Question 1
Why does Lomov visit Chubukov’s house?
He comes to ask for Natalya’s hand in marriage. His nervousness and formal clothes indicate his purpose, but he struggles to state it because he is easily distracted and physically anxious.
Chapter guide: central idea and structure
This one-act comedy follows Ivan Lomov, who visits his neighbour Stepan Chubukov intending to propose to Natalya. Instead of reaching the proposal, the two young people quarrel over Oxen Meadows and then over their dogs. Chubukov eventually forces the engagement through, while the arguments continue.
Key ideas
- The play satirises marriage treated as a social or economic arrangement.
- Pride and possessiveness turn trivial disputes into serious quarrels.
- Farce comes from exaggerated reactions, interruptions and rapid reversals.
Reading checklist
- Identify who is speaking and what changes.
- Support each interpretation with a detail from the text.
- Explain how the title, structure or ending develops the central idea.
Plot or image sequence
- Lomov arrives anxious and dressed formally, but delays stating his purpose.
- The ownership dispute over Oxen Meadows interrupts the proposal.
- After the proposal is revealed, the argument shifts to the dogs Guess and Squeezer.
- Chubukov announces the engagement and urges the pair to kiss, yet they resume arguing.
Important vocabulary
- farce — comic drama using exaggerated situations
- impropriety — behaviour considered unsuitable
- pedigree — a record of an animal’s ancestry
Answer-writing tip: Begin with a direct response, support it with a relevant event or image, and finish by linking the detail to the question. Avoid retelling the entire text.
Activity for close reading
Read the Oxen Meadows argument aloud in groups. Mark each interruption and emotional shift; discuss how stage directions and physical comedy affect the audience.
This is an original study activity based on the text; use the prescribed book for the full work and exact exercise wording.
Solved questions in CBSE/PYQ style
Newly written practice modeled on common extract, inference, theme and character question patterns; these are not copied past-paper questions.
Question 2
How does the dispute over Oxen Meadows affect the proposal?
The quarrel interrupts Lomov before he can complete his proposal. Natalya only learns his purpose after he leaves; she then urges her father to bring him back, showing that the engagement matters to her despite the argument.
Question 3
How does Chekhov create humour in the ending?
The characters celebrate the engagement, but immediately resume their quarrel about their dogs. The contrast between a supposedly happy resolution and their unchanged behaviour creates comic irony and exposes their stubbornness.
Self-check
- Can I state the central idea in one or two sentences?
- Can I explain one important turning point, image or technique?
- Can I support my interpretation with evidence without copying long passages?
- Can I answer in the required word limit and keep the response focused?
Prepared as supplementary revision for CBSE Class X English Language and Literature 2026–27. Consult the current CBSE syllabus and your prescribed NCERT edition for assessment details.