Question 3 - Chapter 9 - The Proposal (Play) - First Flight - Chapters (Literature) - English Class 10

Read the extract and answer the following questions 

Extract:

 LOMOV: It's cold... I'm trembling all over, just as if I’d got an examination before me. The great thing is , I must have my mind made up. If I give myself time to think, to hesitate, to talk a lot, to look for an ideal, or for real love, then I'll never get married. Brr...It’s cold! Natalya Stepanovna is an excellent housekeeper, not bad-looking, well-educated. What more do I want? But I'm getting a noise in my ears from excitement. (Drinks) And it’s impossible for me not to marry. In the first place, I'm already 35— a critical age, so to speak. In the second place, I ought to lead a quiet and regular life. I suffer from palpitations, I'm excitable and always getting awfully upset; at this very moment my lips are trembling, and there’s a twitch in my right eyebrow.

 (The Proposal)

Question (i)

Which of the following is NOT a reason why Lomov thinks he must marry? 

• (a) He is already 35 years old. 
• (b) He suffers from palpitations.
• (c) He is excitable and easily upset.
• (d) He is in love with Natalya.

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

(d) He is in love with Natalya

Step-by-Step explanation:

• In this extract, Lomov mentions several reasons why he thinks he must marry. Let's analyze the given options:
• A. He is already 35 years old: Lomov mentions that he is 35, which he considers a critical age, so this is a reason.
•  B. He suffers from palpitations: Lomov talks about his health issues, including palpitations, which supports the need for a quiet and regular life through marriage. So, this is also a reason.
• C. He is excitable and easily upset: Lomov states that he is excitable and gets upset easily, which is another reason for him to seek a stable life through marriage.
• D. He is in love with Natalya: In the extract, Lomov doesn't mention being in love with Natalya. He describes her as a good housekeeper, well-educated, and not bad-looking, but he doesn't mention love.
• So, the correct answer is: D. He is in love with Natalya 😊

Question (ii)

Why is it fair to say that Lomov's tone, when he says "What more do I want?", is uncertain and questioning? Answer in about 40 words.

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

Lomov's tone is uncertain and questioning because he is trying to convince himself that Natalya Stepanovna is a suitable match for him, despite not being in love with her. He lists her qualities but still seems unsure if they are enough for a successful marriage.

Step-by-Step explanation:

• When Lomov says "What more do I want?", we can understand that his tone is uncertain and questioning because:
• 🧐 He is listing Natalya's qualities (good housekeeper, well-educated, not bad-looking), but he doesn't mention love or any emotional connection.
•  🤔 He is trying to persuade himself that these qualities are enough for a successful marriage, indicating that he might have doubts.
•  😰 Lomov is also nervous and excited, which further implies that he is unsure about his decision.
• So, Lomov's tone is uncertain and questioning because he is trying to convince himself of Natalya's suitability, despite not being in love with her.

Question (iii)

Read the following descriptions (a)-(c) and identify which one correctly corresponds to the extract.

• (a) A debate is a formal discussion on a particular topic, usually with two or more people presenting different viewpoints and arguments.
• (b) A soliloquy is a speech given by a character alone on stage, which reveals their innermost thoughts and feelings to the audience.
• (c) An aside is a brief comment or remark made by a character directly to the audience, which is not intended to be heard by other characters on stage```

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

(b) A soliloquy is a speech given by a character alone on stage, which reveals their innermost thoughts and feelings to the audience.

Step-by-Step explanation:

• Let's examine each of the given options and see which one matches the extract:
•  A. A debate: In the extract, there is no discussion or argument between two or more people, so this doesn't correspond.
•  B. A soliloquy: Lomov is sharing his thoughts and feelings with the audience, while no other characters are present. This matches the extract.
•  C. An aside: In the extract, Lomov is not making a brief comment or remark directly to the audience, but rather sharing his thoughts more extensively.
• So, the correct description corresponding to the extract is:
• B. A soliloquy 🎭 - Lomov is revealing his inner thoughts and feelings to the audience while being alone on stage.

Question (iv)

If an actor were to enact this extract, what would he be required to focus on, while modulating his voice?

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

While enacting this extract, an actor would need to focus on conveying Lomov's nervousness, excitement, and uncertainty through voice modulation.

Step-by-Step explanation:

• If an actor were to enact this extract, they would need to focus on the following aspects while modulating their voice:
• Nervousness: Lomov is nervous about the proposal, so the actor should add a shaky quality to their voice to emphasize this emotion. 🥶
• Excitement: Lomov is also excited about the prospect of marriage, so the actor should vary the pace and pitch of their voice to convey this excitement. 😁
• Uncertainty: The actor should make Lomov's tone sound questioning and unsure when talking about Natalya's qualities, to show his doubts about the decision. 🤔
• By focusing on these elements, the actor would be able to effectively convey Lomov's emotions and state of mind in this extract. 🎭