11

Thinking about the Play

Question:

1.       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.

2.       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.

3.

(I)      Fin d 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, doublefaced intriguer." Again, Lomov begins by describing Natalya as "an excellent housekeeper, not bad ­ looking, well-educated.")

(ii)     Then think of five adjectives or adjective l expressions of your own to describe each character in the play.

(iii)    Can you now imagine what these characters will quarrel about next?

Answer:

1.       At first, Chubukov assumed that Lomov had come to borrow money. He was not sincere when he told Lomov that he had always loved him and that he was like his own son. He was certain that he would not give any money to him if he would come to borrow from him. If he really meant what he had said, then he would not have thought of not giving him money. He said so only because Lomov had come with the offer to marry his daughter.

2.       Chubukov thought that Lomov was a good wedding prospect for his daughter. He was waiting for this proposal. When Lomov expressed his disbelief regarding Natalya' s consent to the proposal, Chubukov instantly told him that she was in love with him. But, this was actually not true. Natalya did not seem to be in love with Lomov at any point in the play. It looked as if she was more close to her land, meadows and dogs than to Lomov. Rather, the way they kept on arguing about slight matters suggests that neither Lomov nor Natalya was in love with each other.

3.

(I) several words and expressions have been used by the characters to describe each other. Some

Of them are as follows:

Chubukov calls Lomov: Pettifogger, drunkard, lunatic, guzzling, gambler, villain, backbiter, turnip­ ghost, blind hen, sniffed sausage and wizen -faced.

Lomov calls Chubukov and his family: hump-back, grabber, etc.

(ii)     Some of the adjectives can be thought as proud, industrious, treasure, darling, love, decent, well ­ educated, sensible, lovable, etc.

(iii)    Really the matter has now no legs. Natalya, the daughter of Chubukov has got the hand of Lomov. Both embrace and kiss each other. Chubukov blesses them to start a family bliss. But like a lie, a quarrel can be done on any issue. In realty matter finishes.

Thinking about Language

Question I:

1.       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?

Read through the play carefully, and find expressions that you think are not used in contemporary English, an d contrast these with idiomatic modern English expressions that also occur in the play.

2.       Look up the following words in a dictionary and find out how to pronounce them. Pay attention to how many syllables there are in each word, and find out which syllable is stressed, or said more forcefully.

palpitations pedigree malicious accustomed

interfere principle embezzlement temporary

implore evidence architect behavior

thorough bred misfortune  neighbors documents

3.       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

Answer I:

1.       Expressions not used in contemporary English:

)>      "my darling", "my beauty", "my precious", "my angel", "my beloved" (here, an older man is

addressi ng an adult man)

>       "...and so on..." (here, it is used after a sentence in order to complete it)

>       "...and all that sort of thing." (not explaining what it is, just leaving it as it is)

)>      "...and all that." (again leaving the sentence as it is)

>       "the scarecrow", "the stuffed sausage", "the wizen-faced  frump" (In this way, they hurled

insults at each other)

>       "And how may you be getting on?" (Here, Lomov is asking Chubukov about his well-being)

Modern English expressions

)>      "Madam", "my heart", "honored Natalya Stepan ovna" (used by Lomov for Natalya)

>       "Honoured Stepan Stepanovitch" (used by Lomov for Chubukov)

)>      "I beg your pardon ..."

>       "My dear fellow" (Chubukov  addressing Lomov)

>       "malicious, double-faced  intriguer", "fool"  (Chubukov  insulting  Lomov)

2.       Word Pronunciatio n & Stressing the Syllables

Interfere Implore Thoroughbred Pedigree Principle Evidence Misfortune Malicious Accustomed Embezzlement Architect Neighbors Behavior Documents Temporary

>                 in'-ter-fere )>                'im-plore )>                thorough'-gree >                 pe'-di-gree )>                princi'-pie )>                evi'-dence >                mis-for'-tune >                 ma'-li-cious >                 accus'tomed >                 embezz'lement >                 arch'-I-tect >                 nei'-bours >                 behav'-iour >                 doc'-u-men ts >                 temp'-rary

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.

Question II: Reported Speech

A sentence in reported speech consists of two parts: a reporting clause, which contains the report ing verb, and the reported clause. Look at the following sentences.

(a)     "I went to visit my grandma last week," said Mamta.

(b)     Mamta said that she had gone to visit her grandma the previous week.

In sentence (a), we have Mamta's exact words. This is an example of directspeech. In sentence (b), someone is reporting what Mamta said. This is called indirect speech or reported speech. A sentence in reported speech is made up of two parts -a reporting clause and a reported clause.

In sentence (b), Mamta said is the reporting clause containing the reporting verb said. The other clause -that she had gone to visit hergrandma last week -is the reported clause.

Notice that in sentence (b) we put the reporting clause first. This is done to show that we are not speaking directly, but reporting someone else's words. The tense of the verb also changes; past tense (went) becomes past perfect (had gone) .

Here are some pairs of sentences in direct and reported speech. Read them carefully, and do the task that follows:

1.       (I) LOMOV: Honoured  Stepan Stepanovitch, do you  think I may count on her consent? (Direct Speech)

(ii) Lomov asked Stepan Stepanovitch respectfully if he thought he might  count on her consent. (Reported  Speech)

2.       (I) LOMOV: I'm getting a noise in my ears from excitement. (Direct Speech)

(ii) Lomov said that he was getting a noise in his ears from excitement. (Reported Speech)

3.       (I) NATALYA: Why haven't you been here for such a long time? (Direct Speech)

(ii) Natalya Stepanovna asked why he hadn't been there for such a long time. (Reported Speech)

4.       (I) CHUBU KOV: What's the matter? (Direct Speech)

(ii) Chubukov asked him what the matter was. (Reported Speech)

5.       (I) NATALYA: My mowers will be there this very day! (Direct Speech)

(ii) N atalya Stepanovna declared that her mowers would be there that very day. (Reported Speech)

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 statement, we use the reporting verb…………..

3.       The adverb of place here changes to…………..

4.       When the verb 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 presen t continuous tense, the verb in reported speech changes to tense. For example,……………changes to wasgetting .

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

7.       The pronou ns I, me, our and mine, which are used in the first person in direct speech, change according to the subject or object of the reporting verb such as………….,……….or in reported speech.

Answer II:

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

2.       To report a declaration, we use the reporti ng verb declared.

3.       The adverb of place here changes to there.

4.       When the verb in direct speech is 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 wasg etting.

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

Respectfully in the report ng clause.

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

Question 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. Hangar, 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 t 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 importa nt. I was a fool not to understan d the value of money earlier," he regrets.

Answer III:

90-year-old A.K. Hangal, who is one of Hindi cinema's most famous character actors, laughingly asked why we were interested to know his age. If people would come to know that he was that old, he would not get work. For his age, he is pretty energetic. We asked him what his secret was. He said that his intake of everything was in small quantities and he used to walk a lot. He said that he had got connected with the industry at the age when people used to retire. He was in his 40s. So he did not miss being called a star. He was respected by everyone and had given his best work, especially when the actors of his age were living in paucity and without work. He said he had no complaints, to this he added that he had always been underpaid. Being the recipient of the Padma Bhushan, Hangal never ran after money or other worldly gains. He said that he was satisfied with everything, but money is an importa nt necessity of life.He said remorsefu lly that he was a fool that he did not understand the value of money.

Speaking and Writing

Question:

1.       Ang er Manag ement: As adults, one important thing to learn is how to manage our temper. Some of us tend to get angry quickly, while others remain calm. Can you think of three ill effects that result from anger?  Note them down. Suggest ways to avoid losing your temper in such situations. Are there any benefits from anger?

2.       In pairs, prepare a script based  on the given  excerpt from  The Home and  the World by

Rabindranath Tagore. You may write five exchanges between  the characters with other directions such as movements on stage and way of speaking, etc.

One afternoon, when  I happened  to be  specially busy, word came to  my office room  that

Bimala had sent for me. I was startled.

"Who did you say had sent for me?" I asked the messenger.

 "The Rani Mother".

"The Bara Rani?"

"No, sir, the Chota Rani Mother."

The Chota Rani! It seemed a century since I had been sent for by her. I kept them all waiting there, and went off into the inner apartments. When I stepped into our room I had another shock of surprise to find Bimala there with a distinct suggestion of being dressed up. The room, which from persistent neglect, had latterly acquired an air of having grown absent-minded, had regained something of its old order this afternoon. I stood there silently, looking enquiringly at Bimala.

She flushed a little and the fingers of her right hand toyed for a time with the bangles on her left arm. Then she abruptly broke the silence. "Look here! Is it right that ours should be the only market in all Bengal which allows foreign goods?"

"What, then, would be the right thing to do?" I asked.

"Order them to be cleared out!" "But the goods are not mine." "Is not the market yours?"

"It is much more theirs who use it for trade."

"Let them trade in Indian goods, then."

"Nothing would please me better. But suppose they do not?" "Nonsense! How dare they be so insolent? Are you not..."

"I am very busy this afternoon and cannot stop to argue it out. But I must refuse to tyrannise." "It would not be tyranny for selfish gain, but for the sake of the country."

"To tyrannies for the country is to tyrannies over the country. But that I am afraid you will never understand ." With this I came away.

3.       In groups, discuss the qualities one should look for in a marriage partn er. You might consider the following points.

•        Person al qualities

-  Appearance or looks

- Attitudes and beliefs

-        Sense of humor

•        Value system

-        Compassion and kindness

-        Tolerance, ambition

-        Attitude to money and wealth

•        Education and professional background

4.       Are there parts of the play that remind you of film scenes from roman tic comedies? Discuss this in groups, and recount to the rest of the class episodes similar to those in the play.

Answer:

It is an activity, so do yourself.

Chapter 11: The Proposal

Lomov enters his neighbour Chubukov's house. He is fully dressed     up in his evening attire. Chubukov is surprised to see him well-dressed and asks him the occasion. Lomov says that he had come to make a request. Chubukov makes out that he must have come to ask for money which he doesn't want to give. But Lomov had come to ask for Chubulov' s daughter, Natalya's hand in marriage. On hearing this Chubukov gets filled with excitement and calls Natalya. Lomov is a 35 year- old gentleman suffering from palpitations gets upset very quickly and doesn't sleep well. He think she should get married now and is happy about getting married to Natalya  Natalya is an average-looking girl but a good housekeeper. When Natalya arrives, he begins conversing with her about how happy he is that both the families are on good terms and mentions about the Oxen Meadows which was earlier a disputed property but was his now. Natalya believed that Oxen Meadows belonged to her family. As a result, they enter into a intense argum ent and act absurdly. Chubukov enters into the conversation and it gets more heated. They start shouting and screaming on each other and Lomov suffers from severe pounding of the heart, a side pull and a numb foot. They throw him out of their house and curse him. While speaking ill of him, Chubukov accidentally tells about the marriage proposal of Natalya. N atalya gets surprised and regrets sending him out. She tells her father to bring him back and Chubukov starts cursing himself. When Lomov returns, Natalya tries to diverge to another topic and starts talking about shooting. Somehow they enter into an argument again about their dogs. Natalya th en feels that her Squeezer is better than Lomov's Guess. They continue arguing and Chubukov enters and makes the situation worse, once again. Everyone gets tensed and Lomov finally falls down due to his palpitations. The argument and cursing still continues till Natalya notices that he is unconscious. They try to get water down his throat but end up getting unsuccessful and declare him dead. It is only when Lomov moves a little bit, they feed him some water and Chubukov forcefully hands over N atalya's hands to him, gives his blessings and asks them to kiss. Lomov, still not fully conscious doesn't understa nd what is going on. When he finally comes to his senses, he expresses his excitement and kisses Nata lya's hands. Natalya, being childish as she is, manipulates him into accepting that Squeezer is better than Guess but Lomov, being adamant as he is, refuses to accept it. Thus, once again, the quarrelling continues.