“You have already been answered” – Who said this and to whom? How had the person referred to been answered?

The hermit said this to the Tsar in the story “Three Questions”.

The Tsar requested the hermit to answer his questions several times but the hermit believed that experience is the best teacher. So, the Tsar was answered by his real-life experiences. The hermit told the Tsar that if the Tsar had not dug the seedbeds for the hermit out of pity, then the Tsar would have gone his way and would have been attacked by the man and would have regretted the fact of not staying with the hermit. So, when the Tsar was digging the beds was the most important time, and for whom he was digging the beds was the most important person and to do good to the hermit was his most important business. The hermit also told the Tsar that later when he was attending the wounded man then that time was the most important time, the wounded man was the most important person and tending the wounded man was the Tsar’s most important business. If the Tsar had not saved the wounded man, then he would not have become friends with his former enemy so easily. By citing these examples, the hermit made the Tsar understand the true purpose of life, which is to help others.

How did the enemy of the king become friend with the king in Leo Tolstoy’s “Three Questions?

The Tsar had never known that he had an enemy who was so determined to kill him and had even followed him to the woods. When he came out from his ambush to find the Tsar, his bodyguard recognised him and wounded him fatally. Somehow, he managed to escape from their shackles and reached the hermit’s hut where the Tsar nursed him till he revived. When the man came back to consciousness and realised that the Tsar had saved his life, he repented. He asked for forgiveness and promised to serve his saviour faithfully throughout his life and instruct his sons to do the same. The Tsar was happy to have gained an unknown enemy for a loyal friend. He forgave the man and promised to restore his property. He even assured him that he would send his servants and his own physician to look after him. Thus, they both reconciled with each other peacefully.

Why do you think the Tsar forgive the bearded man instead of his attempt to kill the Tsar?

The Tsar appreciated the bearded man’s honesty. The bearded man told the truth to the Tsar and stated the reason for his hatred towards the Tsar. The bearded man was brave enough to accept the truth and this quality of the man impressed the Tsar. For this reason, the Tsar forgave the bearded man instead of his attempt to kill him. The bearded man wanted to serve as a slave of the Tsar but the Tsar offered his friendship.

“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?

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.