Three Questions (LAQ)

            Three Questions (LAQ)

1.What were the questions that the Tsar wanted to be answered? Why did he need the answer? Why was he dissatisfied with the answers given by the scholars and learned men and what did he do?[2+1+3=6] [H.S. -2020]

Or, 

What were the questions that had occurred to the Tsar? Why did he need correct answers to those questions? What did he do when he was not satisfied with the answers of the learned men? [3+1+2 = 6] [H.S.=2016]

Ans.  In Leo Tolstoy’s parable Three Questions the questions that occurred to the Tsar were —-the right time to start every work; who are the most important people to listen to and whom to avoid and what is the most important thing to do. 

The Tsar thought that he would be able to cope with any occurrence if he had the answers to those three critical questions. 

Many scholarly men attempted to answer the questions of the Tsar, but they all came up with different answers that further confused the Tsar and he agreed with none of them. So, being dissatisfied,the Tsar decided to consult a hermit, widely renowned for his wisdom.

2. What was the first question of the Tsar ? What different answers did he get ? [ 2+4=6] 

Ans.  The first question that occurred to the Tsar was the right time to initiate any work. 

The first question of the Tsar was answered differently. Some scholars advised him to draw up in advance a table of days, month and years and adhere strictly to it. While others suggested that the Tsar should be updated about his circumstances and happenings and must avoid idle pastimes to be prompt in action. Some recommended setting up a council of wise men to help him with their advice and suggestions. But there was certain cons to it, such as in moments of extreme urgency the Tsar can not afford time for such consultations. Thus, some scholars went too far to ask the Tsar to consult magicians as they can only predict and determine the future. Inevitably,  

all these varied answers failed to satisfy the Tsar.

3. What was the second question of the Tsar ? What different answers did he get ? [ 2+4=6] 

Ans. In Leo Tolstoy's thoughtful short story once a Tsar had three questions in his mind.The second question that occurred to the Tsar was who are the most important people to listen to and whom to avoid. 

To provide the Tsar with satisfactory answers, learned men came to his court but they all answered differently 

.As to the second question about the most important people the Tsar should listen to, some said that a king mostly is in need of his councilors. Others suggested it is the priests who are the worthiest of all. Others said the doctors are most important, while some advised it is the warriors who are the most necessary men of the Tsar. Inevitably, all these varied answers failed to satisfy the Tsar. 

4. What was the third question of the Tsar ? What different answers did he get ? [ 2+4=6] 

Ans. In Leo Tolstoy's thoughtful short story, once a Tsar had three questions in his mind.The third question that occurred to the Tsar was what is the most important thing to do. 

To provide the Tsar with satisfactory answers, learned men came to his court but they all answered differently. As to the second question about the most important occupation, some replied that science was the most important thing in the world. Others contradicted it by saying that it was skill in warfare to be most important; while others, again, suggested that it was religious worship that should be placed above. Since these answers too were equally varied the Tsar became utterly dissatisfied.

5.  “All the answers being different, the Tsar agreed to none of them.” – What were the questions to which the Tsar got different answers? Whom did the Tsar decide to consult when he was not satisfied? Where did the person whom the Tsar decided to consult live? What was he famous for? [3+1+1+1 = 6] [H.S. = 2018 & 2022 ]

Ans. In Leo Tolstoy’s parable Three Questions the questions that occurred to the Tsar were —-the right time to start every work; who are the most important people to listen to and whom to avoid and what is the most important thing to do. The Tsar thought that he would be able to cope with any occurrence if he had the answers to those three critical questions. To provide the Tsar with satisfactory answers, learned men came to his court but  to his utter dismay, they all answered differently that failed to satisfy him. 

Being dissatisfied,the Tsar decided to consult a hermit who used to live in a wood which he never quitted and used to meet none but common folks. 

The hermit whom the Tsar wanted to consult for his questions, was famous for the wisdom that he possessed. 

6. How did the Tsar nurse the wounded man? [6] [H.S. = 2015]

Ans. The Tsar in Leo Tolstoy's short story Three Questions, came across a wounded man while seeking the answers from the hermit in the woods. The wounded man came running, held his hands pressed against his stomach, and blood was flowing from under them. On reaching the Tsar he fell fainting on the ground, moaning feebly. The Tsar with the assistance of the hermit unfastened the man’s clothing and found a large wound in his stomach. The Tsar 

 washed the wound to the best of his efforts but the blood did not stop flowing. The Tsar bandaged it with his handkerchief but that was soaked with blood in no time.The hermit gave him a towel and the Tsar bandaged his wound but the blood would not stop flowing, and the Tsar again and again removed the bandage soaked with warm blood, and washed and re-bandaged the wound. When at last the blood ceased flowing, the man revived and asked for something to drink, the Tsar brought fresh water and gave it to him. That was how the wounded man was nursed by the Tsar till he was restored to health.

7. Who was the wounded man? How was he wounded? Why did he ask for the forgiveness of the Tsar? What did the Tsar do when he had gained the man for a friend? [2+2+2 = 6] [H.S. = 2019 & 2022 ] 

or, 

Why did the bearded man become an enemy of the Tsar? What did the man swear and resolve to do? Why did he ask forgiveness of the Tsar and what did he promise him? [1+2+3=6] [H.S. = 2017]

Ans. In Leo Tolstoy's thoughtful short story Three Questions, the wounded man whom the Tsar came across in the hermit's cottage, was a sworn enemy of the Tsar.

The bearded man swore to avenge the Tsar as the latter executed his brother and seized his property.

The bearded man waited for the Tsar to return as he had resolved to kill him. But when he did not return after the day passed, he came out of his ambush but was caught up by the Tsar’s bodyguard who recognized him and wounded him consequently. 

Despite being his enemy who wished to kill the Tsar, the latter saved his life and nursed him back. Being repentant, the bearded man asked the forgiveness of the Tsar and promised to serve him as his most loyal slave and would bid his sons to do the same.

The Tsar, being overwhelmed to make peace with his enemy and took him as a friend, told him that he would send his servants and his physicians to attend to him and  promised him to restore his property.

8. What answers did the Tsar get from the hermit ? [6]

 or,

 What were the hermit’s answers to the three questions of the Tsar? [6]

Ans. The Tsar asked the hermit  his questions for the last time and the hermit answered him taking the reference of the previous day's incident that had he not pitied the hermit's weakness and dug those beds for him, instead had gone his way, that bearded man would have attacked him and the Tsar then would have to repent for not staying with hermit. So the most important time was when the Tsar was digging the beds and at that time the hermit was the most important man and to do him good was his most important occupation. Afterwards, when that wounded man ran to them, the most important time was when the Tsar was attending to him. Had he not nursed his wounds he would have died without having made peace with him. So he was the most important man, and what the Tsar did for him was his most important business at that time. Therefore, he concluded, “now” is the time which is most important as it is the only time when we have any power in our hand to determine our future course of action. Thus,the most necessary person is the one with whom we are at present, for no man knows whether he will ever have dealings with anyone else: and the most important affair is to do that person good, because for that purpose alone was man sent into this life. 

Shall I Compare Thee SAQs / short questions

          Shall I Compare Thee (SAQs/ short questions)

1. What is the tone of the first line “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”/ Why did the poet say “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”

Ans. The poet seeks to compare the praiseworthy beauty and virtue of his beloved friend with the summer’s day,a symbol of youth and beauty. This erotesis on one hand radiates a tone of love and admiration for the friend,on the other, reveals the poet's dissatisfaction with the inadequacy of nature as a metaphor for his beloved friend as nothing can justifiably suffice the beauty and virtue of the fair friend. 

2. Why did the poet say “Thou art more lovely and more temperate”?

Ans. Summer is considered a metaphor of beauty and youth. So the poet sought to compare his friend with the summer's day but, to the poet, his friend is more desirable and temperate than the summer which is both scorching and inconstant. 

3. What does the rough winds do ? 

Ans. The rough winds shake the “darling buds” which embellishes the beauty of the month of May. This rough winds are a characteristic aspect of summer which the poet considers to be less lovely and temperate than his beloved friend.

4. “And summer’s lease hath all too short a date.” What does the poet mean by it? 

Ans. The word “lease” is a legal term that connotes both duration and property. Summer, despite its beauty and splendour is transitory, so as its properties (i.e, the flowers ,fruits and nature’s extravaganza). This temporality of summer juxtaposes the permanence of the friend’s youthful beauty and virtue. Shakespeare's use of this legal and monetary term “lease” contextualizes the budding capitalistic society of his time.

5. What does the phrase “eye of heaven” mean ? 

Ans. The circumlocutory phrase “eye of heaven” means the sun which is considered as the heaven’s eye because of its centrality and lustre. 

6. Why does the poet not want to compare his friend with the sun ? 

Ans. The sun despite its lustre can not sufficiently metaphorize the fair youth as either sometimes it shines too intensely or sometimes, the sun's golden color becomes obscured. Thus the sun does not stand for the constancy with which the fair youth is endowed. 

7. “And often is his gold complexion dimmed;” What does the word “complexion” stand for ?

 

Ans. In Shakespeare's time "complexion" carried both outward and inward meanings. The first meaning is more obvious: a negative change in the outer appearance.The second meaning of "complexion" would communicate that the beloved's inner, cheerful, and temperate disposition is constant, unlike the sun, which may be blotted out on a cloudy day. Therefore, his comparison with the sun is unlikely. 

8. “And every fair from fair sometimes declines,”. What does the poet mean here ? 

Ans. In this line Shakespeare juxtaposes the idea of beauty and mutability by using pun on “fair”. The first “fair” is an adjective denoting the beauty of the beautiful object, implied by the second fair which is an example of a noun. He asserted that however beautiful an object is, it is always liable to be destroyed in due course of time. 

9. “By chance, or nature’s changing course, untrimmed;” what does the poet mean by this line ? 

Ans. This line creates an oxymoron by implying the unchanging change of nature,i e, everything beautiful eventually fades either by chance or by the natural progression of time. This line contains a volta, or shift in the poem's subject matter by shifting the tone from the mutability of the first eight lines, into the eternity of the last six. 

10. “But thy eternal summer shall not fade”. What does the poet mean by the eternal summer ? 

Ans. The “ eternal summer” which stands for beauty and youth, is enduring and consistent in the friend as the poet will immortalize it through his poetic prowess. This juxtaposes the lustre of the sun which is under the threat of time.

11. “Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st,” what does ‘fair’ mean here ? 

Ans. The ‘fair’ here stands for the beauty and virtue of the friend that he possesses. 

12. What does the word “ow’st” imply in the following line “Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st,”? 

Ans. Ow'st" can carry two meanings, 

: "ownest" and "owest". "Owe", in Shakespeare's day, was sometimes used as a synonym for "own". Thus, "ow’st" conveys the idea that the beauty and the virtue the friend possesses is not temporal as the beauty of the other aspects of nature that is faded in due course of time.

13. “Nor shall death brag thou wand’rest in his shade,”How is death personified in this line ? 

Ans. Death is personified here as being endowed with human actions, like the act of bragging. Thus,it is implied that death,being a tangible entity, fails to claim victory over the friend,as the latter will be effectively resistant to the passage of time through the poetic venture of the poet. 

14. “When in eternal lines to Time thou grow’st.” What do “eternal lines” suggest ? 

Ans. The phrase “eternal lines” connotes two senses—-- the poetic lines and the lines of progeny. This sonnet, often being considered as an extended procreation sonnet, implies that the fair friend will remain immortal both through his progeny( who will carry forward his beauty and virtue) and the immortal lines of poetry.

15. Why is comparing the poet's friend to a summer's day inappropriate in Sonnet 18?

Ans. Comparing the poet's friend to a summer's day seems inappropriate to the poet because the eternal dispositions of the beloved are "more lovely and more temperate” than the summer, which can be too hot, dim, and fleeting.

16. What does "sometimes too hot the eye of heaven shines" mean in Sonnet 18?

Ans. The poet, in an attempt to compare his friend’s beauty and virtue with the summer, brings forth the reference of the sun through the phrase ‘eye of heaven’. But the sun shines too intensely creating a feeling of discomfort, while his friend is “more temperate”. Therefore such comparison seems unlikely. 

17. What metaphors and symbols does Shakespeare use in Sonnet 18?

Ans. Shakespearean Sonnet 18 is a poet’s deliberate attempt to ascertain the eternity of his friend's beauty and virtue through a few symbols such as summer, a symbol of youth and beauty, as well as nature and the rest of the seasons, which symbolize the inevitable cycle of life and death.

18. Why does Shakespeare begin Sonnet 18 with a question?

Ans. Beginning "Sonnet 18" with a question is a rhetorical strategy of the poet to make the reader perceive the difference between transience and permanence. The poet discusses the inevitable transience of life, which is as short lived as a summer's day, but presents his own poetic creation as a solution to transcend the temporality of nature and attain eternity.

19. “So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.” What does ‘this’ refer to ? 

Ans. “This” refers to his poetry which he believes will endure the threat of time.The poet in the couplet comes up with the solution that only his poetry can make his friend immune to the ravages of time.

20. How is the gold complexion of the sun dimmed?

Ans. The gold complexion of the sun is dimmed by the dark clouds and it will lose its lustre. 

21. Who is ‘thee’ compared to?

Ans: The friend,referred to here as ‘thee’ is compared to a summer’s day and all other beautiful aspects of nature which are transient. Thus, the poet here posits the superiority of beauty and virtue over the aspects of nature, contrasting the predominant idea of the Petrarchan sonnets. 

22. What does the poet say about the month of May?

Ans: The poet endows the month of May with the dual aspect of life and death. On one hand, the lovely flowers do bloom at this time, on the other hand, the rough winds shudder the lovely buds of May.

23. How does the poet eulogize eternal summer?

Ans: The poet feels that summer is a season of warmth and beauty but is short lived. The only summer that endure the ravages of time is the endless youth and beauty that his friend possesses. Hence, he considers this as “eternal summer” to eulogize it. 

24. How does the poet compare eternity with mortality?

Ans: Shakespeare belongs to the time of Renaissance humanism that posits the ultimate importance of human emotions, virtues and creation. Thus, the poet considers that despite possessing the beautiful aspects, nature will lose its fairness eventually. It is only the human creation (his poetry)that will sustain itself till eternity as it is beyond the cycle of life and death.

25.  How does the poet talk about death?

Ans: In this poem William Shakespeare has personified death to be all powerful as all the creations wander in its shade and is subservient to it.