The Beggar Question Answer | Summary | Class 10 | Odisha Board

The Beggar

By Anton Chekhov

Question Answer

Summary

 At the beginning of the story, we see Lushkoff, the beggar, was begging. He was requesting the people to have pity for him, to turn their attention to a poor, hungry man like him. He had not taken anything for three days. He did not have five copecks for lodging. He told that he was a school teacher in a village for eight years. Then he lost the place for a secret plan. He told that he was unemployed for one year. 

          Advocate Sergei looked at the ragged fawn-coloured overcoat of that man. He could recognise him. Sergei's eyes fell on the man's overshoes, one of which was high and the other low, He suddenly remembered that he met that beggar the day before yesterday in Sadovaya Street who had told him that he had been expelled as a student. He was not a teacher. At first Lushkoff did not hesitate to stick to his words. When Sergei became angry and threatened to call the police, he admitted that he was lying. He was neither a student nor a school teacher. All was fiction. Formerly he was singing in a Russian choir and was sent away for drunkenness. Since then he was doing nothing. 

      Sergei has asked him if he could work. When he had responded positively, he had taken him to chop wood for him. So first Sergei engaged him in chopping wood. Then Sergei called his cook Olga to take this gentleman into the wood shed to chop wood. 

        The beggar was looking like a scarecrow who had not the slightest inclination for labour. He went to chop wood because he had been trapped by his own words. He was unhealthy and his strength has been undermined by vodka. When the cook and the beggar went to the woodshed, it was seen by Sergei from the window of the dining room. They made their way across the dirty snow to the shed. Olga looked at him angrily, opened the shed and banged the door. He was given a log but was lost in thought with his red cheeks resting on his fists. The woman threw an axe at his feet and he was given a thick piece of wood, but he was unable to chop the wood. At this Sergei's anger had vanished. He felt ashamed of himself for sending a weak drunkard to chop wood. 

       An hour later Olga came and announced that the wood had been chopped. The beggar was given half a rouble. He came on the first of the month and earned half a ruble. From that day on he often appeared in the yard and every time work was found for him. 

       Then he was engaged to shovel snow, put the wood shed in order, beat the dust out of rugs and mattresses. He received from twenty to forty copecks. Even a pair of old trousers was sent out for him. 

      When Sergei moved into another house, he hired him to help in the packing and hauling of the furniture. This time the beggar was sober, gloomy and silent. He only shivered in the cold. He hardly touched the furniture and walked behind the wagons hanging his head. Sergei became pleased at his behaviour and asked what his name was. He said that his name was Lushkoff. After being satisfied on him, Sergei offered him some cleaner employment. He gave him a letter to meet one of his friends. He was given some copying to do. He advised him not to drink and work hard. After being engaged in copying, from that day forth Lushkoff came no more to the yard for work. 

         After two years, Sergei met a gentleman at the ticket window of a theater. He came to know that he was Lushkoff who was a notary then and was paid thirty-five roubles per month. Sergei thanked him and he was delighted. They recollected unhappy moments of the past days. He thanked Sergei for his kind words and deeds, He was grateful to him and his cook and told to be indebted for them to his dying day.

       He became highly obliged to the cook. When he went to chop the wood, the lady cook had told him a lot of things to let him know his condition. She even used to chop the wood for him. The beggar had not chopped one single stick of wood. Everything was done by the cook. Owing to her words and noble deeds, a change took place in his heart. She set him right. So Lushkoff had changed his mind and attitude. The bell rang. Lushkoff bowed and departed to the gallery.

[ I ]

Comprehension check :

1. Who are the characters described in this part of the story? What are they doing?

Ans: There are two characters described in this part of the story. First is an advocate named Sergei and another is a beggar. The beggar is begging money to the advocate.

2. Which country are they from? How do you know this?

Ans: They are from Russia. There are words like copecks which is the currency of Russia, Kaluga, which is a Russian city, from these we know that they are from Russia.

3. What does the beggar look like?

Ans: The beggar looked the student who had been expelled from the college and begged to Sergei.

4. Did Sergei get angry with the beggar? Why?

Ans: Yes, Sergei got angry with the beggar because the beggar lied two times. The beggar first lied that he was a student, then he lied that he was a school teacher.

5. Do you think the beggar was lying? What made him tell lies?

Ans: Yes, the beggar was lying. May be his circumstances made him lie.

6. Did Sergei help the beggar to find work? What kind of work did he suggest for the beggar?

Ans: Yes, Sergei helped him find the work. He suggested the begagr to chop wood for him.

7. The advocate asked the beggar to do hard work like chopping wood. Was it a punishment or help?

Ans: It was a help to the beggar.

8. Do you think the beggar would give up begging and work for Surgei?

Ans: Yes, by working hard, the beggar would give up begging and work for Surgei.

[ II ]

Comprehension check

1. What is this part of the story about? Did Lushkoff agree to chop wood for Sergei?

Ans: The part of this story is about the beggar’s work at the Sergei’s home. Yes, Lushkoff agreed to chop wood for Sergei.

2. What did Sergei see from the window of the dining room?

Ans: Sergei saw that his cook Olga and Lushkoff went into the yard by the back door and make their way across the dirty snow to the shed.

3. What other work did Lushkoff have to do besides chopping wood?

Ans: Apart from chopping wood, Lushkoff had to shovel snow, put the wood-shed in order; and beat the dust out of rugs and mattresses.

4. What kind of person was Sergei, Kind/ cruel? How do you know this?

Ans: Sergei was a kind person. He made Lushkoff work and his intension was t o help him. He did feel bad for making Lushkoff work in the cold.

5. Sergei said “Well, I am happy that my words have taken effect. Why did Sergei say so? Is he right in saying this?

Ans: The beggar started to work for Sergei and it was because of Sergie, the beggar was changed into a different person. Sergei turned him a person who no longer pretended the way he used to. Sergei very rightly said that he was happy that his words had taken effect on him.

6. Did Lushkoff know reading and writing? What did Sergei want Lushkoff to do for earning money?

Ans: Yes, Lushkoff could read and write. Sergei wanted Lushkoff to take his letter to his friend and do the copy work of it.

7. Do you expect that Lushkoff will get a better job and he won’t come to sergei for chopping wood?

Ans: Yes, since Lushkoff could read and write, he will get a better job and he won’t come to sergei for chopping wood.

[ III ]

Comprehension check

1. When and where did Sergei meet Lushkoff? How was Lushkoff dressed?

Ans: Sergei met Lushkoff at a ticket window of a theatre. Lushkoff was dressed in a coat collar of curly fur and sealskin cap.

2. What work did Lushkoff do then? How much salary did he get every month?

Ans: Lushkoff worked as a notary. He earned thirty-five roubles every month.

3. Did Sergei become happy to see the beggar in a different form? How do you know this?

Ans: Yes, Sergei was happy to see the beggar in a different form. Both of them talk to each other in a happy mood.

4. Was Lushkoff very grateful to Sergei? Which statement(s) say(s) so?

Ans: Yes, Lushkoff was truly grateful to Sergei. 

“If I hadn’t come to you then I might still have been calling myself a teacher or a student to this day. Yes, by flying to your protraction I dragged myself out of a pit.”

5. Who really saved and changed the beggar’s life and how?

Ans: Though Sergei changed the beggar’s life by making him work, but it was Sergei’s cook Olga was had the major contribution in making the beggar’s life better. It was Olga who chopped the wood and helped the beggar.

6. What made the beggar stop drinking?

Ans: It was because of Olga’s noble thoughts and deeds that the beggar stopped drinking. Her words and actions had great impact on the beggar’s life.

7. Which character in the story do you like most? Support your answer with suitable reasons.

Ans: I like the character of Olga the most. She is like a coconut, who seems to appear hard from the outside but inside she is soft and cares for others. It is because of her words and helping nature Lushkoff’s life changed.

Answer the following questions in fifty words.

1. Who were Sergei and Lushkoff? Describe their first meeting.

Ans: Sergei was an advocate and Lushkoff was a beggar. Both had first met at Sadovya Street where Lushkoff was begging. Lushkoff pretended that he was a student who had been expelled from the school and due to his circumstances he was begging. All this is remembered by Sergei in their second meeting when again Lushkoff begs pretending as a school teacher who lost his job.

2. Did Lushkoff become a beggar by circumstances or by choice? What reasons did the beggar give to Sergei for telling lies?

Ans: Lushkoff’s drunkenness made him choose the path of begging. He sang at a Russian choir and because of his drunkenness he was sent away. But as if this was not enough, instead of accepting, he goes on telling lies. He tells Sergei that he for his livelihood, he has to lie. He tells him as if he was helpless and lying was the only choice for him.

3. Why did Lushkoff agree to chop wood? What were the other things Lushkoff had to do?

Ans: Sergei caught Lushkoff’s lying for two times. Lushkoff felt ashamed and wanted to have work which could earn him money. It was then, Sergei offered him the work of chopping wood. Lushkoff was in the need of money and rather than lying and begging, he thought that hard work of chopping wood will make him earn some money, so he agreed to chop wood. Apart from chopping wood, Lushkoff had to shovel snow, put the wood-shed in order; and beat the dust out of rugs and mattresses.

4. Collect information about Sergei’s cook and write a short paragraph.

Ans: Sergei’s cook’s name was Olga. Initially we can come to know that Olga seem to be an angry woman. She did appear cruel and cold towards Lushkoff. But actually it was because of her kind words and deeds, Lushkoff was changed into a completely different man. When they used to work, it was Olga who would chop the wood and not Luskoff. Her words and help changed him so much that he quit drinking and started to work hard. Had it not been Olga, Lushkoff would not gone far in his life. Olga was a kind and sensitive woman who cared for others.

 

5. What made the beggar change his way of life?

Ans: Olga’s kind words and deeds had great effect on the beggar’s life. Olga chopped the wood which made him realize that he should start working hard. Her deep words and actions had intense effect on him, he quit drinking. Because of Olga, the beggar realized the importance of hard work and better to lead his life. She was indeed a blessing to him.

6. Which character do you like most and why?

Ans: I liked the character of Olga the most. She is Sergei’s cook. She is a woman who seems to be angry and indifferent but she is sensitive at heart. She is the one chops wood for Lushkoff, she is the one who shed tears for the sake of Lushkoff. She is big-hearted woman who helped Lushkoff change his way of living.

7. Write a short paragraph suggesting some ways for abolishing the practice of begging in our country.

Ans: One of the main reasons why people beg is that they don’t have work, if there is work for everyone, it could abolish the practice of begging. If we find someone begging, then we should make them work and pay them. Also proper education and awareness among the people who definitely help solve this issue.

Activity -1

Read the following statements and write the names of the persons who said the statements in the blank spaces provided.

a. She set me right and I shall never forget it.Lushkoff

b. For three days I have had nothing to eat. Lushkoff

c. I only know that, owing to her words and noble deeds, a change took place in my heart. Lushkoff

d. I shall send the police for you. Sergei

e. Well, I am happy that my words have taken effect. Sergei

f. Help me kindly : I am ashamed to ask – but I am obliged to by circumstance. Lushkoff

g. Work ! That’s what you can do ! You must work ! Sergei

h. No one will give me anything when I tell the truth. Lushkoff

i. Work hard, don’t drink, and remember what I have said to you. Sergei

j. Thank you for your kind words and deeds. Lushkoff

k. I am delighted for your shake. Sergei

l. How are you? What are you doing? How is everything with you? Sergei

Activity-II

Arrange the above statements in proper order as they are used in the story.

b. For three days I have had nothing to eat.

f. Help me kindly : I am ashamed to ask – but I am obliged to by circumstance.

d. I shall send the police for you

h. No one will give me anything when I tell the truth.

g. Work ! That’s what you can do ! You must work!

i. Work hard, don’t drink, and remember what I have said to you. 

e. Well, I am happy that my words have taken effect.

l. How are you? What are you doing? How is everything with you?

k. I am delighted for your shake.

j. Thank you for your kind words and deeds

a. She set me right and I shall never forget it.

Activity – III

FLOW CHART

The beggar requested the advocate for money.

The advocate asked the beggar to chop wood.

The beggar on the first of every month appeared and earned half a rouble.

The advocate offered another one of copying.

The advocate met Lushkoff after two years.

The advocate wanted to know the truth,

The beggar told him every thing about his change,

The beggar owed a lot to the cook and departed,

Activity – IV

Read the story and fill in the blanks in the table with information about the characters.