The Proposal Extra Questions and Answers Class 10 English

First Flight
The Proposal Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer Type

Question 1.
What is the play “The Proposal”?
Answer:
The play “The Proposal’ is about Lomov’s visit to his neighbor’s Chubukov house.
Lomov is wearing a formal dress. He has come with the intention of making a marriage
proposal to Chubukov’s daughter, Natalaya.

Question 2.
What does Lomov think when he is alone?
Answer:
Lomov thinks that Natalaya is an excellent housekeeper, not bad looking, well educated.
It is impossible for him not to marry. In the first place, he is already thirty-five. He ought
to lead a quiet and regular life. He suffers from palpitations. He is excitable and always
getting upset. There are some other problems too which trouble him.

Question 3.
Why does Lomov wish to propose to Natalaya?
Answer:
Lomov wishes to propose to Natalaya 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 4.
Justify, in brief, the title of the play “The Proposal”.
Answer:
The title of the play “The Proposal” is apt. Lomov comes to Chubukov’s house to
propose to his daughter. He talks to Chubukov about his intention and the old man is
very happy to have Lomov as the husband of this ageing daughter. When Natalaya
comes and there begins an argument. It reminds us of a married couple.

Question 5.
Who is Lomov? Why does he visit Chubukov?
Answer:
Lomov was a young wealthy landowner and an unmarried man of thirty-five. He was
anxious to get married as he had already reached a critical age. So he decided to
propose Natalaya, a girl of twenty-five years old. He visited Chubukov to ask for his
daughter Natalaya’s hand in marriage.
Question 6.
How does Natalaya react when she comes to know that Lomov had come to propose
for her hand?
Answer:
When she knows that Lomov came to propose to her, she starts weeping. She calls her
father to bring him back at once. He has gone out after the quarrel. She also accuses
Chubukov that he drove Lomov out. She becomes hysterical.

Question 7.
What makes Chubukov misunderstand the purpose of Lomov’s visit?
Answer:
Chubukov misunderstands that Lomov has come to borrow money. He does not reveal
his purpose of coming directly instead he says that he has come to trouble him with a
request for help.

The Proposal Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Neighbours must have a cordial relationship that Lomov and Natalaya do not have.
Describe/ Justify/ Explain the first fight between them.
Answer:
Neighbours must have a cordial relationship but in the case of Lomov and Natalaya, it
was different. Lomov and Natalaya were rich people. They were wealthy people and had
a competition between them on the subject of wealth. Both were neighbours. Lomov, at
a critical age of thirty-five, thought that he had to marry and found Natalaya not bad
looking, an excellent housekeeper. So he decided to propose to her.

Lomov, in a well-dressed manner, wearing coat and gloves, one evening went to
Chubukov’s house. Chubukov was Natalaya’s father. When he came there and said that
he wanted a help, the help which could only be done by him. Chubukov, for first time
suspected that he had come for asking money. But after a long struggling and shivering,
Lomov uncovers his need. He had come to propose to Natalaya. Chubukov was
mistaken and he was filled with extreme joy and called Natalaya. Lomov asked then,
whether Natalaya would agree for it or not. Then, Chubukov said that, she would be
ready to accept it because she was a lovesick cat.

When Natalaya arrived, she actually did not know that Lomov had come to propose to
her. They started talking and when they were talking about land, Lomov stated “Our
Oxen Meadows”. Then Natalaya said, “Our Oxen Meadows”, it is not your Oxen
Meadows’, it is their. Lomov did not agree. But Natalaya initiated a heated argument. By
arguing with each other, they did not solve any problem. They got trapped in a long
argument just because of their lack of tolerance towards each other and their desire to
keep their pride. Neighbours must have a cordial relationship which Lomov and
Natalaya do not have.

Question 2.
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.
OR
The principle ‘forgive and forget’ helps a lot is maintaining cordial relations with our
neighbours. Do you think Chubukov conveys this message in the play “The Proposal’.
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 3.
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 4.
What type of person is Natalaya? Give two examples to show her quarrelsome nature.
Answer:
Natalaya is also rather hypocritical, and she is obstinate and argumentative. When
Natalaya first
enters the room, she greets Lomov with warmth and is very gracious as she permits him
to smoke and compliments him upon his appearance. However, when Lomov speaks of
“my meadows,” she abruptly interrupts and contradicts him. An argument then ensures
over who own what land.

Even when Lomov offers them to her as a gift, she continues to insist upon her
ownership of them in the first place, reigniting the argument until Lomov leaves. When
her father finally reveals to Natalaya that Lomov has actually come to propose
marriage; she is infuriated, blaming her father for causing the neighbour to depart.

Question 5.
The principle ‘Forgive and Forget’ helps a lot in maintaining cordial relations with our
neighbours. Do you think the author proves this message in the play “The Proposal”?
Answer:
Life is a journey which is often compared to the roller coaster ride. It means life is full of
ifs and buts and ups and down. But the path of life can be smoothened by virtues of our
actions, attitudes and behaviour. And the principle of forgive and forget comes from
these virtues. Letting go of anger and bitterness can work wonders both for our attitude
and for our health.

Anger may spoil anything like poison. One cannot afford to remain wallowing in the
marsh of anger’or sad feelings. Life has to move on and if one wants to get ahead one
has to imbibe “forgive and forget”. Only sensitive and great people can follow this
gospel.

In the present play “The Proposal” we find that Lomov visits the house of Chubukov with
a proposal to marry his daughter Natalaya. Chubukov’s joy knows no bound to hear this.
But in course of their common talk, they pick up nonsensical issue and stand fighting
and abusing each other.

Even Natalaya also jumps into the ring of verbal quarrel. When things become normal
after the sudden departure of Lomov, Natalaya comes to know about the proposal, She
asks her father to call Lomov back. When he comes back this time he and Natalaya
starts abusing each other and have heated oral fight over dogs. But in the end, they
compromise, they forget their issue and forgive each other. The proposal changes into
marriage. Hence we see that the principle helped them unite.
Question 6.
What does Chubukov at first suspect that Lomov had 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.
Answer:
Chubukov has often helped Lomov with money whenever he requested for it. So he
thinks and suspects that Lomov will ask for money. But this time the case is different.
He requests a proposal to get Natalaya’s hand for marriage. Since long, Chubukov
wanted match for his daughter. Finding fact in his favour, Chubukov changes and uses
sweet words and becomes ready for the match.

Question 7.
Chubukov says of Natalaya, “… 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.
Answer:
In reality Natalaya has got the fittest age for the marriage. She wants a life partner. On
the other hand, Chubukov also desires that his daughter should be married. Lomov is
the most suitable match in every respect. In order to say something outwardly,
Chubukov happens to pour out these words. It is an acceptable fact that Natalaya loves
Lomov from the core of her heart.

The Proposal Extra Questions and Answers Reference to Context

Read the following passages and answer the questions that follow:

Question 1.
Chubukov: We just get along somehow, my angel, thanks to your prayers, and so on. Sit
down, please do… Now you know, you shouldn’t forget all about your neighbours, my
darling. Me dear fellow, why are you so formal in your get-up! Evening dress, gloves, and
so on. Can you be going anywhere, my treasure?
(i) Who is the speaker?
(ii) Who do ‘my darling’ and ‘my Angel’ refer to?
(iii) Do you think Chubukov means all the nice words he speaks?
(iv) What is antonym of‘formal’?

Question 2.
Lomov: Well, you see, it’s like this. (Takes his arm) I’ve come to you, honoured Stepan
Stepanovitch, to trouble you with a request. Not once or twice have I already had the
privilege of applying to you for help, and you have always, so to speak… I must ask your
pardon, I am getting excited. I shall drink some water, honoured Stepan Stepanovitch.
(i) Who is the speaker?
(ii) What was he hoping for?
(iii) Why is he so excited?
(iv) Pick out the word from the passage that means the same as ‘opportunity’.

Question 3.
Chubukov: [Interrupting] Me 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’s 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’m off my balance with joy,
absolutely off my balance! Oh, with all my soul… I’ll go and call Natasha, and all that.
(i) Who is the speaker?
(ii) What was he hoping for?
(iii) Why is he excited?
(iv) What does the speaker wish for the listener?
Question 4.
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!
Natalaya 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.
(i) Who is the speaker?
(ii) Who is feeling cold her?
(iii) Why did he feel cold?
(iv) Pick out the word from passage that means the same as ‘to decide’.

Question 5.
Natalya: Then smoke. Here are the matches. The weather is splendid now, but
yesterday it was so wet that the workmen didn’t do anything all day. How much hay
have you stacked? Just think, I felt greedy and had a whole field cut, and now I’m not at
all pleased about it because I’m afraid my hay may rot. I ought to have waited a bit. 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?
(i) Who is speaking these words and to whom?
(ii) Why is she not pleased?
(iii) What does she offer him?
(iv) Pick out the word from the passage that means the same as ‘managed in a pile’.

Question 6.
Lomov: 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 birchwoods.
(i) Who is the speaker?
(ii) Who is being addressed?
(iii) What type of relations they had in the past?
(iv) What is common between the Lomovs and Chubukovs?
Question 7.
Lomov: …Oxep Meadows, 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. The peasants
belonging to your father’s grandfather had the free use of the Meadows for forty years,
and had got into the habit of regarding them as their own, when it happened that.
(i) Who is the speaker of these lines?
(ii) What are they arguing about?
(iii) Who gave the Meadows and to whom?
(iv) What were they supposed to do?

Question 8.
Natalya: 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. Say what you will, I can’t stand unfairness.(Page 148)
(i) Who is the speaker? Who is being addressed?
(ii) How much are the Meadows worth.
(iii) What does she find ‘unfair’?
(iv) Pick out the word from the passage that means opposite to ‘gradually’..

Question 9.
Natalya: Ours! You can go on proving it for two days on end, you can go and put on
fifteen caress jackets, but I tell you they’re ours, ours, ours! I don’t want anything of
yours and I don’t want to give anything of mine. So there!
(i) Who is speaking these words and to whom?
(ii) What are they arguing over?
(iii) Pick out the word from the passage that means the same as “confirm”.
(iv) What does the speaker offer to prove two days on end?
Question 10.
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 gypsies. 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.
(i) Who is the speaker?
(ii) Who is being addressed?
(iii) What does the speaker offer?
(iv) What does the speaker remind the listener?.