Class 10 English Chapter 1 Question Answers - First Flight

Very Short Question Answers

Q.1.  Who is the author of the play "The Proposal"?
 The author of the play "The Proposal" is Anton Chekhov.
Q.2. What is the genre of the play "The Proposal"?
"The Proposal" is categorized as a one-act play.
Q.3.  What is the setting of the play "The Proposal"?
The setting of "The Proposal" takes place in a rural area located in Russia.
Q.4.  Who are the three main characters in the play "The Proposal"?
The play "The Proposal" features three primary characters: Lomov, Natalya Stepanovna, and Chubukov.

Q.5. Who is Lomov?
Ans. Lomov is a youthful landowner.

Q.6. Why did Lomov come to Chubukov’s house?
Ans. Lomov arrived at Chubukov's residence with the intention of proposing marriage to Natalya.

Q.7. How old were Lomov and Natalya?
Ans. Lomov's age was thirty-five, and Natalya's age was twenty-five.

Q.8. Why is Lomov so eager to marry?
Ans. Lomov is so eager to marry because he is already over thirty-five.
Q.9. What disease does Lomov suffer from?
Ans. Lomov suffers from palpitations.

Q.10. What does Lomov quarrel over with Natalya for the first time?
Ans. Lomov quarrels over the ownership of Oxen Meadows.

Q.11. What documents does Lomov offer to show Natalya?
Ans. He wants to show her the documents related to the Oxen Meadows.
Q.12. Who has been using Oxen Meadows?
Ans. Peasants have been using Oxen Meadows.
Q.13. What do they quarrel over for the second time?
Ans. For the second time, they quarrel over the quality of their dogs.
Q.14. Who was Guess?
Ans. Guess was Lomov’s pet dog.
Q.15. Who appears to be dead to Chubukov?
Ans. To Chubukov, Lomov appears to be dead.
Q.16. Did Lomov and Natalya get married ultimately?
Ans. Yes, they got married ultimately.
Q.17. How does Natalya react when she learns that Lomov has come to propose to her?
Ans. She weeps and yells and asks her father to fetch him back.

Short Question Answers

Q.18. What do you think would have been Chubukov’s reaction on hearing the reason why Lomov had come to his house?
Ans. When Chubukov came to know that the reason for Lomov’s coming to their house was to marry Natalya, he was overwhelmed with joy. He embraced and kissed Lomov and told him that he had been hoping for it for a long time. He told Lomov that he had always loved him as if he was his son.

Q.19. What justification did Lomov give to Natalya and Chubukov to prove that he is the rightful owner of Meadows?
Ans. 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.

Q.20. Lomov was a quarrelsome person. Justify.
Ans. 

• Lomov was a quarrelsome person. He came to Chubukov’s house to propose to 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 Chubukov. 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.

Q.21. There is a certain way in which the characters speak in the play “The Proposal”. What does it tell us about the Russian men?
Ans. 

• As the story belongs to the Russian character, so through the dialogue of the characters, we come to know a lot about Russian men. According to the story, the Russians are very particular about their dress and have particular dresses for special occasions. 
• Secondly, they are hypocrites. They show off to be sweet, but the very next moment, they start fighting. They pretend to be good neighbors, but within their hearts, they have so many grudges. They love to have dogs as pets and consider their pet better than the other ones. All of them are stubborn, short-tempered, quarrelsome and rigid.

Q.22. Describe, in brief, the character of Natalya as sketched in the chapter of the proposal.
Ans. Natalya was 25 years old, the daughter of Chubukov. She was a good housekeeper, not bad-looking and well-educated. She secretly loved Lomov. She was greedy and short-sighted. She was short-tempered as well.

Q.23. Lomov went to Chubukov’s house and sought permission so that he could trouble him with a request. What is the trouble that he is talking about
Ans. 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.

Q.24. Natalya was not Lomov’s real love. But still, he wanted to marry her. Give two reasons for his decision.
Ans. 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.

Q.25. Lomov calls himself a ‘land grabber’. Justify the statement in about 20-25 words.
Ans. 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.

Q.26. How and why did Lomov come to meet the Chubukov family?
Ans. 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.

Q.27. How can you say that Natalya was not convinced that Oxen Meadows was owned by Lomov?
Ans. 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.

Q.28. What did Natalya say about Guess?
Ans. 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 dog than the Guess.

Q.29. What does Chubukov at first suspect that Lomov has come for?
Or
Why was Stephan Chubukov not happy to welcome Lomov to his house?
Ans. Lomov arrives in a formal evening dress. On seeing him, Chubukov thinks that he has come to borrow money. He decides not to lend it to him but talks to him quite politely.

Q.30. What is the ailment that Lomov is suffering from?
Ans. 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.

Q.31.  What request did Lomov make to Chubukov?
Ans. Lomov went to Chubukov in a formal dress 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.

Q.32. Describe Lomov’s first meeting with Natalya.
Ans. Lomov goes to his neighbour Chubukov’s house to ask for the hand of his daughter Natalya. He is stuck on how to make a marriage proposal. He talks in a roundabout manner. He mentions his meadows, which touch their birchwoods. At this, a quarrel ensues between them over the ownership rights of the meadows.

Q.33. What kind of a man is Lomov?
Ans. Lomov is a man of thirty-five years of age. He is a very funny and comical character. He comes to propose to Natalya. But he is so nervous and excitable that he continues quarreling with the girl over trifles and fails to propose. He has no confidence and no self-control. He suffers from fits of epilepsy.

Q.34. Who is the heroine of the play?
Ans. Natalya is the heroine of the play 'The Proposal’. She is twenty-five years old. She is still unmarried. It causes great worry to her father. Natalya wishes that somebody would love her and propose to her. Her father calls her a love-sick cat’.

Q.35. Why does the proposal remain unmade during Lomov’s first visit?
Ans. The proposal remains unmade during Lomov’s fast visit because Lomov is very nervous and excitable. He beat about the bush. When Natalya comes, Lomov begins to quarrel with her about a piece of land. He gets very excited and leaves the room, cursing and threatening the old man and his daughter, Natalya. He forgets all about the proposal.

Q.36. Why is Natalya so anxious to marry Lomov?
Ans. Natalya is an ugly middle-aged woman. She knows that only a fool like Lomov can marry her. So, the moment she comes to know that Lomov has come to propose for her hand, she cries and shouts and forces her father to bring Lomov back.

Q.37. How does Chubukov join the quarrel between Natalya and Lomov?
Ans. Chubukov comes in and finds Natalya and Lomov quarreling. When he finds that they are quarreling about the ownership of the Oxen Meadows, he also becomes angry. Instead of calming them down, he also starts quarreling. He claims to be the owner of the Meadows. He insults not only Lomov but also his ancestors.

Q.38. What is the cause of the second quarrel between Natalya and Lomov?
Ans. Lomov starts praising the qualities of the dog Guess. But Natalya says that her dog, which she purchased for 85 roubles, is much better than Lomov’s dog, Guess. Both of them praise the qualities of their dogs. Now they start quarreling on this topic. They again started shouting at each other.

Q.39. What is Chubukov's guess about the purpose of Lomov’s visit?
Ans. Lomov calms himself down and begins to tell him the purpose of his visit. He tells him that he came to him many times in the past for his help, but he did not help him. Chubukov thinks that perhaps he has come to ask for a loan. He makes up his mind not to help him in any way.

Q.40. Why is Lomov anxious to marry Natalya?
Ans. Lomov wants to settle the question of his marriage at once. He thinks that now he should not delay. He thinks about Natalya. She is a skilled housekeeper. She is educated and is not bad to look at. At this age, he should not expect a better girl than her. He is suffering from some serious diseases. Because of these reasons, he is anxious to marry Natalya.

Q.41. Why was Lomov brought back by Chubukov?
Ans. Chubukov wondered how Lomov dared to propose marriage. Natalya was startled to hear it. She forced her father to bring Lomov back. Chubukov rushed out most unwillingly to request Lomov to come back. Lomov agreed to come back.

Q.42. How does Lomov behave when he is excited?
Ans. When Lomov is excited, his heart starts palpitating. His right eyebrow starts twitching. His foot goes to sleep. In the play, he becomes so excited that he falls unconscious.

Q.43. How does Natalya lay claim to a piece of land called the ‘Oxen Meadows’?
Ans. Natalya says that the land belonged to her family for the last three hundred years. Now, suddenly, Lomov lays his claim to that land. She says that the land is not worth much in terms of money. But as a principle, she won’t let Lomov claim it.

Q.44. Who are Lomov and Chubukov, and how are they related to each other?
Ans. 

• 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 her.

Q.45. Why does Lomov come to Chubukov? How does Chubukov react to his visit?
Ans. 

• Lomov, a landlord, pays a visit to Chubukov. The purpose of his visit is quite clear. He has come up with a marriage proposal. He is interested in marrying Natalya, who he considers a good housekeeper and not bad-looking. 
• Chubukov misunderstands the purpose of Lomov’s visit. He thinks that he has come to borrow money from him. However, when he comes to know that he has come up with a marriage proposal, he is overjoyed and excited.

Q.46. Why is Chubukov surprised at Lomov’s wearing of a formal dress when he comes to meet him?
Ans. 

• Ivan Lomov is well-dressed. He comes to visit Chubukov. Chubukov notices his dress. He is surprised to see Lomov wearing a dress jacket and white gloves. He is in a formal evening dress. It appears as if he was paying a New Year’s Eve visit. 
• Only later on does Chubukov come to know that Lomov has come in that formal dress only with a marriage proposal.

Q.47. How does Chubukov react when he comes to know that Lomov has come up with a proposal to marry his daughter Natalya?
Ans. 

• Soon, the misunderstanding is cleared. Chubukov comes to know that Lomov has not come to borrow money. Instead, he has come up with a proposal to marry his daughter Natalya. He is extremely happy to hear it. This is exactly what he wants. 
• He embraces and kisses Lomov. He calls him “darling” and “angel”. He tells Lomov that he has been hoping for it for a long time. He is ready to bless them.

Q.48. Why does Lomov think that he should not be alone but marry a suitable woman like Natalya?
Ans. 

• Lomov is a middle-aged man of thirty-five years. He thinks that it is a critical age. He should now think of leading a peaceful and regular married life. Natalya, the daughter of a rich landlord and neighbour Chubukov, can be a suitable life partner for him. 
• Lomov thinks that Natalya is an excellent housekeeper. Moreover, she is educated and not bad-looking. All these qualities qualify Natalya as an ideal life partner for him.

Q.49. How does Lomov speak warmly of Chubukov’s family in the beginning? Why does he change his stand?
Ans. 

• In the beginning, Lomov speaks quite warmly about Chubukov’s family. He reminds Natalya that he has known the Chubukovs since his childhood. His aunt and uncle had great respect for her family. Both families have been the most friendly and close neighbours. 
• Lomov changes his opinion about the Chubukovs when he picks up a quarrel with Natalya and Chubukov over the ownership of Oxen Meadows.

Q.50. Describe Oxen Meadows. How were they a bone of contention between Lornov’s and Natalya’s family?
Ans. 

• Lomov and his rich landlord, Chubukov, are neighbours. A piece of land known as Oxen Meadows becomes a bone of contention between the two families. Both of them claim their ownership over the Meadows. 
• Lomov says that Oxen Meadows was given to Chubukov’s peasants for free use. They were to make bricks for the Lomovs. The Chubokovs contest this claim of Lomov.

Q.51. Why do both the families of Lomovs and Chubukovs claim ownership of Oxen Meadows?
Ans. 

• Oxen Meadows became a bone of contention between the two families. Lomov thinks that the Oxen Meadows that touch the birch forest of Chubukov belong to him. His aunt’s grandmother gave the free use of the Meadows to the peasants of Natalya’s father’s grandfather. 
• In return, they were to make bricks for them. Natalya opposes it by saying that their land extends to Burnt Marsh. It means that Oxen Meadows belongs to them.

Q.52. Why does Natalya think that Lomov’s behaviour is strange and he is simply joking and making fun of her?
Ans. Natalya thinks that Lomov’s behaviour is quite strange. He is only joking and making fun of her. She claims that they have had Oxen Meadows for nearly 300 years. She is suddenly told that it is not theirs. Strangely, Lomov is giving them a present of the Meadows, which is not owned by him. It is unlike a good neighbour and a friend.

Q.53. Why does Lomov say that Chubukov is not a good neighbour but a land-grabber?
Ans. Lomov has his reasons to think that Chubukov is not a good neighbour but a land-grabber. His aunt’s grandmother gave the Meadows ‘temporary’ and free use of
Chubukov’s grandfather’s peasants. He doesn’t intend to give up his claim over the Meadows. Good neighbours don’t behave like that. Only land grabbers behave in this fashion.

Q.54. How does Natalya react when she comes to know that Lomov has come to make a marriage proposal to her?
Ans. Chubukov and Natalya indulge in all sorts of abuses and insults for Lomov. However, Chubukov discloses the real purpose of Lomov’s visit. She comes to know that Lomov has come there with a proposal to marry her. She grows hysterical. She blames her father for not telling him before. She tries to bring him back. She threatens to die if Lomov is not brought back.

Also Check at EduRev: 

• Long Answer Questions: The Proposal
• Summary: The Proposal

Q.55. Besides Oxen Meadows, what is the other important cause of the quarrel between Lomov and Natalya?
Ans. 

• Natalya and Lomov have already quarreled over the ownership of Oxen Meadows. Now crops up a fresh cause of their quarrel. It is over their dogs, Squeezer and Guess. 
• Natalya thinks that their Squeezer is a thoroughbred animal. He is far better than his dog, Guess. Natalya calls Guess an old and worthless dog. The quarrel continues even after they are married.

Q.56. Describe Lomov's physical condition and health.
Ans. 

• Lomov is thirty-five years old. He doesn’t enjoy good health. He is easily excited. He suffers from palpitations. His feet are benumbed. He can’t express himself like a calm and composed man. 
• He can’t bear too much tension and excitement. He throws himself down in an armchair and becomes unconscious soon. Only when water is sprinkled over his face he comes to his senses.

Q.57. What happens when Lomov is thought to be almost dead?
Ans. 

• Lomov has come up with a proposal to marry Natalya. When he falls 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 their senses, Chubukov grabs the opportunity and blesses them for a happy married life.

Q.58. How does Chubukov react when Lomov comes to senses?
Ans. 

• Lomov’s unconsciousness unnerves both Chubukov and his daughter Natalya. He is thought to be dead. Chubukov thinks that a golden opportunity has been lost.
  He thinks of shooting himself or cutting his throat. 
• When Lomov comes to their senses, Chubukov doesn’t lose the opportunity. He cries, “Hurry up and get married!” He at once blesses both of them.

Q.59. Give a brief character sketch of Lomov.
Ans. 

• Lomov is a middle-aged man of thirty-five. He suffers from palpitations, cramps, and numbness of limbs. He is nervous and can’t speak and act like a calm and composed man. 
• He comes to Natalya’s house with a marriage proposal but soon forgets the real purpose of his visit. He picks up unnecessary quarrels over Oxen Meadows and their respective dogs.

Q60. What opinion of Chubukov do you form after reading ‘The Proposal’?
Ans. 

• Chubukov is a rich landlord and a neighbour of Lomov. He is short-tempered and rash in behavior. He wants Lomov to be married to Natalya. 
• But he forgets the main issue and joins the quarrels between Lomov and Natalya. He adds only fuel to the fire. He can be abusive and insulting. However, he grabs the opportunity and blesses Natalya and Lomov in the end.

Q61. What opinion do you form of Natalya after reading the play, ‘The Proposal’?
Ans. 

• Natalya is a woman of twenty-five years. Lomov considers her a good housekeeper and not bad-looking. She likes to get married to Lomov. However, she indulges in unnecessary quarrels over Oxen Meadows and dogs. 
• She even insults Lomov with harsh words. However, good sense prevails upon her, and she doesn’t lose the opportunity of marrying Lomov.

Q62. Justify the title of the play. ‘The Proposal’ Or What is the theme or the message of ‘The Proposal’?
Ans. 

• Anton Chekov has aptly titled the play, ‘The Proposal’. 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.