The Proposal - Q&A

Activity (Page 120)

1. The word 'proposal' has several meanings. Can you guess what sort of proposal the play is about?

(i) a suggestion, plan or scheme for doing something

(ii) an offer for a possible plan or action

(iii) the act of asking someone's hand in marriage

Ans: (iii) the act of asking someone's hand in marriage

2. Do you think Indian and Russian weddings have any customs in common? With the help of a partner, fill in the table below. (Page 121)

Thinking about the Play (Page 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.

At first, Chubukov suspects that Lomov has come to borrow money. He says aside, "He's come to borrow money. Shan't give him any!"
No, he is not sincere when he says he loves him like a son. We know this because moments earlier he was determined not to lend him money. He only changes his tone and becomes overly affectionate ("my angel", "my treasure") when he learns Lomov has come to propose marriage to his daughter, which is economically advantageous for him. Later in the play, he quickly resorts to abusing Lomov ("Intriguer!", "Pup!", "Old rat!") when they argue, showing his true feelings.

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.

Yes, I would agree that Natalya is desperate to get married, fitting the description of a "lovesick cat" in the context of the play's satire. Although she argues violently with Lomov about land and dogs, the moment she realizes he came to propose, she goes into hysterics, wailing "Fetch him back! Fetch him!" and even says "I'm dying! Fetch him!". Her immediate shift from anger to desperation shows she is very eager to be married.

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.

The characters use many insults.
Chubukov calls Lomov: "pettifogger", "embezzlement", "lunacy", "drunkard", "intriguer", "malicious, doublefaced intriguer", "rascal", "villain", "scarecrow", "monster", "blind hen", "turnip-ghost", "stuffed sausage", "wizen-faced frump", "pup", "milksop", "fool".
Lomov calls Chubukov: "grabber", "old rat", "Jesuit".
Natalya calls Lomov: "rascal", "monster".
They also insult each other's families: Lomov's father was a "guzzling gambler", his aunt was a "backbiter", his grandfather was tried for "embezzlement". Chubukov's mother was "hump-backed", his father was a "drunkard".

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

Lomov: Nervous, hypochondriac (obsessed with health), argumentative, impetuous, socially awkward.
Natalya: Quarrelsome, possessive, stubborn, sharp-tongued, desperate (for marriage).
Chubukov: Hypocritical, opportunistic, abusive, dramatic, materialistic.

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

Given their nature, they will likely quarrel about the wedding arrangements, the dowry, or who will manage the estate. They might even start arguing again about the dogs (Guess vs. Squeezer) or the Oxen Meadows immediately after the champagne!

Thinking about Language (Page 135 - 136)

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?

Yes, several expressions seem more Russian and are not typical in contemporary English.
- Addressing an adult male neighbour as "my darling", "my beauty", "my treasure", "my angel", "my precious".
- Expressions like "the whole field cut" or "shelling peas for drying".
- "And all that sort of thing" or "and so on" is used very frequently at the end of sentences.
- "How may you be getting on?" (A bit formal and old-fashioned).
- Using full names with patronymics frequently (e.g., "Ivan Vassilevitch", "Natalya Stepanovna").

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.

1. palpitations (pal-pi-TA-tions) - 4 syllables, stress on 'TA'.
2. interfere (in-ter-FERE) - 3 syllables, stress on 'FERE'.
3. implore (im-PLORE) - 2 syllables, stress on 'PLORE'.
4. thoroughbred (THOR-ough-bred) - 3 syllables, stress on 'THOR'.
5. pedigree (PED-i-gree) - 3 syllables, stress on 'PED'.
6. principle (PRIN-ci-ple) - 3 syllables, stress on 'PRIN'.
7. evidence (EV-i-dence) - 3 syllables, stress on 'EV'.
8. misfortune (mis-FOR-tune) - 3 syllables, stress on 'FOR'.
9. malicious (ma-LI-cious) - 3 syllables, stress on 'LI'.
10. embezzlement (em-BEZ-zle-ment) - 4 syllables, stress on 'BEZ'.
11. architect (AR-chi-tect) - 3 syllables, stress on 'AR'.
12. neighbours (NEIGH-bours) - 2 syllables, stress on 'NEIGH'.
13. accustomed (ac-CUS-tomed) - 3 syllables, stress on 'CUS'.
14. temporary (TEM-po-rar-y) - 4 syllables, stress on 'TEM'.
15. behaviour (be-HAV-iour) - 3 syllables, stress on 'HAV'.
16. documents (DOC-u-ments) - 3 syllables, stress on 'DOC'.

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

Meaning: You can assume or be sure that something is true.
Sentence: You may take it that the deal is final unless you hear otherwise from me.

(ii) He seems to be coming round

Meaning: He appears to be regaining consciousness (after fainting) or changing his opinion to agree with someone.
Sentence: After the accident, he lay unconscious for a minute, but now he seems to be coming round.

(iii) My foot's gone to sleep

Meaning: My foot has become numb due to lack of blood flow.
Sentence: I sat in the same position for too long, and now my foot's gone to sleep.

II. Reported Speech (Page 136 - 137)

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.

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 said / 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 (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 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 (as in Sentence Set 1).

7. The pronouns 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 he/she, him/her, his/her or theirs in reported speech.

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.

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

Speaking and Writing (Page 137 - 138)

1. Anger Management: 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?

Ill effects of anger:
1. It affects health, leading to high blood pressure and heart problems.
2. It destroys relationships as harsh words spoken in anger cannot be taken back.
3. It clouds judgment, leading to poor decisions and regret later.

Ways to avoid losing temper:
1. Take deep breaths and count to ten before reacting.
2. Walk away from the situation until you feel calm.
3. Drink a glass of water to cool down physically and mentally.

Benefits of anger:
Yes, sometimes righteous anger can be a motivator for positive change, such as fighting against injustice or protecting oneself from harm. It can signal that a boundary has been crossed.

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.

Script:

Characters:
NIKHIL: A calm, wealthy husband.
BIMALA: His wife, the Chota Rani, dressed up and looking agitated.

[Scene: A room in the inner apartments. It looks tidy. Bimala is standing near a window, playing with her bangles. Nikhil enters, looking surprised.]

NIKHIL: [Softly] I was told you sent for me, Chota Rani. It has been a long time.

BIMALA: [Flushing, turning abruptly to face him] Look here! I need to ask you something important. Is it right that our market, out of all Bengal, is the only one allowing foreign goods?

NIKHIL: [Calmly] What would you have me do about it?

BIMALA: [Voice rising] Order them to be cleared out! Immediately!

NIKHIL: But the goods are not mine to clear out, Bimala.

BIMALA: [Impatiently] Is not the market yours? You are the landlord.

NIKHIL: The market belongs much more to the traders who use it for their livelihood than to me.

BIMALA: [Angrily] Then let them trade in Indian goods! Why must they sell foreign ones?

NIKHIL: Nothing would please me better. But suppose they do not wish to? I cannot force them.

BIMALA: [Insolently] Nonsense! How dare they be so insolent? Are you not the master?

NIKHIL: [Firmly, turning to leave] I am very busy this afternoon. I cannot stop to argue. But know this: I refuse to tyrannise my subjects.

BIMALA: It is not tyranny for selfish gain! It is for the sake of the country!

NIKHIL: [Pausing at the door] To tyrannise for the country is still to tyrannise over the country. I am afraid you will never understand that.

[Nikhil exits. Bimala stands fuming.]

3. In groups, discuss the qualities one should look for in a marriage partner.

(Model Answer points for discussion)
When looking for a marriage partner, one should prioritize compassion and kindness to ensure a supportive relationship. A shared value system and similar attitudes and beliefs help in reducing conflicts. A good sense of humour makes life enjoyable. While appearance and wealth (as seen in the play) often influence decisions, qualities like tolerance, education, and mutual respect are far more important for a happy, long-term marriage.

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

Yes, the constant bickering between Lomov and Natalya while actually trying to propose is very similar to "enemies-to-lovers" tropes in romantic comedies. For example, in many Bollywood movies (like Hum Tum or Chennai Express), the lead pair often argues over trivial things before realizing they love each other. The scene where the father (Chubukov) pushes them together saying "She's willing!" while they are still confused is a classic comedic misunderstanding found in many films.

Homophones (Page 139)

Can you find the words below that are spelt similarly, and sometimes even pronounced similarly, but have very different meanings? Check their pronunciation and meaning in a dictionary.

1. They were too close to the door to close it.

close (adj) /kloʊs/: Near in space or time.
close (verb) /kloʊz/: To shut something.

2. Since there is no time like the present, she thought it was time to present the present.

present (noun/adj) /ˈprɛznt/: The current time / existing now.
present (verb) /prɪˈzɛnt/: To give or show something formally.
present (noun) /ˈprɛznt/: A gift.