: Natalya is Lomov’s neighbor. Born in a landowner’s family, she is snobbish, very much like her father Chubukov. However, as is the tendency of wealthy families to tie knots with other wealthy families, she is ready to marry Lomov, who is also a landowner. She is not romantic at all, like Lomov. She is more bent up on proving how wealthy she is! 6. “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 pleasant…” Question i. Who says these words to whom and for what purpose? Answer: Lomov says these to Natalaya. Lomov comes to propose Natalaya. To please her, he starts telling her about how both their lands too are neighbours just like themselves. That starts a dispute, when Natalya at once questions his ownership to the land. Question ii. What is being disputed in these lines and by whom? Answer: Lomov says these to Natalya. When he casually mentions about his land Oxen Meadows, Natalya at once starts questioning his ownership to the land. In response, Lomov starts explaining how the land came to be given to Natalya’s ancestors for a temporary use. 7. I can make you a present of them myself, because they are mine ! Your behaviour, Ivan Vassilevitch, is strange, to say the least ! Up to this we have always thought of you as a good neighbour, a friend; last year we lent you our threshing machine, although on that account we had to put off our own threshing till November, but you behave to us as if we were gypsies. Giving me my own land, indeed! No, really, that is not at all neighbourly; In my opinion, it is even impudent, if you want to know. Question i. Who is claiming ownership of what? How? Answer: Natalya is claiming the ownership of Oxen Meadows, the land in dispute. Lomov tries to establish his ownership and even claims to have got documents to prove it. But Natalya denies all that. She adheres to her argument that the land belongs to her ancestors. Question ii. What nature of Natalya do we understand from these words of hers? Answer: Natalya is the neighbor of Lomov who has come to propose her. But forgetting the purpose, both of them land up quarrelling, as Natalya questions his ownership of Oxen Meadows. She proves herself to be highly materialistic and keeps on claiming the ownership of the land. She values wealth more than the marriage proposal. 8. But what’s this ? Why, you’re in evening dress! Well, I never! Are you going to a ball or what? Though I must say you look better… Tell me, why are you got up like that ? Question i. Who says these to whom? What nature of the speaker is evident from the utterance? Answer: Chubukov asks these questions to Lomov. He is highly hypocritical and snobbish. Initially he thinks Lomov has come to borrow money from him. So he is anxious about Lomov, though outwardly he appreciates his look. Question ii. For what purpose did Lomov visit Chubukov? How are they both related? Answer: Lomov visits Chubukov to propose daughter Natalya. They are neighbours and wealthy landowners. As is the tendency of wealthy people to tie knots with other wealthy families so also are Lomov and Chubukov. 9. 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 birchwoods. Question i. Who are the Lomovs and Chubukovs? Why are they always friendly? Answer: The Lomovs and Chubukovs are neighbours. They both are wealthy landowners. As is the tendency of wealthy people tie knots with only other wealthy families in the neighbourhood, so also are these two families. It is because of this reason they are always friendly and affectionate. Question ii. How does the mention of ‘Oxen Meadows’ spark a dispute between Lomov and Natalya? Answer: Lomov comes to Chubukov to propose his daughter Natalya. When he tries to point out Natalya how both their lands are also neighbours just as they themselves are. As soon as he mentions ‘my Oxen Meadows’, Natalya jumps at him, questioning his ownership to the land. Their dispute worsens with both calling names and swearing at each other. 10. There’s some demon of contradiction in you today, Ivan Vassilevitch. First, you pretend that the Meadows are yours; now, that Guess is better than Squeezer. I don’t like people who don’t say what they mean. Question i. Who are Guess and Squeezer? What is the dispute about them? Answer: Guess and Squeezer are the dogs of Lomov and Natalya respectively. When the dispute about Oxen Meadows settle between Lomov and Natalya, Lomov tells her about how he got his Guess for a cheap price. At this Natalya tells him how cheaper her dog Squeezer is and how better it is than Guess. Thus the dispute starts. Question ii. Who is Ivan Vassilevitch? What did he Answer: Ivan Vassilevitch is none other than Lomov. When the topic of dispute was the ownership of Oxen Meadows, he tried to establish his claim. Again when the topic of pet dogs started, he tried to prove how his dog was better than Natalya’s. So. Natalya says that he keeps contradicting. 11. LOMOV : Excuse my, my heart… Let’s take the facts. You will remember that on the Marusinsky hunt my Guess ran neck-and-neck with the Count’s dog, while your Squeezer was left a whole verse behind. Question i. Who are Lomov and Chubukov? What are they arguing about in this dialogue? Answer: Lomov and Chubukov are neighbours. They both are arguing about whose dog is better. Lomov has a pet dog Guess, while Chubukov has Squeezer. Question ii. Under what circumstance do Lomov and Chubukov argue about their respective pet dogs? Answer: When Lomov casually mentions about how he got his first rate dog Guess for a cheap price, Natalya interferes to say that her pet dog Squeezer was a better one. As the argument continues, Lomov tries to establish that his dog is better than Squeezer, while Chubukov justifies his stance Short answer type questions Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words. Question 1. What is the ailment that Lomov is suffering from? Answer: Lomov is 35 years old. It is high time that he should settle for a quiet and regular life. He is suffering due to a weak heart and sleep-sickness. In need of a companion who may look after him, he wants to get married. Question 2. How much money was spent by Natalya and Lomov for their pets? Answer: Lomov had spent 125 roubles for his pet dog, Guess and Natalya bought her pet dog – Squeezer for 85 roubles. Question 3. Natalya was not Lomov’s real love. But still he wanted to marry her. Give two reasons for his decision. Answer: Though Lomov was not in love with Natalya, he wanted to marry her because he was suffering due to a weak heart and sleep-sickness. He wanted a companion who could look after him. Question 4. What request did Lomov make to Chubukov? Answer: Lomov went to Chubukov in a formal dress in order to propose marriage to his daughter, Natalya. Hesitatingly he told Chubukov that he needed his help and had come to trouble him with a request. He told him that he wanted to marry Natalya. Question 5. Why could Lomov not propose to Natalya though he had come with that intention only ? Answer: Everytime Lomov started to propose Natalya one or the other argument cropped up between the two and both started quarrelling. Lomov who had a weak heart got excited, his palpitations started and something inside got upset. He forgot everything and first time he left and second time he became unconscious. Question 6. Why does Chubukov suspect Lomov when he comes to his house? Or What does Chubukov think about the purpose of Lomov’s visit ? Answer: Chubukov takes time to reveal the purpose of his visit. Hesitatingly he tells Chubukov that he needed his help and had come to trouble him with a request. Chubukov thinks that he had come to borrow money. He decides not to lend him money and speaks extra politely. Question 7. Chubukov calls Natalya a ‘lovesick cat’. Why? Answer: Natalya got the fittest age to marry. She was in need of a life partner. Lomov was a suitable match for Natalya and was acceptable to Chubukov, too. Moreover, Natalya loved quietly and secretly Lomov so her father called her a lovesick cat. Question 8. Lomov went to Chubukov’s house and was seeking permission so that he could trouble him with a request. What is the trouble that he is talking about ? Answer: Lomov went to Chubukov’s house to ask him to marry his daughter, Natalya. He asked Chubukov for Natalya’s hand. This is the trouble he was talking about. Question 9. How did Chubukov react when Lomov told him that he had come to propose to his daughter, Natalya ? Answer: He was overjoyed and shed tears of happiness. He kissed and embraced Lomov and told him that he had been hoping it for a long time. It was his continual desire and that he loved him as his own son. Question 10. How and why did Lomov come to meet the Chubukov family ? Answer: Lomov came in a formal evening dress – wearing a jacket and white gloves. He had come to meet the Chubukov family to put his proposal for Natalya. He wanted to marry her. Question 11. How can you say that Natalya was not convinced that Oxen Meadows were owned by Lomov ? Answer: Natalya was not convinced as she said that they owned Oxen Meadows for nearly 300 years. It was surprising and ridiculous if someone else claimed it to be his own. Chubukov also joined the quarrel.. Question 12. Lomov calls himself a ‘land grabber’. Justify the statement in about 20-25 words. Answer: Lomov and Natalya argue over the ownership of Oxen Meadows. Natalya calls him a land grabber’ as he claims his ownership over it. Lomov says that he is not a ‘land grabber’ as he has never done so and would never let anyone do so. Question 13. 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 Proposal’. 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 14. Describe, in brief, the character of Natalya as sketched in the chapter ‘The Answer: Natalya was 25 years old, daughter of Chubukov. She was a good housekeeper, not bad looking and well educated. She secretely loved Lomov. She was greedy and short-sighted. She was shorttempered as well. Question 15. What justification did Lomov give to Natalya and Chubukov to prove that he is the rightful owner of Meadows? 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 oxen meadows. Question 16. What do you think would have been Chubukov’s reaction on hearing the reason for which Lomov had come to his house? Answer: When Chubukov came to know that the reason of Lomov’s coming to their house is to marry Natalya, he was overwhelmed with joy. He embraced and kissed Lomov and told him that he was hoping for it for a long time. He told Lomov that he had always loved him as if he was his own son. Long answer type questions Answer the following questions in 100-150 words : Question 1. Chubukov called Lomov a pettifogger and did not spare even other members of his family. Which noble ideals should guide him to honour family as a unit ? Answer: Chubukov was a landowner who had a daughter named Natalya. He was a very quarrelsome man. He first welcomed Lomov in a polite manner as he was happy. When Lomov said that he had come to propose to his daughter, Chubukov said he had always loved him and treated him like his own son. But later when he got into arguments with Lomov, he called him ‘pettifogger’, a malicious doublefaced intriguer, ‘the villain’, trump-ghost’, ‘boy, ‘pup’etc. He insulted Lomov’s family calling his father, a guzzling gambler; grandfather, a drunkard; and said that his younger aunt ran away with an architect. He should not have said such words. Being the eldest and a father, he should have been polite, courteous and respectful towards his neighbour and the man who had come to propose to his daughter. All these ideals would guide him to honour family as a unit. Question 2. “The Lomous and Chubukovs have always had the most friendly, and I might almost say the most affectionate, regard for each other.” Neighbours must have a cordial relationship which Lomov and Natalya do not have. Describe the fight between them. Or Among neighbours we should have cordial relations and one should not lose temper. How do Natalya and Lomov lose their temper on trivial issues? Answer: Neighbours must have a cordial relationship which Lomov and Natalya do not have. Although he had gone there to propose to 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 the oxen meadows belonged to her but Lomov claimed that the oxen meadows are his. Lonov tried to convince Natalya by telling her that his aunt’s grandmother gave the meadows for the temporary and free use to Chubukov’s grand father’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 knew that meadows belonged to Chubukov’s since last three hundred years, both threatened each other. Question 3. The proposal was forgotten amidst argumentation. Which right approach should have been followed by both the parties ? Answer: Lomov came to Chubukovs to propose to Natalya. Both were neighbours and were at the right age to marry. But instead of forwarding the proposal, both of them started fighting over trifles. Firstly they fought over a small piece of land called oxen meadows. Both of them claimed that the land belonged to them and not to the other one. Somehow the argument came to an end and they started fighting over dogs and claimed their dog better than the other one’s. The proposal was forgotten amidst all these arguments. Situation might have been different if both the parties had followed the right approach. Oxen meadows would belong to both of them if they got married. Similarly, dogs are very petty thing to argue about while a marriage is going to take place. There should not have any ego in them. They should be polite and patient to each other. They should not be rigid and stubborn. Their priority should be their marriage and not meadows or dogs. Only then the proposal could be carried on. Question 4. Chubukou: Your grandfather was a drunkard, and your younger aunt, Nastasya Mihailovna, ran away with an architect, and so on… Lomov : And your mother was hump-backed. Natalya : Ant there haven’t been many backbiters to equal your aunt! “The way Chubukov, Natalya and Lomov fought over petty issues is against the behaviour and mannerisms of good neighbours.” Comment. What would you have. done to resolve the issue? (if you were in the place of Chubukov) Answer: Lomov and Chubukovs were neighbours. Lomov came to Chubukovs to propose to 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 positive relationship between two neighbours. There should be understanding and patience among neighbours. The fight between Lomov and Chubukovs could have been avoided if it had been handled carefully The issue of meadows could be resolved calmly and quietly by a good conversation. There must have been some documents showing the ownership of the meadows. Both the parties could be convinced by making them understand that if they got married, the meadows would belong to both of them. Similarly, the issues of dog could be solved. Instead of counting the negative points of each other’s dogs, they could have discussed the positive features of the dogs. Thus the issues could be resolved. Question 5. Why does Lomov think of marrying Natalya Stepanovna ? Answer: Lomov was 35 years old. It was high time for him to settle into a quiet and regular life. Moreover, he was suffering due to a weak heart and sleeplessness. He wanted company and someone to look after him, so he wanted to get married. In order to put his proposal to Natalya, he visited Chubukov. However, Lomov was not in love with Natalya. Besides his ill health, he understood quite well that she was an excellent housekeeper, not bad looking, and well-educated. Thus, he thought of marrying her because of all these practical reasons. Question 6. Write a brief character sketch of Lomov. Answer: Lomov is a man who is of marriageable age. He also suffers from a weak heart and sleeplessness. So, he is desperate to settle down in life and lead a quiet and regular life. Despite his ailments, Lomov was a rich and prosperous farmer. This makes Chubukov secretly wish him to marry his daughter Natalya. As for Lomov, he did not love her, though he was desperate to have a life partner, and so to marry Natalya. Lomov was however hesitant to ask for her hand from Chubukov. That made him beat around 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 7. Describe the incidents of humour in the play, The Proposal’? Answer: The Proposal’ is certainly a humorous play. The very entry of Lomov in a formal dress and the way Chubukov greets calling him ‘darling’, ‘my treasure’ or ‘my beauty make one laugh. Marriage proposal, supposed to be romantic turns out to be humorous as the way Natalya and Lomov indulge in arguments over petty issues like ownership of Oxen Meadows and superiority of dogs. This makes the play humorous. The critical terms that the characters use for each other like scarecrow, turnip ghost, blind hen, stuffed sausage, etc., force one to laugh. The hysterical fit of Natalya when she comes to know about the proposal and the wailing of father and daughter when they think Lomov is dead create immense humour. Finally, the way Natalya puts her hand in Lomov’s under continuous arguments indicating acceptance of the proposal is really humorous. Thus, we see that the whole play is replete with humour, making it a humorous play. Question 8. Give a brief character sketch of Natalya. Answer: Natalya was 25 years old daughter of 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. 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. Introduction : This Russian play is a humorous drama of simple folk who are warm hearted, affectionate and friendly but are too touchy and sensitive. The neighbours argue and contradict each other over petty matters. They are stubborn and rigid but humane, too. Lomov a young man comes to propose his neighbour Chubukov’s daughter. The father feels very happy, calls his daughter but she falls into argument with him before he proposes. Father joins the daughter. When he leaves, father tells the daughter that he had come to propose her. The daughter who perhaps loved Lomov, becomes hysterics and asks her father to call him back. He comes, but she again falls into argument, with him. This time over the superiority of their dogs. Weak hearted Lomov becomes unconscious. When he regains consciousness, the father gives his daughter’s hand to him. The argument still continues. यह रूसी नाटक सीधे-सादे लोगों का विनोदप्रिय ड्रामा है जो गर्म दिल, प्यार करने वाले, दोस्ताना लोग हैं, परन्तु संवेदनशील और तुनकमिजाज। छोटी-छोटी बातों पर पड़ोसी एक दूसरे का विरोध करते हैं और बहस करते हैं। वह अड़ियल और जिद्दी हैं परन्तु मानवता लिए लोमोव अपने पड़ोसी, चुबुकोव की बेटी के साथ विवाह का प्रस्ताव लेकर आता है। पिता बहुत प्रसन्न होता है और बेटी को बुलाता है परन्तु वह प्रस्ताव से पहले ही लोमोव के साथ बहस में उलझ जाती है। पिता भी बेटी के साथ मिल जाता है। जब लोमोव चला जाता है तो पिता बेटी को बताता है कि वह तुम्हारे साथ शादी का प्रस्ताव लेकर आया था। बेटी को जो शायद लोमोव से प्यार करती है हिस्टिीक्स का दौरा पड़ जाता है। वह पिता को उसे वापस लिवाने को कहती है। वह आता है परन्तु फिर दोनों बहस में उलझ जाते हैं। इस बार विषय था किसका कुत्ता ज्यादा बढ़िया है। कमजोर दिल लोमोव बेहोश हो जाता है। होश में आते ही पिता अपनी बेटी का हाथ उसके हाथ में थमा देता है। बहस अभी भी जारी है। Complete text with hindi translation : Text (Page 144): Characters : Stepan stepanovitch (स्टीपन स्टीपैनोविच) : a landowner (एक जमींदार), Chubukov (चुबुकोव) Natalya Stepanovna (नतालया स्टीपैनोवना) : his daughte, twenty five years old उसकी पुत्री, 25 वर्षीय Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov (इवान वासीलैविच लोमोव) : a neighbour of Chubukov, a large and hearty, but very suspicious, landowner, चुबुकोव का पड़ोसी, विशालकाय और दिलदार परन्तु बहुत संदिग्ध, जमींदार) A drawing-room in Chubukou’s house. (चुबुकोव के घर का अतिथि कक्ष) Text (Page 144) :
Vocabulary :
अनुवाद : लोमोव, एक पोशाक-जैकेट और सफेद दस्ताने पहने हुए प्रवेश करता है। चुबुकोव उससे मिलने के लिए उठता है।
Text (Pages 144-145) :
Vocabulary :
अनुवाद :
Text (Pages 145-146) : LOMOV : [greatly moved]: Honoured Stepan Stepanovitch, do you think I may count on her consent ? LOMOV : 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. Brr… It’s cold! Natalya Stepanovna 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. [Drinks] And it’s 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. I suffer from palpitations, I’m excitable and always getting awfully upset; at this very moment my lips are trembling, and there’s twitch in my right eyebrow. But the very worst of all is the way I sleep. I no sooner get into bed and begin to go off, when suddenly something in my left side gives a pull, and I can feel it in my shoulder and head… I jump up like a lunatic, walk about a bit and lie down again, but as soon as I begin to get off to sleep there’s another pull! And this may happen twenty times… Vocabulary :
अनुवाद : लोमोव (कृतार्थ होकर) – आदरणीय स्टीपन स्टीपैनोविच क्या मैं आपके राजीनामें पर यकीन कर सकता हूँ? चुबुकोव : बिल्कुल, क्यों, मेरे प्रिय, और… जैसे की वो राजी नहीं होगी! वह प्रेम करती है, बल्कि वह तो एक प्रेम में डूबी हुई बिल्ली की भाँति है। ज्यादा देर नहीं लगेगी! लोमोव : ठंड है… मैं पूरी तरह से काँप रहा हूँ जैसे कि मुझे कोई परीक्षा देनी हो। सबसे बड़ी बात है कि मैंने अपना मन बना लिया। अगर मैं अपने आप को सोचने का, झिझकने का, बहुत सारी बातें करने का, एक उद्देश्य को ढूँढ़ने का या एक सच्चे प्रेम को ढूंढने का समय दूँगा, तब मैं कभी भी शादी नहीं कर पाऊँगा। उफ… बहुत ठंड है! नाटालया स्टीपैनोवना एक बहुत अच्छी गृहणी है, दिखने में बुरी नहीं है, अच्छी पढ़ी-लिखी है। और इससे ज्यादा मैं क्या चाहता हूँ ? परन्तु उत्साह में मुझे कोई शोर सुनाई पड़ रहा है। (पीता है) और शादी ना करना मेरे लिए नामुमकिन है। पहली बात, मैं पहले से ही 35 वर्ष का हो चुका हूँ – एक नाजुक उम्र, ऐसा कहने की। दूसरी तरफ, मैं शान्त और नियमित जीवन जीना चाहता हूँ। मैं दिल की बीमारी से ग्रस्त हूँ, मैं उत्साहित हो जाता हूँ, और हमेशा बुरी तरह निराश हो जाता हूँ; इस क्षण पर मेरे होंठ काँप रहे हैं और मेरी सीधी आँख/भौं फड़क रही है। पर सबसे बुरी बात है मेरे सोने के तरीके में। मैं जैसे ही बिस्तर पर सोता हूँ तभी अचानक मेरी दायीं तरफ से झटका लगता है और मुझे वह अपने कंधे और सिर में महसूस होता है … मैं एक पागल की भाँति कूदता हूँ, थोड़ा सा चलता हूँ और फिर लेट जाता हूँ, परन्तु जैसे ही मैं सोने वाला होता हूँ एक और झटका! और ये लगभग बीस बार हो जाता है…! Text (Page 146) :
Vocabulary :
अनुवाद : नतालया स्टीपैनोवना अंदर आती है।
Text (Pages 146-147) : LOMOV : I shall try to be brief. You must know, honoured Natalya 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 birchwoods.
Vocabulary :
अनुवाद : लोमोव : मैं संक्षिप्त में बताना चाहूँगा। आपको पता होना चाहिए, आदरणीय ना० स्टी०, कि मुझे, अपने बचपन से ही, लंबे समय से आपके परिवार को जानने का सौभाग्य प्राप्त हुआ है। मेरी स्वर्गवासी मौसी और उनके पति से, जैसे कि तुम जानती हो, मुझे यह जमीन विरासत में प्राप्त हुई, जिनके मन में हमेशा से ही मेरे पिताजी और स्वर्गवासी माताजी के प्रति बहुत ही स-मान था। लोमोव और चुबुकोव हमेशा से ही गहरी दोस्ती में बंधे रहे है, और मैं तो कहूँगा कि वे एक दूसरे के प्रति बहुत प्रेम और सम्मान रखते हैं। और, जैसे की आप जानती हो, मेरी ज़मीन आपकी सबसे नजदीकी पड़ोसी है। आपको याद होगा मेरा बैलों वाला घासस्थल आपके भूर्जकाष्ठों को छूता है।
Text (Pages 147-148):
Vocabulary :
अनुवाद : नतालया – जरा सोचो, इवान वासिलिविच! कितने लंबे समय से तुम्हारे हैं? लोमोव : कितने लंबे समय से ? जितने समय तक मैं याद कर सकता हूँ। नतालया : सचमुच, मुझे इस पर यकीन नहीं हो रहा है। लोमोव : परन्तु तुम यह सभी कागजों से पता कर सकती हो, आदरणीय नतालया। बैलों के घासस्थल, यह सच है कि वे एक समय पर विवाद का मामला था, परन्तु अब हर कोई जानता है कि वे मेरे हैं। इसमें कोई बहस की बात नहीं है। आप देखो, मेरी मौसी की दादी माँ इन घास के मैदानों की निरन्तर देखभाल के लिए तुम्हारे पिताजी के दादाजी के किसानों को दे दी थी और उसके बदले में वे दादी के लिए ईंटों का निर्माण करते थे। तुम्हारे पिताजी के दादाजी के किसानों ने उन मैदानों को लगभग चालीस वर्षों तक मुफ्त इस्तेमाल किया और उन्हें, अपना समझने की आदत पड़ गई, जब ऐसा हुआ तब… नतालया : नहीं, ऐसा बिलकुल नहीं है! दोनों, दादाजी और पर-दादाजी मानते थे कि उनकी ज़मीन जो दग्ध कच्छ तक फैली हुई थी-जिसका मतलब बैलों का घास स्थल हमारे थे। मैं नहीं समझती कि इसमें कोई बहस करने की बात है। यह तो बिल्कुल बेवकूफी है! Text (Page 148):
Vocabulary :
अनुवाद : नतालया: नहीं, तुम मेरे से मज़ाक कर रहे हो या मेरा मजाक उड़ा रहे हो। कितने आश्चर्य की बात है! हमारे पास यह जमीन लगभग तीन सौ सालों से है और अब हमें अचानक बताया जा रहा है कि वे हमारी नहीं है। इवान वैसिलोविच, मुझे अपने कानों पर यकीन नहीं हो पा रहा है। ये मैदान मेरे लिए ज्यादा कीमत के नहीं है। वे केवल पाँच डैसियेटिन के मिले थे और अब शायद 300 रुबल के हैं, परन्तु मुझे अन्याय बर्दाश्त नहीं है। तुम कुछ भी कहो, मैं अन्याय बर्दाश्त नहीं कर सकती। लोमोव : मेरी बात सुनो, मैं प्रार्थना करता हूँ। आपके पिताजी के दादाजी के किसान, जैसे की मुझे आपको बताने का सौभाग्य प्राप्त हो चुका है, मेरी दादी के लिए ईंटे बनाया करते थे। अब मेरी मौसी की दादी उन्हें अच्छा लगने के लिए ……! नतालया : मैं इन सब मौसियों और दादाओं और दादियों के सिर पर बाते नहीं बनाना चाहती। वे मैदान हमारे हैं, बस। लोमोव : मेरे हैं। नतालया: हमारे है ! तुम इस बात को दो दिनों तक साबित करते रहो, तुम जा सकते हो और पन्द्रह जैकेट वाली पोशाक पहन सकते हो, परन्तु मैंने कह दिया, वे हमारे हैं, हमारे हैं, हमारे हैं। मैं आपका कुछ नहीं चाहती और अपना कुछ भी देना नहीं चाहती। बस! Text (Pages 148-149) : LOMOV : Natalya Stepanovna, I don’t want the Meadows, but I am acting on principle. If you like, I’ll make you a present of them. NATALYA : I can make you a present of them myself, because they’re mine! Your behaviour, Ivan Vassilevitch, is strange, to say the least! Up to this we have always thought of you as a good neighbour, a friend; last year we lent you our threshing machine, although on that account we had to put off our own threshing till November, but you behave to us as if we were gipsils. Giving me my own land, indeed! No, really, that’s not at all neighbourly! In my opinion, it’s even impudent, if you want to know. LOMOV : Then you make out that I’m a land grabber? Madam, never in my life have I grabbed else’s land and I shan’t anybody else’s landand I shan’t allow anybody to accuse me of having done so. NATALYA : It’s not true, they’re ours! LOMOV : Mine! NATALYA : It’s not true! I’ll prove it! I’ll send my mowers out to the Meadows this very day! LOMOV : What? NATALYA : My mowers will be there this very day! Vocabulary :
अनुवाद : लोमोव : ना. स्टी०, मैं इन घास मैदानों को नहीं चाहता परन्तु मैं मूल्यों की बात कर रहा हूँ। यदि आप चाहती हैं तो मैं उन्हें आपको तोहफे में दे सकता हूँ। नतालया : मैं खुद तुम्हें उनको तोहफे के तौर पर दे सकती हूँ क्योंकि वे मेरे है। तुम्हारा व्यवहार, ईवान वासिलिविच अगर कम बात करूं तो बहुत अजीब है! अब तक हम तुम्हें एक पड़ोसी की एक दोस्त की भाँति बहुत अच्छा समझते थे; पिछले वर्ष हमने तुम्हें अपनी धान पीटने की मशीन उधार दी थी, हालांकि उसकी वजह से हमें अपनी छंटाई का काम नवम्बर तक रोकना पड़ा था, परन्तु आप हमसे ऐसे व्यवहार कर रहे हैं जैसे हम जिपसी हों। हमें हमारी ही जमीन दे रहे हो। नहीं, सचमुच, यह बिल्कुल भी पड़ोसीपन नहीं है। मेरे विचार से यह बिल्कुल गुस्ताखी है, यदि तुम जानना चाहते हो। लोमोव : तो इसका मतलब है कि आप यह कहना चाहती हैं कि मैं जमीन-हथियाने वाला हूँ ? मैडम, मैंने कभी अपनी जिदगी में किसी दूसरे की जमीन नहीं हथियाई और मैं किसी को यह आज्ञा नहीं देता कि कोई मुझ पर ऐसा करने का लांछन लगाए। (जल्दी से सुराही की ओर जाता है और पानी पीता है) बैलों के घासस्थल मेरे हैं! नतालया : यह सच नहीं है; वे हमारे हैं! लोमोव : मेरे है! नतालया : यह सच नहीं है। मैं यह सिद्ध कर दूंगी। मैं अपने घास काटने वालों को घास काटने के लिए आज ही भेज दूंगी। लोमोव : क्या ? नतालया – मेरा लावक आज ही वहाँ पर होगा! Text (Page 149):
Vocabulary :
अनुवाद :
Text (Pages 149-150) :
Vocabulary :
अनुवाद : चुबुकोव (लिमोव से) प्रिय, वे घासस्थल हमारे हैं।
Text (Pages 150-151) :
Vocabulary :
अनुवाद : लोमोव-नहीं, आप समझते हैं कि मैं बेवकूफ हूँ और मेरे ऊपर सवार होना चाहते है! आप मेरी जमीन को अपना कह रहे हैं, और फिर आप मुझसे चाहते हैं कि मैं आराम से और नम्रता से बात करूं! अच्छे पड़ोसी ऐसे व्यवहार नहीं करते, स्टीपन स्टीपैनोविच! आप पड़ोसी नहीं है, आप एक हथियाने वाले हैं!
Text (Page 151) :
Vocabulary :
अनुवाद :
Text (Pages 151-152) :
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अनुवाद :
Text (Page 152) :
Vocabulary:
अनुवाद :
Text (Page 152) : [Lomov : appears at the door] Now you talk to him yourself.
Vocabulary :
अनुवाद : [लोमोव दरवाजे पर प्रकट होता है। अब तुम इससे स्वयं बात करो (बाहर निकल जाता है। लोमोव थका-हारा, अंदर प्रवेश करता है।)
Text (Page 153) :
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अनुवाद :
Text (Page 153) :
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Text (Pages 153-154): LOMOV : 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 Squeezer… You may find them under every bush almost. Twentyfive roubles would be a handsome price to pay for him. NATALYA: There’s some demon of contradiction in you today, Ivan Vassilevitch. First you pretend that the Meadows are yours; now, that Guess is better than Squeezer. I don’t like people who don’t say what they mean, because you know perfectly well that Squeezer is a hundred times better than your silly Guess. Why do you want to say he isn’t ? LOMOV : I see, Natalya Stepanovna, that you consider me either blind or a fool. You must realise that Squeezer is overshot! NATALYA : It’s not true. LOMOV : He is! NATALYA : It’s not true! LOMOV : Why shout madam ? Vocabulary :
अनुवाद : लोमोव – वह बूढ़ा है, परन्तु मैं उसके बदले में पांच स्कवीजर भी नहीं लूँ। क्यों, तुम कैसे कह सकते हो ? गस एक कुत्ता है जहाँ तक स्कवीजर की बात है तो उस पर बहस करना बहुत ही बेतुका है। किसी के पास स्क्वीजर के जैसा कुत्ता… तुम लगभग हरेक झाड़ी के नीचे पा सकती हो। 25 रुबल, एक अच्छी कीमत हैं ऐसे कुत्ते के लिए। नतालया : आज तुम्हारे अंदर कोई विरोध करने वाला राक्षस है। ईवान वासिलिविच। पहले तुमने यह दिखावा किया कि घास के मैदान तुम्हारे है, अब यह कि गस स्क्वीजर से ज्यादा अच्छा है। मझे ऐसे लोग बिल्कुल पसंद नहीं हैं जो वो नहीं कहते जो उनका मतलब होता है, क्योंकि तुम यह अच्छी तरह जानते हो कि स्क्वीजर तुम्हारे बेवकूफ गस से सौ गुना बेहतर है। तुम क्यों कहना चाहते हो कि वह नहीं है ? लोमोव : अच्छा, ना॰ स्टी०, मुझे या तो अन्धा या बेवकूफ समझते हो। आप को यह मानना चाहिए कि स्क्वीज़र नीचे का जबड़ा ऊपर के जबड़े से बड़ा है। Text (Page 154):
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It means he’s dead, and all that. I’m the most unhappy of men! Why don’t I put a bullet into my brain? Why haven’t I cut my throat yet? What am I waiting for? Give me a knife! Give me a pistol! (Lomou moves) He seems to be coming round. Drink some water! That’s right. Vocabulary :
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मैं सबसे दु:खी आदमी हूँ। मैं अपने सिर में एक गोली क्यों नहीं मार लेता ? मैंने अब तक अपना गला क्यों नहीं काटा ? मैं किसका इंतजार कर रहा हूँ ? मुझे एक चाकू दो! मुझे एक पिस्तौल दो! (लोमोव हिलता है) यह हिलता हुआ प्रतीत हो रहा है। थोड़ा पानी पी लो। अब ठीक है। Text (Page 156):
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Class 10 English Question Answer |