CHAPTER - THE PROPOSAL
QUESTION -ANSWERS
Question 1. What request did Lomov make to Chubukov?
Ans - Lomov went to Chubukov in a formal dress in order 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.
Question 2. What makes Chubukov misunderstand the purpose of
Lomov’s visit?
Ans - 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.
Question 3. 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 than a Guess.
Question 4. 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
house-keeper. 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.
Question 5. What is the play “The Proposal”?
Ans - 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 6. 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 knows the Chubukovs since his
childhood. His aunt and uncle had great respect for her family. Both the
families have been 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.
Question 7. Lomov was a quarrelsome person. Justify.
Ans - Lomov was a quarrelsome person. He came to Chubukov’s house to
propose 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 of Chubukov’s. 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.
Question 8 . How does Chubukov react when he comes to know that
Lomov has come with a proposal of marrying 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 with a
proposal of marrying 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 it for a
long time. He is ready to bless them.
Question 9 . 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 sq 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 quarrelling on this topic. They again start shouting at each
other.
Question 10 . 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 daughters, Natalya and
considers her a suitable match for her.
