“The hermit’s answers are not only useful for the Tsar but also for each and every human being.” – Justify this statement.

According to the hermit, the only time that is important is ‘now’ of the present moment. The most important person is he with whom one is at that particular time and the most important affair is to do that man well. These answers are true for each and every human being. We often tend to ignore the present and are always worried about the future or brood over the past. Future is unpredictable and past is something that cannot be changed. So we should concentrate on the present as it is the only time when we have any power in our hands to do something. Therefore, one should learn to listen and attend to the person beside him at the present and look for his welfare. Because man has been sent on earth to do good to others, to spread peace and happiness and one must remember this and act likewise.

What is the moral message embedded in the short story ‘Three Questions’?

Three Questions’ by Leo Tolstoy contains a universal truth. The true purpose of life is to help others. The learned men provided different answers to the Tsar’s three questions and the Tsar did not agree with any of them. So, with a wish to know the answers to his questions he went to a wise hermit who lived in a wood. There the Tsar got his answers through his own experiences. The story portrays that it is none other than the man himself, who can find the answers to his own questions. Man learns everything through his own actions. No single person can provide a perfect answer as to what is the right time to start a work, whom to listen to and whom to avoid and which is the most important thing to get first priority. It is only life and no book or any individual that teaches one to make the right decisions. This 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.

Friday, Nov. 15 Yesterday was the day which changed my life forever. I have already told you about the Tsar, my sworn enemy who killed my brother. He even confiscated my brother’s property! Last morning I heard that he was going to meet the hermit in the woods-alone! ‘This is my chance,’ I thought. Without wasting any time, I set out with my dagger to kill him on his way back. Hiding behind a bush I waited. I was burning with rage. But time passed and he did not return. So I came out and unfortunately his bodyguard recognised me and wounded me. I was bleeding profusely. What to do! I thought-the hermit-yes the hermit. I ran towards his hut and fell down. When I opened my eyes, I could not believe what I saw. The Tsar was dressing up my wounds. The man whom I wanted to kill was nursing me!! Suddenly, I felt the pangs of conscience and spent the night sleeplessly staring at the Tsar, who was asleep on the threshold of the hut. Next morning when he woke up, I was in tears. I told him everything. I promised to be his loyal slave throughout. Unexpectedly, he forgave me and he even promised to return the property! He said that he would send his servants and physician to attend to me. God! What a sin I would have committed if I had killed him yesterday!

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.

Recently witnessed a very important incident which helped me to learn some important lessons in life. A wise hermit was requested to answer three questions by the Tsar, who had come to the hermit’s hut in the woods. I, being present there was lucky to witness the answers provided by the hermit. 

The hermit did not reply immediately, but after the occurrence of a few incidents during the day, he replied that the present is the most important time for a person’. The answer was appropriate. We all think about our future and spend time planning how to secure it, but actually, we cannot predict our future, nor can we change our past. The hermit’s answer immediately helped me to have a new philosophy of life. Why brood over the past or worry about our future when we can build our present more beautifully? If we concentrate on our present, it will automatically lead to a better future.

Again, the hermit was too wise in saying that the one with whom we are at the present time, is the most important person, and to do him good must be our only motive. This opinion opened my eyes and I was reminded of the fact that we, the children of God are sent to earth to do good to an individual as well as to the society where we live in.

So, I came back from that place with new knowledge that inspired me to change my outlook. From then on, I promised myself to give importance to my ‘present’. Most importantly I will try to help them and do them good as much as I can. Now I know for sure that this is going to give me infinite happiness.