The speaker, resolved to kill the Tsar because he (the Tsar), in the past, executed his brother and seized his property. So, the bearded man had the motive to kill the Tsar. He followed the Tsar all the way to the hermit’s hut and was hiding in an ambush to attack him.
As the daylight was gradually fading, he felt restless and came out to find the Tsar. On his way, he was spotted by the royal bodyguard who wounded him badly. Somehow, he managed to escape from their clutches and reached the hermit’s hut. There he received the hospitality of the Tsar. The Tsar nursed his wounds and saved him.
The bearded man was so overwhelmed by the humane act of the Tsar, that he changed his decision. Thus, his mission turned out to be an unsuccessful one. He could not kill the person who had saved his life.
The first question that the Tsar asked the learned men was, what was the right time for the commencement of any work. In reply to it, some said that to know the right time for every action, one must draw up in advance, a table of days, months and years, and must live strictly according to it. Others suggested that one must remain up-to-date with the recent happenings to decide the right time. Some of them opined for a Council of wise men to help the Tsar decide the right time of beginning something. But then again, others stated that there were some issues that could not be rested upon the Council as the Tsar himself needed to settle them. Some others said that only magicians could determine the right time for every action as they have an ability to know the future circumstances beforehand. Thus, no fixed opinion was approved amidst those numerous suggestions. Therefore the Tsar became disappointed.
The Tsar had ordered to kill the bearded man’s brother and seize his property, so the bearded man became an enemy of the Tsar. To avenge his brother’s death, he plotted to kill the Tsar. As a part of his plan, he followed the Tsar to the forest. There he got recognised by the Tsar’s bodyguard and was severely wounded. Somehow, he escaped from there and reached near the hermit’s house where he fainted. The Tsar and the hermit nursed him with great care and saved his life. When the bearded man came to his senses, he realised that it was the very man who he planned to kill helped him revive to life. The bearded man felt ashamed and asked for the Tsar’s forgiveness out of repentance.
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?
Why did the bearded man become an enemy of the Tsar? What did the man swear and resolve to do? Why did he ask forgiveness of the Tsar and what did he promise him?
“You do not know me, but I know you” – Who said this to whom? What else did the speaker say? How did the other person react to these words?
How did the Tsar nurse the wounded man?
“You have already been answered” – Who said this and to whom? How had the person referred to been answered?
How did the enemy of the king become friend with the king in Leo Tolstoy’s “Three Questions?
Why do you think the Tsar forgive the bearded man instead of his attempt to kill the Tsar?
Why do you think that the hermit did not give the Tsar answers to the Tsar’s questions till the end?
Do you agree with the hermit’s answers to the Tsar’s three questions? If yes, state why giving examples from the text to support your argument. If not, state three reasons why you do not agree.
“For the last time, I pray you to answer my questions.”-Who was the speaker? Whom did he speak to? What were the questions? Why did the speaker ask for the last time?
The hermit spoke only to common people, so the Tsar ‘put on simple clothes’ -Do you think the Tsar hoped to be mistaken for a common man? Do you think that the hermit knew the person to be the Tsar? Justify your answer.
Though the hermit did not say anything to the king for some time, he did not ignore the king, or treat him rudely in anyway’-Do you agree? What evidences of his politeness can you point out in the text?
How could you apply the answers to the three questions in your life?
What is the moral message embedded in the short story ‘Three Questions’?
Choose any one of the three characters of the story and write a diary entry of about 300 words explaining the day’s events from the perspective of that character.
Imagine that you were present at that time of that event and write a blog post explaining the lessons you indirectly learned or were taught, using details from the story.
