Class 10 English Chapter 1 Question Answers - First Flight

Short Answer Questions

Q1: Which qualities are common in all three characters of the play ‘The Proposal’?
Ans: All the characters in the play are argumentative, full of pride and possessiveness. They are always ready to argue about petty things.

Q2: How does Lomov come to Chubukov’s house? What for does he come? How is he received?  [ CBSE 2012]
Ans: Lomov came to Chubukov’s house in the evening dress with gloves on. He comes to propose to his daughter Natalya. He is received with all the respect by Chubukov.

Q3: How does Chubukov react when Lomov says that he has come to ask for the hand of his daughter?
Ans: When Lomov says that he has come to ask for the hand of his daughter, Chubukov gets off balanced with joy. He embraces and kisses Lomov, sheds a tear of joy and calls for God’s blessing for Lomov and Natalya.

Q4: Why did Lomov want to get married?
Or
Which two issues about himself convinced Lomov of his decision to get married? [CBSE SQP 2021-22]
Ans: Lomov wanted to gel. married as he was already 35 years old. Moreover, he was suffering due to a weak heart and sleep- sickness and wanted the company of someone to look after him.

Q5: What happens to Lomov when he is in an excited state?
Ans: 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

Q6: How does Natalya excite Lomov to the point of verbal fighting?
Ans: Natalya repeatedly insisted that Oxen Meadows are theirs and told Lomov that up till now she considered Lomov as a good neighbour and friend. This excited Lomov to the point of verbal fighting.

Q7: How does Lomov react when Chubukov says that he is not used to misbehaviour by a young man like Lomov?
Ans: Lomov reacts by saying that Chubukov thinks that he is a fool. He says that he cannot talk to him calmly and politely as he is making a false claim to his property. He further accuses Chubukov of being a grabber.

Q8: Why does Natalya ask her father Chubukov to fetch Lomov in at once? Why does she accuse her father?
Ans: 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.

Q9: How does Natalya react when she comes to know that Lomov had come to propose? [CBSE 2014 ]
Ans: When Natalya came to know that Lomov had come there to propose to her she was shocked. She wails, changes her stance and asks her father to fetch Lomov.

Q10: When Chubukov later states, “And I’ve always loved you, my angel, as if you were my own son,” is he being sincere? Draw support for your claim from the play.
Ans: Chubukov first thought Lomov had come to borrow money. Chubukov didn’t mean it when he claimed Lomov was like his own son and that he had always adored Lomov. Chubukov had made up his mind that if Lomov tried to borrow money from him, he would not give him any. He wouldn’t have considered withholding the money if he had honestly meant what he had said. Only because Lomov had arrived with a proposal to marry his daughter did he say as such.

Long Answer Questions
Q1: The principle ‘forgive and forget’, helps a lot in maintaining cordial relations with our neighbours. Do you think Anton Chekov conveys this message in the play ‘The Proposal’ ?
Ans: The message that Anton Chekov does express is that the tenet of “forgive and forget” is very helpful in keeping friendly connections with one’s neighbours. The play’s neighbours Lomov, Natalya, and Chubukov started out squabbling over little matters. By fighting over little concerns, they were putting major issues to the side and squandering their time. They began yelling insults at one another as these confrontations turned into fights over time. Their friendship with one another was harmed by this.
Natalya left the matter of the disagreement behind when she learned that Lomov had come to propose to her. Also, she begged Lomov’s pardon and urged him to get straight to the issue. Hence, if one wishes to have peace of mind, they must “forgive and forget.”

Q2: The characters Natalya and Lomov lose their temper on trivial issues. It shows their poor skills at anger management. Suggest some ways that help you in maintaining cordial relationships with people around you.
Ans: The way Natalya and Lomov lost their cool demonstrates how easily rage can damage a relationship. Consequently, having effective anger control techniques is crucial. Following are a few anger management skills that can be followed in one’s life. These would also help in building healthy relationships.

• Always adhere to the “forgive and forget” principle.
• Make an effort to comprehend the person you are speaking to.
• Rather than being selfish, try to be helpful.
• Always show compassion for people.
• Prior to speaking, pay attention.
• Be as considerate as you can towards everyone.
• Avoid the tendency to constantly criticise others.

 Q3: Based on your understanding of the Play ‘The Proposal’ how do you think good relationships can be maintained? Why in today’s time do we see so many people going away from each other?
Ans: The play “The Proposal” shows us how easily disagreements and rage can destroy a relationship. So, it is crucial to manage your anger if you want to keep a decent relationship. Arguments about trivial or minor matters are extremely destructive and time-wasting. If someone makes a mistake, one should be willing to overlook it and go on rather than getting upset and arguing with the offender for hours on end. Many strive to only see the good in other people these days, and they do not readily accept their flaws. Thus, it is getting increasingly difficult to keep up positive, courteous relationships with other people.

Q4: It is a common observance that more attention is paid to unimportant issues at the cost of important ones. The play ‘The Proposal’ beautifully portrays this fact. Suggest some steps on how we can avoid this unhealthy practice.
Ans: “People are strange: They are constantly angered by trivial things, but on a major matter like totally wasting their lives, they hardly seem to notice.”
-Charles Bukowski
It is somewhat true that people frequently let unimportant issues take priority over their priorities. Similar to how Natalya was presented with a suggestion by Lomov, but they were unable to address it because of their differences. Setting your priorities in life becomes essential as a result. It is necessary to dismiss trivial issues. The conversations concerning them take a lot of time. One should avoid spending too much time on unimportant matters. Using this energy to some useful and important issues that have a beneficial impact may help save time and relationships and hence produce positive outcomes.

Q5: Farce is a kind of comedy which includes situations and dialogues that are ridiculous, exaggerated and even absurd. Evaluate the play, The Proposal, as a farce. [CBSE SQP 2021-22]
Ans: ‘The Proposal’ by Chekhov has been intended to be presented as a farce basically to satire the materialistic temperament of the Russians who think of making money from every aspect imaginable. This one-act play tells the story of two wealthy families who seek a matrimonial alliance. The main idea is to seek a rise in profits in their property. The play is highly humorous. The setting has three characters all meet each other with a motive but all that ends up in the three planning to increase their share of the property.
Humour is not possible without exaggeration. Hence Lomov’s soliloquy thinking of his old self at thirty-five being full of ailments and nervousness would make every reader giggle. But as soon as Natalya appears in a negligee, they begin fighting over the ownership of a piece of land. When that ends, they begin over a new issue which is each other’s pet dogs. Their agreement to tie the nuptial knot and its effects thereafter can well be imagined.

Q6: Natalya and Ivan argued about the ownership of Oxen Meadows and the superiority of their respective dogs in the play, The Proposal.
Imagine yourself as the playwright of the play. Based on your understanding of the personality traits of Natalya and Ivan, write a dialogue based on an imaginary event, showcasing another argument between them.
Ans: 

• Scene : Natalya enters Ivan’s house furious.
• Natalya: My meadow is destroyed by your dog. Why are you allowing them to go unchecked?
• Ivan : My dogs are on my property . How do you know that your meadow was destroyed by my dog and not by anyone else’s?
• Natalya: It took place in the dead of night. I heard the cows mooing when the dogs entered the meadow, and woke up.
• Ivan: You ought to have repelled them. Why did you not?
• Natalya: They fled before I entered the meadow. The sound of the cow mooing alarmed them. Make sure you secure your pets to a pole before going to bed the next time. Now, you ensure that my meadow is cleaned up.

She furiously rushes out of his home.