“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?
The Tsar said this to the wise hermit who was digging the earth. The speaker came to the listener to get the answers of the three questions that occurred to him.
When the Tsar came to the hermit, he found him digging the ground in front of his hut and he looked very tired. For every time he stuck his spade into the ground, he breathed heavily. The Tsar, being kind-hearted, felt for the poor hermit and offered to help him.
The Tsar got one of the answer of his question by helping the hermit. The hermit said that if the Tsar had not pitied the hermit’s weakness and had left his hut, the bearded man, who was seeking revenge, would have attacked the Tsar and killed him. Therefore, according to the hermit, the one with whom we are interacting at present, is the most important person.
What answers did the learned men give to the three questions? Or, How did the learned men answer to Tsar’s questions?
The first question asked by the Tsar was, what was the right time to start any work. Some learned men advised him to draw up in advance, a table of days, months and years and live strictly according to it. Others advised him to do the most needful work without wasting time. Some of the learned men advised him to consult a Council of wise men in order to carry out his work at the right time. Others advised him to consult a magician because they have the power to ascertain things beforehand. When the Tsar asked who were the most important people, some of the learned men said that the Tsar’s councillors were the most important persons, others mentioned the priests, some said doctors and others said, warriors. The Tsar’s third question was what was the most important work that he should undertake. He got different answers again. Some said it was science, some said skill in warfare and others said that it was religious worship. All the answers ultimately served nothing but to perplex the Tsar.
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?
The hermit received none but common folk. So, the Tsar put on simple clothes and before reaching the hermit’s hut got down from his horse and leaving his bodyguard behind, went to the wood alone where the hermit lived.
When the Tsar went to meet him, the hermit was digging the ground in front of his hut.
The Tsar told the wise hermit that he had come to him to ask him the answers of three questions. The first question was how could the Tsar learn to do the right thing at the right time. The second question was who were the right people to listen to and to whom should the Tsar, therefore, pay more attention than the rest. The third question was what was the most important thing to do, and need the Tsar’s first attention.
“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?
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?
