Navigating through the English Language and Literature curriculum for Class 10 requires an in-depth understanding of dramatic structure, character farce, social satire, and high-scoring dialogue analysis. Chapter 9 of First Flight, “The Proposal” by celebrated Russian playwright Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, is a world-renowned one-act play that satirizes the shallow, quarrelsome, and mercenary nature of 19th-century Russian upper-class marriages. The farce centers around three eccentric characters: Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov, a nervous and hypochondriac landowner; Stepan Stepanovitch Chubukov, an opportunistic neighbor; and Natalya Stepanovna, Chubukov’s temperamental twenty-five-year-old daughter. To help students master every aspect of this unit, this comprehensive solutions guide offers textbook-accurate, highly structured, and pedagogically sound responses strictly aligned with the latest CBSE marking schemes and word limits.
Every question presented in the official NCERT textbook—including character-based evaluations, textual evidence citations, humorous insult categorizations, and an expanded set of board-level FAQs—has been solved with extreme care. Short-answer responses are calibrated strictly to the official 30–40 word limit, while long-answer analytical questions meet the 100–120 word board standard. Key scoring phrases, character motivations, and literary terms (such as farce, satire, marriage of convenience, and hypochondria) have been highlighted to provide students and educators with flawless, review-ready academic solutions.
NCERT Class 10 English The Proposal Solutions
The play is set in the drawing room of Chubukov’s country house. Ivan Lomov arrives dressed in formal evening attire—wearing a dress-jacket and white gloves—to ask for the hand of Chubukov’s daughter, Natalya, in marriage. Lomov seeks marriage not out of romantic passion, but for economic convenience, social respectability, and to settle down due to his severe health anxieties and heart palpitations. Chubukov is overjoyed at the proposal, viewing Lomov as a wealthy match for his daughter.
However, before Lomov can propose to Natalya, the two engage in an absurd, petty quarrel over the rightful ownership of a disputed strip of land known as Oxen Meadows. The argument escalates violently as Chubukov joins in, exchanging ridiculous insults with Lomov until Lomov collapses from nerve spasms and leaves. When Natalya discovers that Lomov had come with a marriage proposal, she becomes hysterical and demands that her father bring him back immediately. Yet, as soon as Lomov returns, they instantly ignite a second bitter argument over the superiority of their hunting dogs—Guess versus Squeezer. The play ends on a comic note as Chubukov forces their hands together to seal the betrothal amidst non-stop shouting. Below are the complete, textbook-accurate solutions.
Thinking about the Play (Page No. 157)
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. (Page No. 157) [BOARD EXAM FAVORITE]
Answer: Chubukov initially suspects that Lomov has come to borrow money, noting aside, “He’s come to borrow money! Shan’t give him any!”
No, Chubukov is completely insincere when he calls Lomov his “angel” and claims to have loved him like a son:
- His excessive flattery is merely an opportunistic reaction upon discovering that Lomov has come to propose to his daughter.
- Within minutes of this affectionate declaration, when an argument over Oxen Meadows breaks out, Chubukov quickly turns abusive, calling Lomov a “pettifogger,” “scarecrow,” “malicious double-faced conspirator,” and “turnip-ghost.” This extreme contradiction proves his initial affection was purely superficial and selfish.
Question 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. (Page No. 157) [BOARD EXAM FAVORITE]
Answer: Yes, Chubukov’s assessment is largely accurate, though Natalya’s behavior is driven as much by the social desperation to get married as it is by romantic affection.
Textual evidence supporting this includes:
- Despite being an educated, excellent housekeeper of twenty-five years, she is anxious to find a wealthy and socially suitable husband.
- The moment she learns from her father that Lomov had come with a marriage proposal and not just to talk about land, she completely forgets her previous anger, breaks into hysterical tears, wails, and desperately screams at her father: “Bring him back! Back! Ah! Bring him here!”
- When Lomov returns, she immediately shifts tactics, admits that Oxen Meadows belong to him, and aggressively steers the conversation to secure the marriage proposal.
Question 3 Find all the words and expressions in the play that the characters use to insult each other, and the accusations and counter-accusations they make. (Page No. 157)
Answer: During their furious arguments over Oxen Meadows and their hunting dogs, the characters exchange a wide array of comical insults and personal accusations:
- Insults directed at Lomov: Chubukov and Natalya call him a “land-grabber,” “pettifogger,” “guzzling gambler,” “scarecrow,” “monster,” “blind hen,” “turnip-ghost,” “stuffed sausage,” and a “malicious, double-faced conspirator.” Chubukov also insults his physical weakness, calling him a “pup,” “milksop,” and a “fool.”
- Insults directed at Chubukov and his family: Lomov accuses the Chubukov family of having a history of lunacy, alleging that Chubukov’s grandfather was a “drunkard” and his younger aunt, Nastasya Mihailovna, “ran away with an architect.” He calls Chubukov an “intriguer,” “swindler,” and a “hypocrite.”
- Insults directed at Natalya: Lomov calls her an “intriguer” and an unreasonable, shrill woman who talks too much.
Question 4 How do both parties claim ownership of Oxen Meadows? (Page No. 157) [BOARD EXAM FAVORITE]
Answer: Both parties justify their claim over the disputed Oxen Meadows through contrasting historical narratives:
- Lomov’s Claim: Lomov argues that his aunt’s grandmother gave the free, perpetual use of the Meadows to the peasants of Natalya’s father’s grandfather in exchange for making bricks for her. The peasants used the land for forty years and began regarding it as their own, but the property deeds legally belong to the Lomov estate.
- Natalya and Chubukov’s Claim: Natalya and her father insist that Oxen Meadows have always belonged to them because their land extends up to the Burnt Marsh, which encompasses the Meadows. They argue that they have owned the land for nearly three hundred years and consider Lomov’s claim an insult.
Question 5 What are the arguments presented by Lomov and Natalya regarding their hunting dogs, Guess and Squeezer? (Page No. 158) [BOARD EXAM FAVORITE]
Answer: The dispute over their respective hunting dogs reveals the petty pride of both characters:
- Lomov’s Defense of Guess: Lomov paid 125 roubles to Mironov for Guess and considers him a first-rate pointer dog with an excellent pedigree. He mocks Natalya’s dog, Squeezer, as an inferior, “overhung” pug-like dog who is completely useless for serious hunting.
- Natalya’s Defense of Squeezer: Natalya argues that Squeezer, bought by her father for 85 roubles, is a thoroughbred animal superior to any dog in the district. She ridicules Guess as old, lame, ugly, and worn-out, claiming that Guess is only fit to catch dead cabbages rather than foxes.
Vocabulary and Grammar Exercises Explained
Exercise 1: Conversational Drama Expressions (Page No. 158-159) Understand the contextual meaning of the dramatic expressions used in the play:
Answer:
- Take it to court: Threatening legal action to resolve a civil dispute. Context: Lomov threatens to take the matter of Oxen Meadows to court.
- Palpitations: Noticeable, rapid, and irregular heartbeats caused by emotional stress or anxiety. Context: Lomov constantly complains of severe palpitations whenever he becomes upset.
- On one’s last legs: Near the end of one’s usefulness, strength, or life. Context: Natalya mocks Lomov’s dog Guess, calling him half-dead and on his last legs.
- A weight off my shoulders: A feeling of immense relief after a major worry or burden is resolved. Context: Chubukov exclaims this when Lomov and Natalya finally agree to marry.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Class 10 English Chapter 9
Question 1: What is the central theme of Anton Chekhov’s play “The Proposal”? Answer: The central theme is the absurdity of upper-class marriages of convenience. Chekhov satirizes how wealthy landowners prioritize financial gain, land ownership, and social status over genuine love, often letting petty egos and trivial arguments endanger their life-changing relationships.
Question 2: Why does Lomov decide to marry Natalya Stepanovna? Answer: Lomov decides to marry Natalya because he is thirty-five years old (a critical age to settle down), suffers from severe hypochondria, insomnia, and palpitations, and desires a quiet, regular domestic life. He views Natalya as an excellent housekeeper, educated, and not bad-looking.
Question 3: How does Chubukov react when Lomov asks for Natalya’s hand in marriage? Answer: Chubukov is overjoyed and deeply moved. He hugs and kisses Lomov, sheds a tear, and declares that he has always wished for this alliance, calling Lomov his “angel” and rushing out to send Natalya into the drawing room.
Question 4: What triggers the first dispute between Lomov and Natalya? Answer: The first dispute is triggered when Lomov casually mentions his property, including the “Oxen Meadows” which touch Chubukov’s Birchwoods. Natalya immediately interrupts him, claiming that Oxen Meadows belong to her family, leading to a fierce quarrel over property deeds.
Question 5: Why does Natalya become hysterical when she learns Lomov came to propose? Answer: Natalya becomes hysterical because she is desperate to get married. Realizing that she drove away an eligible, wealthy suitor over a trivial strip of land, she panics, blames her father, and wails until her father brings Lomov back.
Question 6: What physical ailments does Lomov constantly complain of? Answer: Lomov complains of severe heart palpitations, chronic nervousness, an irregular heartbeat, sudden twitches in his left eyebrow and shoulder, numbness in his right leg, and intense sleep spasms at night.
Question 7: How does the play end? Answer: When Lomov collapses unconscious from stress, Chubukov fears he has died. When Lomov regains consciousness, Chubukov urgently puts Natalya’s hand into Lomov’s hand, forces them to accept the marriage, gives his blessing, and calls for champagne while the couple immediately resumes arguing over their dogs.
Question 8: Why is “The Proposal” classified as a farce? Answer: “The Proposal” is a farce because it employs highly exaggerated characters, absurd situations, rapid transitions from affection to violent insults, and ridiculous physical comedy (such as fainting spells over property arguments) to provoke laughter and mock upper-class vanity.
Mastering the NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 9, “The Proposal”, equips students with the structural arguments, dramatic evidence, and character dynamics necessary to excel in the CBSE Board Examination. Reviewing the themes of social farce, the dual arguments over land and dogs, and the structured answers above will ensure full marks in the literature section.