UP Board class 10 English chapter 9 – “The Proposal” solutions are available on this page. It covers all the question answers of this chapter. This solution is aligned with the latest syllabus of 2024-25 session.
Chapter 9 of the UP Board Class 10 English book, The Proposal is a humorous one-act play by Anton Chekhov that revolves around the theme of marriage as a practical arrangement rather than a romantic one. The story portrays the absurdity of human nature, particularly in how trivial disputes can arise even in the most important moments, like a marriage proposal. Ivan Lomov, a nervous and hypochondriac man, visits his neighbor Stephan Chubukov with the intention of proposing to his daughter, Natalya.
UP Board Class 10 English Chapter 9 Solutions
| Subject | English |
| Class | 10th |
| Chapter | 9. The Proposal |
| Author | Anton Chekov |
| Board | UP Board |
Thinking About the Play
Page No: 135
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.
Answer: Chubukov initially suspects that Lomov has come to borrow money, given his formal attire. His later statement of affection is insincere, as he only changes his tone when he learns that Lomov is there to propose to his daughter, Natalya. His earlier suspicion and quick shift in attitude show he wasn’t genuinely affectionate.
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.
Answer: Yes, Natalya is clearly in love, as evident from her emotional reaction when she discovers that Lomov came to propose. Her immediate distress and insistence that her father bring Lomov back indicate her deep feelings for him.
3. (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.
(ii) Then think of five adjectives or adjectival expressions of your own to describe each character in the play.
(iii) Can you now imagine what these characters will quarrel about next?
Answer: The characters use various harsh words to describe each other, such as “intriguer,” “grabber,” “malicious,” and “double-faced.” Lomov calls Chubukov an “intriguer,” while Chubukov calls Lomov a “rascal” and “pettifogger.” Natalya is described as an “excellent housekeeper” but also a “lovesick cat.”
Five adjectives for each character:
- Lomov: Anxious, sensitive, quarrelsome, indecisive, well-meaning
- Chubukov: Opportunistic, manipulative, quick-tempered, dramatic, possessive
- Natalya: Emotional, stubborn, impulsive, prideful, affectionate
They will likely quarrel again about trivial matters like property or petty misunderstandings, as their temperament leads them to argue over small things.
Thinking About the Language
Page No: 135
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?
Answer: Yes, certain expressions in the play, such as “my angel,” “my beloved,” and “my beauty,” seem unusual for English, especially when used for addressing an adult man. These terms reflect a more Russian style of endearment that might sound overly affectionate or dramatic in English. Phrases like “all that sort of thing” and “how may you be getting on?” also sound somewhat old-fashioned or foreign in contemporary English.
II. 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.
Questions.
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 verb in the 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 sentence 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 to such as ————-, ————- or ———— in reported speech.
