Introduction: The Proposal - Class 10 PDF Download

About the Author- Anton Chekov
Anton Chekov – A Short Biography

About the Author

Antony Chekhov was a great playwright and story writer. He was born on 29  January 1860 in a village in Southern Russia. His father ran a grocery store. His mother, Yevgeniya was an excellent storyteller. Chekhov was an established physician. He is considered to be among the greatest writers of short stories in the world. Chekhov once said, “Medicine is my lawful wife and literature is my  mistress.”
Anton Chekov (1860-1904) was a famous writer. He is chiefly known for his short stories. This story ‘The Proposal’ is a romantic story of a neighbour named Ivan Lomov. He is a landowner and often gets money from Chuhukov’s another landowner. Chubukov has a daughter named Natalya. Lomov comes to Chubukov with a marriage proposal for his daughter Natalya.

The theme of the Story

`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.

WORD-MEANINGS

Hearty = large-hearted (बड़े दिल वाला); suspicious = doubtful (शक्की); gloves = gloves (दस्ताने); squeezes = wrings (निचोड़ना/दबानाl); get-up = dress (पोशाक); my treasure = term of endearment (प्यार का संबोधन); my precious = term of endearment (प्यार का संबोधन); privilege = special right (विशेषाधिकार); awfully = greatly (बहुत अधिक); deserve = able (काबिल होना); Interrupting = interfering (दखल देना); embraces = hugs (अर्लिगन करना); sheds = drops (गिराना); off my balance = excited (उत्तेजित); consent = agreement (सहमति); lovesick = in search of love (प्यार की खोज में); Excellent = very good (शानदार); palpitations = beating of the heart (दिल का धड़कना); twitch =. pull with a jerk (फड़कना); lunatic = mad (पागल); apron = apron (एप्रन); neglige = gown (गाऊन); shelling = removing shells (छिलके उतारना); splendid = beautiful (सुंदर); stacked = stored (संग्रह किया); hay = straw (भूसा); ball = a kind of dance (नाच); pause = stop (रुकना); Inherited = received as heir (विरासत में मिलना); affectionate = loving (प्रिय); wedged = lying in between (के बीच में); dispute = quarrel (झगड़ा) ; in perpetuity = in continuation (लगातार); reckoned = understood (समझा); Dessiatins = a currency (एक मुद्रा); unfairness = injustice (अन्याय); implore = request (प्रार्थना करनाr); bake = heat (पकाना); make head and tail = understand (समझना); threshing = separating grain and chaff (अनाज और भूसा अलग करना); gipsies = nomadic (खानाबदोश); impudent = rude (अभद्र); landgrabber = one who grabs others’ land (दूसरे की जमीन हड़पने वाला ); carafe = a water container (पानी का पात्र); Mowers = crop cutters (फसल काटने वाला); meadows = grasslands (घास के मैदान); clutches = holds (पकड़ना); restrain = control (नियंत्रित करना); excruciating = strong (मजबूत); Accustomed = habitual (आदी); yelling = shouting (चिल्लाना); give up = renounce (त्याग देना); right = claim (दावा); agitating = becoming exciting (उत्तेजित होना) ; calmly = peacefully (शांति से ); Pettifogger = a clever person (चालाक आदमी ); tried = sued (मुकद्दमा चलाया) ; embezzlement = financial misappropriation (गबन); lunacy = madness (पागलपन); drunkard = one who drinks too much wine (बहुत शराब पीने वाला ); hump-backed = with curved back (कुबड़ा); guzzling = drinking (पीना); gambler = one who gambles (जुआरी); backbiters = criticizing others behind their backs (चुगलखोर); intriguer = planner (षड्यंत्रकारी); malicious = full of ill-will (दुर्भावनापूर्ण); numb = senseless (सुन्न); staggers = falls (गिरना); rascal = rogue (धूर्त); villain = scoundrel (बदमाश) ; scarecrow = figure in the field to scare birds (डरेबा); monster = devil (शैतान); impudence = arrogance (घमण्ड); blind hen = an abuse (गाली); turnip-ghost = an abuse (गाली); confounded=confused (घबराया हुआ); stuffed sausage = an abuse (गाली); wizen-faced frump = an abuse (गाली); Wails = weeps (रोना); hysterics = mad cries (पागलों जैसी चीखें); exhausted = tired (थका हुआ); heated =angry (नाराज); evidence = proof (सबूत /प्रमाण); Twisted = bent (मुड़ा हुआ ); heaps better = much better (अधिक बेहतर); pedigree = race (जाति); overshot = when the lower jaw is shorter than the upper (जब निचला जबड़ा ऊपर वाले भाग से छोटा हो ); thoroughbred = pure hied (शुद्ध जाति); cab = carriage (बग्गी); contradiction = disagreement (असहमति); Acknowledge = admit (प्रवेश करने देना); implore = request (प्रार्थना करना); muzzle = nose and mouth of an animal (थूथन); a whole verst = much behind (बहुत पीछे); whip = cane with a string(चाबुक); Beetles = insects (कीड़े); tracking = following (पीछा करना); pup = small dog (छोटा कुत्ता); Partridge ,. a bird (तितर); sparks = tiny glowing hits of fire (चिंगारियाँ); milksop = an abuse (गाली); screams = cries (चीखें); Tumbler = glass (गिलास); mist = fog (धुन्ध): be damned = an abuse (गाली); champagne = a kind of liquor (एक प्रकार का मादक पेय)