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?

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?

In the story ‘Three Questions’, Leo Tolstoy unravels the basic crisis of human nature through three simple questions which had occurred to the Tsar. He was eager to know the right time to start every work, who were the right people to listen to and the work that needed his utmost attention. 

The Tsar wanted correct answers to these three questions hoping that, if he gained this information he would never make a mistake in any decision that he took.

When he was not satisfied with the answers of the learned men, he decided to consult a hermit who lived in the woods and was well-known for his wisdom.

Draw a character sketch of the hermit in the story ‘Three Questions’.

We, the readers are introduced to the hermit as the Tsar stepped before his hut. When the Tsar approached the hermit he was preparing the seedbeds with a spade in his hand. He was not at all disturbed as the Tsar appeared before him, but carried on with his activity, oblivious of the world outside. He greeted the Tsar and continued the exhaustive task, panting heavily. Later he allowed the Tsar to feel at home by handing him over his spade.

The unexpected entry of the wounded man necessitated the hermit assisting the Tsar in nursing the man. The hermit exposed his intellectual side by giving answers to the three questions that was the sole intention of the Tsar for his visit to the wood. His explanation proved that only a prophet-an ethical, sensible man like the hermit could analyse the true worth of life. So, we can conclude that the character of the hermit is the infallible embodiment of wisdom and virtues.

What role did the bearded man play in “Three Questions”?

The bearded man plays an important role in the story ‘Three Questions’. The bearded man was an enemy of the Tsar because the Tsar executed his brother and seized his property. The man loved his brother so much that he wanted to take revenge on the Tsar by killing him. But he found that the Tsar was very kind and took care of him when he was severely injured and saved his life. This incident moved him and he begged for the Tsar’s mercy. He was moved by the Tsar’s greatness and wanted to serve the Tsar as his slave but the Tsar forgave him and made friends with him. In fact, he was one of the aspects that helped the Tsar to acquire his answers. For if he had not stayed back to help the hermit he could have been killed by the bearded man and if he had not attended the wounded bearded man he would not have gained a faithful slave for life. Hence, the Tsar got the answer of the right time, right people and important thing to do while nursing him.