NCERT Solutions: The Proposal

Page No: 135

Thinking about the Play 

Q1. 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.
Ans: At first, Chubukov suspects that Lomov has come to borrow money. His immediate thought is that Lomov might need financial help, so he prepares himself to refuse a loan. Chubukov's later words - "And I've always loved you, my angel, as if you were my own son" - are not sincere. He says them only after he hears that Lomov has come with a proposal to marry his daughter. His change of tone is prompted by the prospect of a suitable match rather than by genuine paternal feeling. Evidence in the play shows this: Chubukov thinks about not giving Lomov money and tells himself he will refuse a loan, and yet he quickly professes fatherly affection when the conversation turns to marriage. This behaviour shows that his professions of love are pragmatic and self-interested, not truly heartfelt.
Q2. 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.
Ans: No, I would not agree with Chubukov. He is mistaken to assume that Natalya is in love and will readily consent. The play shows that Natalya never behaves in a way that clearly proves romantic feeling for Lomov. Instead, she is proud, self-possessed and strongly attached to her property and to trivial points of honour. Her quick temper and readiness to quarrel with Lomov about matters such as the meadow and the hunting dogs suggest that her feelings are not those of someone lovesick. The long, petty arguments between Natalya and Lomov make it clear that neither of them behaves like a lover deeply devoted to the other; Chubukov's confident belief that she is "like a lovesick cat" comes from his wishful thinking rather than from observing Natalya's true feelings.
Q3. (i) Find all the words and expressions in the play that the characters use to speak about each other, and the accusations and insults they hurl at 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 Nayalya as " an excellent housekeeper, not bad-looking, well-educated.")

Ans: Several sharp and humorous expressions are used in the play when the characters speak about one another, especially during quarrels. Chubukov uses insulting terms like "grabber," "pettifogger," "malicious, double-faced intriguer," "scarecrow," "stuffed sausage," "wizen-faced frump," "boy," "pup," "milksop," and "fool."
Natalya is described by Chubukov as "a lovesick cat," while Lomov initially praises her as "an excellent housekeeper, not bad-looking, well-educated."
Lomov, who begins politely, later calls Chubukov an "intriguer" and accuses him of dishonesty. These expressions show how quickly politeness turns into abuse and highlight the comic nature of the play.

Thinking about the Language

Q1. 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?

Ans: Yes. Several expressions feel more like literal translations from Russian than natural modern English. Examples include pet names such as "my darling", "my angel", "my beauty" or "my treasure" used between adult men, which would sound odd or overly familiar in a contemporary English play. Phrases such as "...and all that sort of thing" or "...and all that" are vague filler expressions that reflect conversational style in translation. Some vivid insults - for example "the stuffed sausage" or "the wizen-faced frump" - keep the flavour of Russian idiom but are less common in everyday English. At the same time, the play contains modern English forms such as "I beg your pardon" and polite forms of address like "Honoured Stepan Stepanovitch" that help the translation read naturally in places. Read the lines aloud to spot which expressions sound like direct translations and which feel idiomatic in English.

Q3. Look up the following phrases in a dictionary to find out their meaning, and then use each in a sentence of your own.
 (i) You may take it that
 (ii) He seems to be coming round
 (iii) My foot's gone to sleep

Ans:

1. Expressions not used in contemporary English

1. "my darling", "my beauty", "my precious", "my angel", "my beloved" (used here by an older man addressing an adult man); "my darling" and similar terms often read as foreign or old-fashioned in present-day English.
2. "...and so on..." (used to trail off a list without completing it).
3. "...and all that sort of thing." (a casual way to leave the list open).
4. "...and all that." (another informal trailing phrase).
5. Colourful insults such as "the scarecrow", "the stuffed sausage", "the wizen-faced frump" (examples of direct, image-rich name-calling).
6. "And how may you be getting on?" (a formal or slightly old-fashioned way of asking how someone is).
Modern English expressions

1. "Madam", "my heart", "Honoured Natalya Stepanovna" (polite forms used by Lomov when speaking formally).
2. "Honoured Stepan Stepanovitch" (Lomov's polite address to Chubukov).
3. "I beg your pardon..." (a modern polite phrase).
4. "My dear fellow" (a familiar address used by Chubukov to Lomov).
5. Words like "malicious, double-faced intriguer" and "fool" as blunt insults used in argument.

3. 

(i) You may take it that I am lying, but in fact it will help you in the long run.
(ii) He seems to be coming round after the trauma of his father's death.
(iii) After the three-hour long yoga session, my foot's gone to sleep.

Page No: 136

II. You must have noticed that when we report someone's exact words, we have to make some changes in the sentence structure. In the following sentences, fill in the blanks to list the changes that have occurred in the above pairs of sentences. One has been done for you.
1. To report a question, we use the reporting verb asked (as in Sentence Set 1).

2. To report a declaration, we use the reporting verb __________.

3. The adverb of place here changes to ___________.

4. When the verbs in direct speech is in the present tense, the verb in reported speech is in the ______________ tense (as in Sentence Set 3).

5. If the verb in direct speech is in the present continuous tense, the verb in reported speech changes to ______________tense. For example, ____________ changes to was getting.

6. When the sentences in direct speech contains a word denoting respect, we add the adverb _______________in the reporting clause (as in Sentence Set 1).

7. The pronouns I, me, our and mine, which are used in the first person in direct speech, change to third person pronouns such as____________, ___________, ___________ or __________in reported speech.

Ans: 

1. To report a question, we use the reporting verb asked. 

2. To report a statement, we use the reporting verb said.

3. The adverb of place here changes to there. 

4. When the verbs in direct speech are in the present tense, the verb in reported speech is in the past tense. 

5. If the verb in direct speech is in the present continuous tense, the verb in reported speech changes to past continuous tense. For example, am getting changes to was getting.

6. When the sentence in direct speech contains a word denoting respect, we add the adverb respectfully in the reporting clause. 

7. The pronouns I, me, our and mine, which are used in the first person in direct speech, change to third person pronouns such as he/she, him/her, their or his/hers in reported speech.

Page No: 137

III. Here is an excerpt from an article from the Times of India dated 27 August 2006. Rewrite it, changing the sentences in direct speech into reported speech. Leave the other sentences unchanged.

"Why do you want to know my age? If people know I am so old, I won't get work!" laughs 90-year-old A. K. Hangal, one of Hindi cinema's most famous character actors. For his age, he is rather energetic. "What's the secret?" we ask. "My intake of everything is in small quantities. And I walk a lot," he replies. "I joined the industry when people retire. I was in my 40s. So I don't miss being called a star. I am still respected and given work, when actors of my age are living in poverty and without work. I don't have any complaints," he says, adding, "but yes, I have always been underpaid." Recipient of the Padma Bhushan, Hangal never hankered after money or materialistic gains. "No doubt I am content today, but money is important. I was a fool not to understand the value of money earlier," he regrets.

Ans: 
90-year-old A. K. Hangal, one of Hindi cinema's most famous character actors, laughingly asked why we wanted to know his age, and added that if people knew he was so old he would not get work. For his age, he was rather energetic. We asked him what the secret was. He replied that his intake of everything was in small quantities and that he walked a lot. He said that he had joined the industry when people retire and that he had been in his 40s. He added that he did not miss being called a star. He said that he was still respected and given work, while actors of his age were living in poverty and without work. He said he did not have any complaints and added that he had always been underpaid. Recipient of the Padma Bhushan, Hangal never hankered after money or materialistic gains. He said that no doubt he was content at present, but money was important, and he regretted that he had been a fool not to understand the value of money earlier.