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?

The Tsar executed the wounded man brother and seized his property. Since that day, he became an enemy of the Tsar.

The bearded man swore to take revenge on the Tsar and resolved to kill him to satisfy his retaliation. So he was hiding in the forest and waiting for the Tsar to return from the hermit’s hut so that he could kill the Tsar. 

When the bearded man was spotted by the royal bodyguard they wounded him badly. Somehow he managed to escape from their grip and reached the hermit’s hut. There the Tsar nursed him through the evening and he regained consciousness. The bearded man asked for forgiveness when he realised that the Tsar had saved his life. He promised the Tsar to serve him as his most faithful slave and would bid his sons do the same.

How did the Tsar nurse the wounded man?

The Tsar unfastened the wounded man clothing with the hermit’s help. He noticed a large wound in the man’s stomach. He washed the wound and bandaged it with his handkerchief and a towel provided by the hermit. As the man was bleeding profusely, he had to remove the bandage soaked with blood frequently, wash the wound and re-bandage it. Finally, as a result of the Tsar’s solicitous nursing through the evening, the bleeding stopped. The wounded man slowly regained consciousness and asked for something to drink. The Tsar gave him fresh water and with the hermit’s help carried him to a bed inside the hut. In this way, the Tsar nursed the wounded man and saved his life.


“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?


The wounded man said this to the Tsar. At first, the bearded man asked for the Tsar’s forgiveness. Then he revealed his identity and declared that he was an enemy of the Tsar because the Tsar executed his brother and seized his property. He also disclosed to the Tsar, his plan of killing the Tsar. On being saved by the Tsar, he promised to serve the Tsar as his most loyal slave and also assured the Tsar that he would tell his sons to do the same. 

The other person i.e. the Tsar was delighted to have ended the enmity so easily, and to have found a new friend in the wounded man. The Tsar not only forgave the bearded man but also told him that he would send his servants and his own physician to treat him. He even promised the wounded man to give back his property.

“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?


“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.