Why did Mrs Jones not send the boy to jail for his attempt to steal?

Mrs Jones was a different kind of a woman who had an unusual thought process. She could well understand by looking at Roger that he was not a born thief but there must have been some reason which compelled him to try to steal. Therefore she wanted to know that reason and make him learn from his mistake. Keeping up a stern attitude she told Roger that he would remember Mrs Jones even after her getting through with him, and dragged him home. She called him ‘son’ and hearing the actual reason for stealing, recollected her days of need. She knew that if she had handed over this boy to the police his life would have got ruined. She believed that if he is shown the right path of life, he would change. So she chose to act as his mentor instead of spoiling his life by sending him to jail.

Do you think Roger will try to steal again? Give reasons and use details from the story to support your answer.

After receiving kind treatment and learning a new lesson of life from Mrs Jones, Roger has been enlightened enough to start a new life. The moment he comes out of the house he enters a new world where he would try to live an honest life and get things in the right way. So he, being at a loss of words to thank Mrs Jones could only say ‘Thank you, ma’am’. Had he not been changed, he would have run at the first opportunity given. He got ample opportunities of running away, that too with the purse of Mrs Jones when she was busy preparing dinner. But he had not done so. He had also learnt that things got by the devilish way would ruin one’s life by taking away a person’s mental peace. So we can conclude that he would never steal again.


At the end of the story, it says that the boy wanted to say something else other than ‘Thank You’ to Mrs Jones, but he could not-What were the circumstances that led him to thank Mrs Jones?

Who do you think is the central character of the story-Mrs Jones or Roger? Give reasons for your analysis.


Do you think a chance encounter between people can sometimes change their lives? Write about such an instance in your own words.

What lessons can we learn from the story “Thank You Ma’am”?


Discuss the significance of the title of the story, “Three Questions”.

Assess how much successful is “Three Questions as a short story. | Analyse the character of the Tsar.


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?

Draw a character sketch of the hermit in the story ‘Three Questions’. | What role did the bearded man play in “Three Questions”?


“You are tired,”-Who said this and to whom? Why did the speaker come to the listener? Why did the speaker offer to help? How was he benefitted by this?

How did the Tsar go to the wood where the wise hermit lived ? What was the hermit doing then ? What did the Tsar say to the hermit?

What answers did the learned men give to the three questions? Or, How did the learned men answer to Tsar’s questions? 


“Here comes someone running”-Who is the speaker? Who was coming? Why did he come running? What happened to him? Describe his condition? How was he received at the hermit’s cottage?

“I am that enemy of yours who swore to revenge himself on you.”-Who was the speaker? To whom was it spoken? How did he become enemy of the person spoken to? Why did he confess so before him?

“Now rest awhile and let me work a bit.”-Explain with reference to the context.


“I resolved to kill you …” – Why did the speaker want to kill the Tsar? How was the man wounded? Was he successful in his mission?

What was the first question? How did the learned men give answers to this question? | Why had the bearded man requested the Tsar to forgive him?


What was the second question? What answers did the learned men give to that question?

What was the third question? How did the learned men answer the question? | Why was the Tsar not satisfied with the answers of the learned men?


Why did the Tsar not agree with the answers of the learned men? Who did the Tsar decide to consult again? What was this person famous for? How did the Tsar go to visit this person?

Why did the Tsar decide to meet the hermit? After meeting him, how did the Tsar assist him in his work | Describe the meeting of Tsar with the hermit?