CBSE Revision Notes for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 11 The Proposal
Chapter Sketch
The proposal is a one act play by the Russian short story writer and dramatist Anton Chekov. The play is set in a rural countryside of Russia. A long time wealthy neighbour of Stepan Chubukov, Ivan Lomov, comes to seek the hand of Stepan’s daughter, Natalya. As three of them are very proud and quarrelsome, they start fighting over petty issues. The proposal of marriage is made finally but the quarrelling continues.
About the Characters
- Stephan Stepanovitch Chubukov He is a landowner and the father of a young girl named Natalya.
- Natalya She is young girl. She is fussy and argumentative.
- Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov He is a young man who wishes to marry Natalya. He is also very argumentative.
OVERVIEW OF THE CHAPTER
Lomov at Chubukov’s House
The play begins with the scene set in Chubukov’s house. Lomov comes there and meets Chubukov. Chubukov is extremely happy to meet him. He asks him to sit down and also enquires why was he wearing an evening dress.
Lomov tells him that he has come there with a purpose. He tells him that he wants to request him about something. Suddenly he gets excited. Chubukov feels that he must have come to borrow money from him. Lomov starts to speak and talks about random things. Finally he tells him that he has come there to ask for Natalya’s hand. Chubukov gets excited at hearing this.
Chubukov’s Reaction to the Proposal
Chubukov gets so happy that he starts to behave idiotically. He hugs Lomov and kisses him. Lomov asks Chubukov that he wants his consent for the marriage. Chubukov tells him that he was always hoping that he would come to ask for Natalya’s hand.
Lomov Thinks About Natalya and his Life
Lomov starts trembling due to over excitement. He says that if he would have looked for a perfect partner he would have never got one and would have remained unmarried. He feels that Natalya is a good housekeeper. He says that she is not bad-looking and is very well educated. He feels he is already too old to get married and now he should lead a quiet and regular life. He starts to jump like a mad person.
Talk Between Lomov and Natalya
Natalya comes and asks Lomov why had he not come there for a long time. She informs Lomov about the harvest. She asks him why was he dressed in an evening dress and enquired if he was going to a ball.
Before Lomov told Natalya his purpose for the visit, they were off the point. He starts telling her that he has known his family for a very long time. He also tells her how he inherited his land and how he respects her father. He tells Natalya that his Oxen Meadows touch Natalya’s Birchwood. On hearing this, Natalya says that the Oxen Meadows are theirs.
Argument Regarding Land Ownership
Natalya gets serious and tells him that Oxen Meadows do not belong to him. They actually belonged to them. Lomov clarifies that he is talking about the Oxen Meadows that are between her Birchwoods and Burnt marsh. Natalya insists that they are theirs. Lomov refuses it. He tells her that his aunt’s grandmother gave those meadows to her father’s grandfather. The peasants used the land for forty years.
Argument Continues Between Natalya and Lomov
Natalya refuses and sticks on her point that those Meadow’s are theirs. Lomov on the other hand says that he has the documents to prove that it is his land. Natalya tells him that they had that land for nearly 300 years now.
Both of them continue fighting over the ownership of the land. Lomov offers to make a present of them to Natalya. She also says that she can make a present of them to him. They start shouting at each other.
Chubukov Takes Natalya’s Side
Chubukov also enters the room. Natalya asks him to tell Lomov that the Oxen Meadows are owned by them. Chubukov also supports Natalya and regards the meadows as theirs. Lomov refuses. Chubukov says that by shouting Lomov cannot prove that the Oxen Meadows are owned by him.
He accuses Lomov by saying that he cannot talk to him so disrespectfully as he is twice of his age. Lomov says that he is calling his land as his and wants him to speak to him politely. He calls Chubukov a land grabber.
Lomov threatens that he would take Chubukov to the court. A lot of abuses are exchanged between them. Chubukov says that Lomov’s grandfather was a drunkard. His younger aunt Nastasya ran away with an architect. Lomov felt that he was dying so he could not say anything at that time. Natalya also calls Lomov a rascal. Chubukov calls him a villain and a scarecrow. He also calls him a monster who has the courage to propose.
Chubukov tells Natalya the Purpose of Lomov’s Visit
As soon as Lomov leaves their home, Chubukov tells Natalya that he came to propose her. Hearing the word propose, Natalya enquires him. Chubukov tells him that Lomov had come there to propose Natalya for marriage. Hearing this Natalya starts crying. She asks Chubukov to bring Lomov back at once.
Fight Over the Dogs
Lomov enters again. Natalya begs to be excused. They shift their talks to the dogs as Natalya tells him that the Oxen Meadows are his. They now talk about the dogs. Lomov tells Natalya that his best dog casted him 125 roubles. Natalya says that it is too much.
She tells him that her father had given just 85 roubles for the Squeezer (her dog). She says Squeezer is better than his dog. Lomov refuses and says that his lower jaw is shorter than his upper jaw. Natalya says that Squeezer is of the finest pedigree. They both continue fighting over the breed of their dogs. Chubukov enters and enquires about the matter. Chubukov also says that Lomov’s dog is old and short.
Lomov Drops to the Ground
Lomov suddenly falls. Natalya asks her father what has happened to him. Chubukov thinks that he has difficulty in breathing. Natalya says that she feels Lomov is dead. Chubukov then calls for water as well as a doctor.
Chubukov asks Lomov to Marry Natalya
Chubukov seems helpless. He starts accusing himself. He asks for a knife and a pistol. He calls himself the most unhappy of men. Lomov starts reviving. Lomov says he sees stars. He asks where he is. Chubukov says that he should hurry up and marry Natalya. He also tells him that she is willing to marry him. Natalya becomes extremely happy on hearing this. Chubukov also feels happy and offers some champagne for this occasion.
Chapter Highlights
- Lomov goes to Chubukov’s house to seek hand of Chubukov’s daughter.
- Lomov tells Chubukov the purpose of his visit. Chubukov consents him to marry his daughter.
- Lomov starts talking of his land that Natalya thinks it is owned by her.
- Lomov explains Natalya that he owns the land. Argument continues between Lomov and Natalya.
- Chubukov arrives and takes side with Natalya.
- Agrument continues and Lomov leaves their house.
- Chubukov tells the purpose behind Lomov’s visit to Natalya.
- Natalya tells Chubukov to call Lomov. Lomov arrives and they quarrel again regarding whose pet dog is better.
- Lomov becomes unconscious. Chubukov gives her daughter’s hand to Lomov.
WORD MEANINGS
The given page nos. correspond to the pages in the prescribed textbook.
Word | Meaning |
PAGE 144 | |
Squeeze | To press something firmly |
Treasure (here) | Used to address a person you like |
Privilege | A special right |
Pardon | To excuse |
Aloud | Very loudly |
PAGE 145 | |
By Jove | Used to express surprise or emphasis. |
Interrupt | To ask questions or say things while another person is speaking |
Continual | For a long time |
Consent | To give permission for something |
Tremble | To shake slightly as you are afraid, nervous, excited etc. |
Lovesick | Sick with love |
Egad | |
PAGE 146 | |
Palpitation | Expressing surprise, anger or affirmation |
Twitch | (of the heart) to beat quickly and strongly and often in a way that is not regular because of excitement, nervousness etc. |
Lunatic | A crazy person |
Neglige | Gown |
Splendid | Glorious |
Rot | To decay |
Ball | A large formal gathering for social dancing |
Word | Meaning |
Late | No longer alive |
Inherited | Received from somebody |
Regard | A feeling of respect and admiration for someone |
Meadow | A place for grazing cattle |
Marsh | A place with loose earth and water |
Perpetuity | The state of continuing for a long time |
Peasant | A farmer |
Reckon | Believed |
Wedged | To force into a narrow space, squeeze |
PAGE 148 | |
Implore | To make a very serious oremotional request to someone |
Principle | A,moral rule that helps one know what is ricjht and wrong. |
Behaviour | The way in which one acts or conducts onself, especially towards others |
Threshing | Process of separating the grains from the plant |
Gypsie | A homeless person |
Impudent | Failing to show proper respect and courtesy |
Grab | To obtain immoraly |
PAGE 149 | |
Carafe | A galss container that has a wide mouth and is used to serve drinks |
Mower | A person who cuts grass |
Clutch | To hold with the hand |
Hoarse | Loud |
Restrain | To stop somebody from doing something |
Yell | To say something very loudly especially as you are very angry |
Excruciating | Very painful; causing great mental or physical pain |
PAGE 150
Accustomed |
Habitual |
Temporary | For some time |
Agitating | Disturbing, exciting or angering someone |
PAGE 151 | |
Embezzlement | One who argues about small issues To steal the money of your employer |
Lunacy | Madness |
Drunkard | A person who is drunk or who often gets drunk |
Hump backed | Having a hump at the back ’ |
Guzzle | Eat or drink (something) greedily |
Gambler | One who gambles |
Intriguer | Cheater |
Stagger | To move unsteadily from side to side |
Rascal | A cruel or dishonest man |
Scarecrow | A person who is very badly dressed, odd-looking or thin |
Impudence | Quality of not showing respect for others |
Confounded | Used for emphasis, especially to express anger or annoyance. |
Stuffed | Having things put inside something. |
Wizen-faced | Wrinkle-faced |
Frump | A colourless person |
PAGE 152 | |
Grown up | Adult To cry |
Beating | Pulsation or throbbing, typically of the heart |
Fetch | To go after and bring back someone |
PAGE 153 | |
Evidence | Proof |
Misfortune | Bad luck |
Lame | Having an injured leg or foot that makes |
– walking difficult or painful | |
Twisted | Forced out of its natural or proper shape |
Bitten | To cut into someone with teeth |
Expense | Expenditure |
Pedigree | The history of the family members in a animal’s past especially when it is good or impressive |
Assure | Convince |
Thoroughbred | Of pure and unmixed breed |
Worn-out | Tired |
Overshot | Having the upper jaw extending the lower. |
Heaps (here) | Much |
Stagger | To move unsteadily from side to side |
Rascal | A cruel or dishonest man |
Scarecrow | A person who is very badly dressed, odd-looking or thin |
Impudence | Quality of not showing respect for others |
Confounded | Used for emphasis, especially to express |
anger or annoyance. | |
Stuffed | Having things put inside something. |
Wizen-faced | Wrinkle-faced ‘ |
Frump | A colourless person |
PAGE 152 | |
To cry | |
Grown up | Adult |
Beating | Pulsation or throbbing, typically of the heart |
Fetch | To go after and bring back someone |
PAGE 153 | |
Evidence | Proof |
Misfortune | Bad luck |
Lame | Having an injured leg or foot that makes |
– walking difficult or painful | |
Twisted | Forced out of its natural or proper shape |
Bitten | To cut into someone with teeth |
Expense | Expenditure |
Pedigree | The history of the family members in a animal’s past especially when it is good or impressive |
Assure | Convince |
Thoroughbred | Of pure and unmixed breed |
Worn-out | Tired |
Overshot | Having the upper jaw extending the lower. |
Heaps (here) | Much |
For More Resources
- NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English
- CBSE Class 10 English First Flight Chapter Wise Question Bank
- CBSE Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Chapter Wise Question Bank
- CBSE Class 10 English First Flight Extra Questions
- CBSE Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Extra Questions
- CBSE Revision Notes for Class 10 English First Flight
- CBSE Revision Notes for Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet