Why do you think that the hermit did not give the Tsar answers to the Tsar’s questions till the end?

The hermit did not give answers to the Tsar’s questions until the end, as being a wise man he knew that it would be difficult for the Tsar to realise the truth of his words. Great teachers teach by example and their teachings transform lives. The hermit helped the Tsar analyse and interpret his real-life experiences. This led the Tsar, come to the conclusion, that the most important time is the present moment as it is the only time when one has any power. The most important man is the one with whom he is at that present moment and the most important work is to do good to the person with whom he is at that present moment. 

The wise hermit’s teachings made the Tsar understand the true purpose of life. The Tsar realised why the creator has sent a man into this world.

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.

Yes, as a reader, I agree with the hermit’s answers to the three questions. If the Tsar had not waited to help the hermit but had gone his way, then that man would have attacked him and he would have repented for not having stayed back with the hermit. So, at that moment the hermit’s answer was right. The most important time was when he was digging the seedbeds. The hermit was the most important man and to do him good was his most important business. Afterwards when the Tsar saw the injured man, the most important time was when he was attending him, otherwise he would have died without making peace with the Tsar. He was then the most important man and what the Tsar did for him was his most important business for he gained a faithful follower for life.

“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 Tsar was the speaker. He spoke to the wise hermit who lived in a wood. 

The Tsar asked the hermit three questions. The first question was how he could learn to do the right thing at the right time. The second question was who were the right people to listen to and whom to avoid. The third question was what affairs were the most important, and need his first attention. 

The Tsar had already requested the hermit to answer his questions twice before but had not been answered by the hermit on any of the occasion. So, before leaving the wood, the Tsar requested the hermit for the last time to answer his questions.

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.

The Tsar knew that the hermit met only common people. So he dressed himself up as a common man by putting on simple clothes and dismounting from his horse he went alone to meet the hermit. It can also be argued that perhaps he knew that concealing his true identity from the hermit was not possible. But he did not want to use his power and position in front of the wise hermit and respected his thoughts. So he dressed simply to meet the hermit.

Yes, I think the hermit knew that it was the Tsar in the disguise of a common man. It would be too naive to believe that someone like the hermit in the text with his profound wisdom could have been deceived by any kind of tricks. For him it did not matter whether it was the Tsar or a common man. All were equal to him.

Though the hermit did not say anything to the king for some time, he did not ignore the king, or treat him rudely in any way’-Do you agree? What evidences of his politeness can you point out in the text?

When the Tsar approached the hermit’s hut, he saw the hermit was busy digging seedbeds. The hermit greeted the Tsar and continued with his work silently. He heard the questions asked by the Tsar but without replying he went on digging. Though he did not answer, he never insulted the Tsar, rather he behaved very politely with him. The noble Tsar, sympathised with the hermit and took over his work. Initially, the hermit agreed with the Tsar, but then, after a while, he requested the Tsar to give him the spade back and asked the Tsar to take rest. Then again, we find the evidence of his politeness when he assisted the Tsar in nursing the wounded man. Finally, the answers provided for the Tsar’s question bear testimony of the hermit’s politeness as well as his wisdom.