The Proposal Class 10: Summary, Themes and Character Sketches
Updated 14 October 2026 · Fact-checked
The Proposal is a one-act farce by Anton Chekhov in First Flight. Lomov comes to propose to Natalya but keeps quarrelling with her and her father over Oxen Meadows and two dogs. The board tests it through drama extracts, 40-50 word short answers and 100-120 word long answers on character, theme and humour.
What The Proposal is about
The Proposal is a one-act play from First Flight, written by the Russian writer Anton Chekhov in 1888–89. It is a farce, a comedy built on silly situations and exaggerated characters. In one line: a nervous, wealthy landowner comes to ask for his neighbour's daughter's hand, but all three people quarrel so much over petty things that the proposal is almost forgotten.
In the board paper this play can appear in Section C. You may get an extract in Q6 (one of two prose or drama extracts), with 1-mark objective parts and a 2-mark part of 30-40 words that asks for inference. It can also come as a short answer in Q8 (40-50 words, 3 marks) or a long answer in Q10 (about 100-120 words, 6 marks), where you must show creativity and go beyond the text, for example on anger, forgiveness or relationships.
In real board papers: asked in 4 of the 21 board papers we hold (2023 to 2026), on average 1 marks per paper. See the questions
The Proposal: summary
In our own words, in the order of the text. Read the NCERT text itself too: the board quotes from it.
The play opens in the drawing-room of Stepan Stepanovitch Chubukov, a landowner. His neighbour Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov arrives in evening dress and white gloves. Chubukov greets him with sugary words like "my darling" and "my treasure", but is puzzled by the formal clothes. Lomov is so nervous that he mixes up names and has to drink water. In an aside, Chubukov guesses that Lomov has come to borrow money and decides not to lend any.
When Lomov finally asks for the hand of Chubukov's daughter, Natalya Stepanovna, Chubukov is overjoyed. He embraces Lomov, says he has always loved him like a son, and claims Natalya is in love with him. He goes to fetch her.
Alone, Lomov talks to himself. He feels he must decide quickly, or he will never marry. He lists Natalya's good points: a fine housekeeper, not bad-looking, well-educated. He also lists his reasons: he is 35, he needs a quiet, regular life, and he suffers from palpitations and sleepless nights.
Natalya enters in her apron. Her father had told her a merchant had come for his goods. She chats about shelling peas and stacking hay. Lomov starts a long speech about the friendship between the two families and mentions that his Oxen Meadows touch her birchwoods. Natalya at once objects: the Meadows are hers. A fierce argument follows. Lomov explains that his aunt's grandmother gave the peasants of Natalya's father's grandfather free use of the land in return for bricks. Natalya says her family has held the land for nearly three hundred years. She admits the land is worth only about 300 roubles, but says she cannot stand unfairness. She reminds him they once lent him their threshing-machine and threatens to send her mowers there.
Chubukov comes in and takes his daughter's side. The quarrel turns into insults about each other's families: embezzlement, lunacy, a drunkard grandfather, an aunt who ran away with an architect, a hump-backed mother, a gambler father. Lomov, clutching his heart, staggers out.
Only now does Chubukov reveal that Lomov had come to propose. Natalya goes into hysterics and demands that he be brought back. Chubukov fetches him. Natalya apologises and agrees that the Meadows are his.
To start a fresh topic she asks about shooting. Lomov mentions that his dog Guess has gone lame, and a new quarrel begins over whether Guess or Chubukov's dog Squeezer is the better hunter. Lomov says Squeezer is overshot; Natalya says Guess is old and ugly. Chubukov joins in, and the argument again becomes personal: Lomov calls Chubukov an intriguer and says his late wife used to beat him; Chubukov says Lomov is under his housekeeper's slipper.
Lomov collapses into an armchair. Natalya thinks he is dead and Chubukov despairs. When Lomov comes round, Chubukov quickly puts his hand into Natalya's and gives his blessing. The two kiss and say they are happy. Yet within moments Natalya insists Guess is worse than Squeezer, the quarrel restarts, and Chubukov tries to shout them down by calling for champagne as the curtain falls.
Themes and message
Marriage as a practical and economic arrangement
The play shows marriage driven by convenience and property rather than love. The introduction says wealthy families seek ties with other wealthy families to increase their estates. Lomov never speaks of love; he wants a wife because of his age and health, and he even says that looking for real love would stop him from marrying. Chubukov's joy also seems linked to settling his grown-up daughter. We can infer that Chekhov is mocking a society where marriage is a sensible deal, which is why the proposal survives every quarrel.
From the text: Lomov's monologue: he is "already 35 — a critical age", needs "a quiet and regular life", and lists Natalya's qualities as a housekeeper. Chubukov: "Oh, what a burden, Lord, to be the father of a grown-up daughter!"
Petty quarrels and the foolishness of anger
All three characters fight over trivial things: a small piece of land and two hunting dogs. The Meadows are worth only about 300 roubles, yet they nearly wreck the proposal. Each quarrel grows from facts into family insults and physical collapse. This suggests that anger blinds people to what really matters. The ending, where Natalya restarts the dog argument right after accepting Lomov, hints that quarrelling is part of their nature and will continue in the marriage.
From the text: Natalya: "worth perhaps 300 roubles, but I can’t stand unfairness"; the shouting match "Ours!" / "Mine!"; the final "Better!" / "Worse!" exchange.
Ego and false pride ("principle")
Every character wants to win more than they want to be fair. Lomov keeps saying he is acting "on principle" and offers to make Natalya a present of the Meadows, which only insults her more. Natalya and Chubukov refuse to give up anything of theirs. Their pride in land, dogs and family name matters more to them than peace. We can infer that Chekhov uses the word "principle" ironically: it is really stubbornness dressed up as honour.
From the text: Lomov: "I don’t want the Meadows, but I am acting on principle." Chubukov: "I don’t want anything of yours, and don’t intend to give up what I have."
Hypocrisy and changing attitudes
The characters' words change with their interest. Chubukov calls Lomov "my angel" and says he loves him like a son, but minutes later calls him a "pettifogger" and a "stuffed sausage". Natalya calls Lomov a rascal and a monster, then wails for him to be brought back once she hears of the proposal, and suddenly agrees the Meadows are his. This suggests their sweetness is shallow and depends on what they can gain.
From the text: Chubukov's aside "He’s come to borrow money. Shan’t give him any!" before his loving welcome; Natalya: "Forgive us, Ivan Vassilevitch, we were all a little heated."
Forgiveness and compromise keep relationships alive
The only reason the proposal succeeds is that someone gives way. Natalya apologises and accepts that the Meadows are Lomov's; Chubukov, in panic, simply joins their hands. The play shows by contrast what happens without forgiveness: insults, collapse, near-disaster. For a long answer, you can argue that a relationship needs the ability to say sorry and let go of small issues, while noting that these characters manage it only briefly.
From the text: Natalya: "The Meadows are yours, yes, yours. Do sit down... We were wrong." Chubukov: "She’s willing and all that. I give you my blessing".
Characters
Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov
A 35-year-old wealthy landowner and Chubukov's neighbour, who comes to propose to Natalya; the play's nervous, comic hero.
- Nervous and hypochondriac: he constantly complains of palpitations, a twitching eyebrow, a numb foot and pulls in his side.
- Practical, not romantic: he chooses Natalya for her housekeeping, looks and education, and because he is at a 'critical age'.
- Suspicious and quick to take offence: the character list calls him 'very suspicious', and he accuses Chubukov of being a 'grabber'.
- Stubborn and argumentative: he will not give up on Oxen Meadows or admit Squeezer is better than Guess.
- Formal and long-winded: he gives a roundabout speech about family history instead of proposing directly.
He drinks water when excited, says he is "trembling all over", and says he must make up his mind quickly or he will "never get married". He fights over the Meadows "on principle" and finally collapses, crying for "A doctor!"
Natalya Stepanovna
Chubukov's 25-year-old daughter, to whom Lomov proposes; a sharp-tongued, hard-working young woman.
- Hard-working housekeeper: she is shelling peas and worrying about her hay rotting.
- Quarrelsome and proud: she fights fiercely over land and dogs and refuses to 'shut up'.
- Sarcastic and cutting: she mocks Lomov's heart trouble and says he should catch black beetles instead of hunting foxes.
- Changeable and self-interested: she turns from calling Lomov a 'rascal' to begging for him once she hears of the proposal.
- Eager to marry: her hysterics and her aside 'I wish I knew how to get him started' show she wants the proposal.
"I shan’t shut up until you acknowledge that Squeezer is a hundred times better than your Guess!"; "To propose to me? Ah!... Bring him back!"; she concedes, "Oxen Meadows... really are yours."
Stepan Stepanovitch Chubukov
A landowner, Natalya's father and Lomov's neighbour; he welcomes the proposal, joins every quarrel and finally forces the match.
- Insincere and flattering: he showers Lomov with sweet names but secretly suspects he wants money.
- Hot-tempered: he admits he is 'very liable to lose my temper' and hurls insults like 'pettifogger' and 'turnip-ghost'.
- Protective of his family's interests: he backs Natalya on the Meadows and the dogs every time.
- Dramatic and exaggerating: he threatens to shoot, hang or cut his own throat.
- Practical and eager to settle his daughter: he speeds up the engagement just to have peace.
Aside: "He’s come to borrow money. Shan’t give him any!"; "I’d much sooner give up the Meadows to the peasants than to you"; at the end: "Hurry up and get married and — well, to the devil with you! She’s willing!"
How it is written
| Device | Example | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Farce and situational humour | A man comes to propose but ends up fighting over land and dogs, collapses, is thought to be dead, and is then engaged within seconds. | The exaggerated, absurd situations make the audience laugh while exposing how silly greed, pride and anger are. |
| Irony | Lomov reminds Natalya of the 'most friendly' regard between the families just before the bitterest quarrel; Chubukov ends with 'that’s a way to start your family bliss!' while they are still arguing. | The gap between what is said and what happens shows the hollowness of their 'friendship' and hints that the marriage will be full of fights. |
| Stage directions and asides | [aside] He’s come to borrow money; [Drinks]; [Clutches at his heart]; Natalya's [aside] I wish I knew how to get him started. | Asides reveal hidden thoughts to the audience, creating comic irony. Physical directions show nervousness and rising tension, telling the actor how to perform. |
| Repetition and short, clipped dialogue | 'Ours!' / 'Mine!' repeated; 'Better!' / 'Worse!'; Natalya's 'shan’t give them up, shan’t give them up'. | The rapid back-and-forth builds pace and shows childish stubbornness; it turns adults into squabbling children, which adds to the humour. |
| Ellipses and broken speech | Lomov: 'You see, Honoured Stepanitch... I beg pardon Stepan Honouritch... I mean, I’m awfully excited'. | The pauses and slips show Lomov's nervousness and hesitation, and delay the proposal, increasing suspense and comedy. |
Key quotations
Short lines worth knowing by heart: who says them, when, and why they matter.
He’s come to borrow money. Shan’t give him any!
Chubukov: An aside, when Lomov arrives in evening dress and nervously says he has a request.
It exposes Chubukov's suspicion and insincerity. His loving words to Lomov are mere politeness, which adds irony to his later claim of loving him like a son.
She’s in love; egad, she’s like a lovesick cat, and so on.
Chubukov: After Lomov asks whether he can count on Natalya's consent.
Chubukov is eager to marry off his daughter. The comparison is comic, and the play later tests it: Natalya quarrels fiercely but does want the marriage.
I’m trembling all over, just as if I’d got an examination before me.
Lomov: His monologue while Chubukov goes to call Natalya.
It shows his nervousness and anxiety. The simile makes his fear relatable and comic, and sets up his hypochondriac nature.
I’m already 35 — a critical age, so to speak.
Lomov: Lomov listing his reasons why he must marry.
It proves that his proposal is practical, not romantic. Age and health, not love, push him to marry.
worth perhaps 300 roubles, but I can’t stand unfairness
Natalya: During the quarrel over Oxen Meadows.
She admits the land is of little value, which shows the quarrel is about pride and ego, not money. This is the heart of the play's satire on petty fights.
Natalya Stepanovna, I don’t want the Meadows, but I am acting on principle.
Lomov: Lomov offers to gift the Meadows, which angers Natalya further.
'Principle' is really stubbornness. His offer to 'present' her own land shows how ego makes people tactless.
Forgive us, Ivan Vassilevitch, we were all a little heated.
Natalya: After Lomov is brought back and Natalya has learnt of the proposal.
Her sudden apology shows that self-interest changes her stand. It also shows that forgiveness is what allows the proposal to go ahead.
Well, that’s a way to start your family bliss!
Chubukov: Right after the engagement, when Natalya and Lomov restart the dog quarrel.
Ironic ending: the 'bliss' is already full of arguments, suggesting their married life will be one long quarrel.
The Proposal in real life
Each concept, met in an everyday situation. Read the situation, answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.
Petty quarrels and the foolishness of anger
Imagine you and your younger cousin are travelling by bus to a family wedding. You both want the window seat, and the argument becomes so loud that the whole family gets upset. The trip to a happy occasion begins badly.
How is your quarrel similar to the dispute over Oxen Meadows? What could you have done differently? Answer in 40-50 words.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- Identify how small the issue is (seat versus land worth perhaps 300 roubles).
- Show how pride turned it into a big fight.
- Link to the proposal nearly being lost.
- Suggest a sensible compromise.
Answer: Like the Meadows, worth perhaps 300 roubles, the window seat hardly matters, yet pride turned it into a fight that spoiled a happy occasion, just as the proposal was nearly lost. We could have taken turns, choosing the relationship over winning.
Memory hook: Window seat today, Oxen Meadows in the play: small prize, big fight.
Ego and false pride ("principle")
Suppose your friend insists a run-out in a gully cricket match was unfair. Everyone agrees the run will not change the result, but he refuses to play on, saying it is a matter of principle. The match ends and everyone goes home angry.
Compare your friend's attitude with Lomov's claim that he is 'acting on principle'. Is it really principle? Answer in 40-50 words.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- Point out that both use the word 'principle'.
- Lomov says he does not want the Meadows, yet keeps fighting.
- The friend gains nothing from the run either.
- Judge: this is ego, and it costs a relationship.
Answer: Both use 'principle' to hide pride. Lomov says he does not even want the Meadows, yet shouts until his heart palpitates. My friend, too, gains nothing from the run-out. True principle protects what is right; this only protects ego and costs friendship.
Memory hook: When someone says 'it's the principle', ask: is it the Meadows or the ego?
Forgiveness and compromise keep relationships alive
Imagine you and your best friend stopped talking after arguing about whose idea a science project was. Two weeks before the board exams, you realise you miss revising together.
Using Natalya's apology to Lomov as an example, write what you would say to your friend to repair the friendship. Answer in 40-50 words.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- Begin by admitting your own part in the quarrel.
- Use Natalya's words as the model of a simple apology.
- Put the relationship above the point of dispute.
- Suggest a positive next step, and keep the peace (unlike Natalya, who soon quarrels again).
Answer: I'm sorry. I got too heated, just as Natalya admits 'we were all a little heated' before making peace with Lomov. Whose idea it was hardly matters now. Our friendship does. Let's forget the argument and revise together for the boards like before.
Memory hook: 'We were all a little heated' is the shortest bridge back to a friend.
Marriage as a practical and economic arrangement
Suppose, at a family dinner, an elderly relative says a cousin's match should be decided only by how much land and income the other family has. Nobody asks whether the two people actually get along.
What would 'The Proposal' suggest about this view? Answer in 40-50 words.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- Note that Lomov and Natalya are matched by wealth and neighbouring land.
- Show that they quarrel even after the engagement.
- Conclude that understanding and respect are needed too.
Answer: The play suggests that a match made only for property brings little peace. Lomov and Natalya are well matched in wealth and land, yet they quarrel even after the engagement. Understanding, patience and respect matter as much as estates for a happy married life.
Memory hook: Matching land does not mean matching hearts: Lomov and Natalya still fight.
Hypocrisy and changing attitudes
Imagine a neighbour who greets your family warmly at every festival. After a small dispute over a parking spot, the same neighbour starts spreading unkind stories about your grandparents.
Compare the neighbour's behaviour with Chubukov's treatment of Lomov. What does it show about sincerity? Answer in 40-50 words.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- Chubukov's sweet words at the start ('my angel').
- His insults about Lomov's family during the quarrel.
- Link to the neighbour's change after a small dispute.
- Judge what real goodwill looks like.
Answer: Like Chubukov, who calls Lomov 'my angel' but soon calls his grandfather a drunkard and claims lunacy runs in his family, the neighbour's warmth depended on convenience. Real goodwill survives disagreements; politeness that turns to insults at the first conflict was never sincere.
Memory hook: 'My angel' to 'Old rat!' in one scene: sweetness that breaks easily was never real.
Topics in this chapter
- The Proposal Character Sketch of LomovComing soon
- Chubukov and Natalya Character SketchComing soon
- The Proposal Question AnswersComing soon
- The Proposal Theme and MessageComing soon
- The Proposal Summary and Quarrels Explained
How the board asks The Proposal
The question patterns to expect, and the method that works for each.
| Question type | How it is asked | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Extract-based questions (Q6) | A dialogue passage is given with parts like: explain a character's attitude, what the ellipses or stage directions show, fill in a blank about a phrase, identify who is speaking or what they are trying to prove, and one 2-mark inference part (30-40 words). | Read the whole extract and place it in the plot (before or after the proposal is revealed). For the 1-mark parts, answer exactly. For the 2-mark part, give a clear point plus a reason from the extract, such as a stage direction or a repeated word, in 30-40 words. |
| Character-based short answer (Q8, 40-50 words) | Asks about one trait or action: why Lomov wants to marry, whether Chubukov is sincere, why Natalya changes her stand on the Meadows. | Start with a direct answer, give two pieces of evidence from the play, and end with a one-line inference. Stay within 50 words; content earns 2 marks and expression 1. |
| Theme or message short answer (Q8) | Asks what the quarrels reveal, why the play is called a farce, or what the ending suggests about the marriage. | Name the theme in your first sentence, link it to one quarrel (Meadows or dogs) and one detail like the 300 roubles, then state what Chekhov is mocking. |
| Long answer on values (Q10, 100-120 words) | A value-based question like anger management, forgiveness, relationships or ego, to be answered with reference to the play, sometimes as a speech, article or diary entry. | Take a clear stand, use two or three events from the play as evidence (the Meadows quarrel, the apology, the dog quarrel, the ending), add your own view or a real-life link, and conclude. Follow any format asked. Content 3, Expression 2, Accuracy 1. |
| Dramatic technique and tone | Asks how stage directions, asides, ellipses or repetition build humour or tension, or how an actor should deliver a line. | Name the device, quote a tiny example, and explain its effect on the audience: humour, suspense, or revealing hidden thoughts. For voice modulation, link it to the character's emotion (nervous, angry, hysterical). |
Tricks to remember The Proposal
Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.
Gloves, Grass, Guess, Glass
Gloves: Lomov arrives in evening dress and white gloves. Grass: the quarrel over Oxen Meadows, then the reveal of the proposal. Guess: the dog quarrel (Guess versus Squeezer) and Lomov's collapse. Glass: the engagement and Chubukov's call for champagne while the fighting goes on.
Use it when: Recall the order of events for long answers and summaries.
Whose dog is whose
Squeezer and Stepan both start with S: Squeezer is Chubukov's dog (85 roubles, young, called overshot). Guess is Lomov's (125 roubles paid to Mironov, old). Lomov paid more, so Lomov's dog cost more.
Use it when: Avoid mixing up dog owners and prices in short answers.
Number line of the play
25 (Natalya's age), 35 (Lomov's 'critical age'), 40 (years of free use of the Meadows), 5 dessiatins worth perhaps 300 roubles, nearly 300 years (how long Natalya says her family has had the land), 125 and 85 roubles (the dogs).
Use it when: Answer one-word and fill-in-the-blank extract questions quickly.
Themes: My Ego Picks Huge Fights
M = Marriage as a practical deal, E = Ego and false 'principle', P = Petty quarrels, H = Hypocrisy and changing attitudes, F = Forgiveness and compromise.
Use it when: List all five themes before planning a 6-mark answer.
Three people, three tags
Lomov = heart (palpitations, nervous, 'on principle'). Natalya = land (stubborn, 'I can’t stand unfairness', then gives it up). Chubukov = tongue (sweet words that turn into insults, quick temper).
Use it when: Start a character sketch with the right key trait.
The Proposal: extract-based questions
Read the extract, answer every part on paper, then open the answers.
Extract 1: Natalya learns about the proposal
NATALYA : The monster! First he takes our land and then he has the impudence to abuse us.
CHUBUKOV : And that blind hen, yes, that turnip-ghost has the confounded cheek to make a proposal, and so on! What? A proposal!
NATALYA : What proposal?
CHUBUKOV : Why, he came here to propose to you.
NATALYA : To propose? To me? Why didn’t you tell me so before?
CHUBUKOV : So he dresses up in evening clothes. The stuffed sausage! The wizen-faced frump!
(1) · 1 mark · MCQ
Natalya calls Lomov 'The monster!' because she believes he has
(a) insulted her dog
(b) taken their land and then abused them
(c) refused to return a loan
(d) proposed without asking her father(2) · 1 mark · MCQ
Choose the word closest in meaning to 'impudence' as used in the extract.
(a) shyness
(b) cleverness
(c) rude lack of respect
(d) generosity(3) · 1 mark · Very short answer
What news does Natalya hear for the first time in this extract?
(4) · 2 marks · Short answer
Natalya asks, 'Why didn’t you tell me so before?' What does this question suggest about her, and how does it add to the humour of the scene? Answer in 30-40 words.
Show the answersAnswers
- (b) taken their land and then abused them
- (c) rude lack of respect
- She learns that Lomov had come to propose to her.
- Her question suggests she regrets the quarrel only because she has missed a chance of marriage. Minutes earlier she called Lomov a monster; now the proposal matters more than the land. This sudden reversal creates humour.
Extract 2: The quarrel over the dogs
NATALYA : There’s some demon of contradition in you today, Ivan Vassilevitch. First you pretend that the Meadows are yours; now, that Guess is better than Squeezer. I don’t like people who don’t say what they mean, because you know perfectly well that Squeezer is a hundred times better than your silly Guess. Why do you want to say he isn’t?
LOMOV : I see, Natalya Stepanovna, that you consider me either blind or a fool. You must realise that Squeezer is overshot!
(1) · 1 mark · MCQ
Which of the following best describes Natalya's tone in the extract?
(a) apologetic and gentle
(b) accusing and stubborn
(c) humble and respectful
(d) fearful and nervous(2) · 1 mark · Very short answer
Which phrase does Natalya use to suggest that Lomov is contradicting her for no good reason?
(3) · 1 mark · Very short answer
Complete the sentence: Lomov feels that Natalya considers him ________.
(4) · 2 marks · Short answer
Natalya says, 'First you pretend that the Meadows are yours; now, that Guess is better than Squeezer.' What does this reveal about how quarrels grow in the play? Answer in 30-40 words.
Show the answersAnswers
- (b) accusing and stubborn
- 'some demon of contradition' (spelt this way in the textbook)
- either blind or a fool
- It shows that one quarrel feeds the next. Natalya has just admitted the Meadows are Lomov's, yet she drags that dispute back while arguing about dogs. Unsettled ego, not the issue itself, keeps the fighting alive.
The Proposal: board-level solved questions
Ordered from board level to HOTS. Cover the solution, write your own, then compare step by step.
Example 1: Lomov's evening dress · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level
Why is Lomov dressed in evening dress and white gloves, and how do Chubukov and Natalya react to his appearance? Answer in 40-50 words.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- Lomov has dressed formally because he has come to propose to Natalya.
- Chubukov asks if he is paying a New Year's Eve visit.
- Chubukov secretly (aside) suspects Lomov has come to borrow money.
- Natalya asks if he is going to a ball, but admits he looks better.
Answer: Lomov wears evening dress and white gloves because he has come formally to propose to Natalya. Chubukov wonders if he is paying a New Year's Eve visit, and secretly fears he wants money. Natalya asks if he is going to a ball, though she admits he looks better.
Example 2: Why Lomov must marry · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Why does Lomov feel it is 'impossible' for him not to marry? What does this tell you about his idea of marriage? Answer in 40-50 words.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- He is 35, which he calls 'a critical age'.
- He wants a quiet, regular life because of his palpitations, excitability and broken sleep.
- He describes Natalya only as a good housekeeper, not bad-looking and well-educated.
- Inference: marriage for him is a practical need, not romance.
Answer: Lomov feels he must marry because he is 35, 'a critical age', and needs a quiet, regular life for his palpitations and sleepless nights. He values Natalya only as a good housekeeper, not bad-looking and educated. This shows he sees marriage as a practical need, not love.
Example 3: Character sketch of Lomov · 6 marks · Long answerHarder board level
Write a character sketch of Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov, showing how Chekhov uses him to make fun of human weakness. Answer in about 100-120 words.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- Introduction: 35-year-old landowner, 'large and hearty, but very suspicious' (character list).
- Nervous and anxious about his health: trembles, keeps drinking water, complains of palpitations, twitching eyebrow, numb foot.
- Practical about marriage: chooses Natalya as an excellent housekeeper; wants a quiet, regular life.
- Quarrelsome and egoistic: forgets the proposal, fights over Oxen Meadows 'on principle' and over Guess.
- Insults Chubukov ('intriguer', 'Old rat!').
- Conclusion: through him Chekhov mocks pride and petty anger.
Answer: Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov is a 35-year-old landowner, described as large and hearty but very suspicious. He is nervous and seems a hypochondriac: he trembles, drinks water repeatedly and keeps complaining of palpitations, a twitching eyebrow and a numb foot. His approach to marriage is practical rather than romantic; he chooses Natalya because she is an excellent housekeeper and he wants a quiet, regular life. Yet he is also quarrelsome and egoistic. He forgets his purpose and fights over Oxen Meadows, claiming he acts 'on principle', and later over his dog Guess. He hurls insults like 'intriguer' and 'Old rat!' at Chubukov. Through Lomov, Chekhov laughs at people whose pride and petty anger nearly ruin their own happiness.
Example 4: Natalya and 'unfairness' · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Natalya says the Meadows are worth perhaps 300 roubles, but she 'can’t stand unfairness'. Judging by her later behaviour, how far is this claim true? Answer in 40-50 words.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- Her claim makes her sound principled and fair-minded.
- After learning of the proposal she says the Meadows 'really are yours', with no new proof.
- Inference: her stand was ego and stubbornness; marriage mattered more than truth.
Answer: Her claim sounds noble, but her conduct undercuts it. Once she learns of the proposal, she suddenly admits the Meadows 'really are yours' without any proof. This suggests her stand was ego, not fairness, and that marriage mattered more to her than truth.
Example 5: Natalya's diary on the engagement night · 6 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency
Imagine you are Natalya. On the night of your engagement, write a diary entry reflecting on the day's quarrels and what you have learnt about anger and relationships. Answer in about 100-120 words.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- Format: a heading for the day, informal first-person voice, name at the end.
- Events: Papa said a merchant had come; Lomov in evening dress; quarrel over Oxen Meadows; Lomov driven out.
- Turning point: learning of the proposal, begging Papa to fetch him back, giving up the Meadows.
- Second quarrel over Squeezer and Guess; Lomov collapses; engagement; arguing still continues.
- Reflection: anger makes people forget what matters; forgiveness and letting small things pass keep a relationship alive.
Answer: Engagement night
What a strange day! Papa said a merchant had come, but it was Ivan Vassilevitch, in evening dress. We quarrelled bitterly over Oxen Meadows, land worth barely 300 roubles, and Papa and I drove him out with insults. Only then did I learn he had come to propose. I wept and begged Papa to fetch him back, and I admitted the Meadows were his. Then, foolishly, I began another fight over Squeezer and Guess, and he collapsed. I thought he was dead! We are engaged now, yet we still argued over the dogs. Anger makes us forget what truly matters. If we want a happy home, we must learn to forgive and let small things pass.
Natalya
Example 6: Will the marriage be happy? · 3 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency
The play ends with Natalya shouting 'Worse! Worse! Worse!' while Chubukov calls for champagne. Do you think Lomov and Natalya will have a happy married life? Give reasons. Answer in 40-50 words.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- Even after the engagement they argue over Guess and Squeezer.
- Chubukov has to shout her down with 'Champagne!'.
- Irony: Lomov wanted a quiet, regular life.
- Balanced judgement: quarrels likely, but shared practical interest may hold them together.
Answer: The ending suggests a noisy rather than peaceful marriage. Even after the engagement they argue over Guess and Squeezer, and Chubukov must shout her down. Ironically, Lomov wanted a quiet life. Since neither yields, quarrels will likely continue, though their shared practical interest may keep them together.
Where the marks are
How a typical answer is marked: the value points the examiner looks for and the marks each earns.
Why does Natalya suddenly agree that Oxen Meadows belong to Lomov? What does this reveal about her? (40-50 words) (3 marks)
| Step | Marks |
|---|---|
| Content: she learns from her father that Lomov had come to propose, and wants him brought back | 1 |
| Content: inference that marriage matters more to her than the land, so her 'unfairness' stand was really ego or stubbornness | 1 |
| Expression: clear, connected answer within 40-50 words (up to 1 mark may be deducted for spelling or grammar errors) | 1 |
Write a character sketch of Chubukov, showing how his words and actions reveal him. (about 100-120 words) (6 marks)
| Step | Marks |
|---|---|
| Content: warm on the surface but self-interested (suspects Lomov wants money, then is overjoyed at the proposal) | 1 |
| Content: quick-tempered and insulting (calls Lomov 'pettifogger', 'Boy! Pup!'; insults his family; orders him out) | 1 |
| Content: a loving but impatient father who joins the couple's hands to be left in peace and tries to shout down the last quarrel | 1 |
| Expression: points organised logically with evidence, fluent and coherent | 2 |
| Accuracy: correct spelling, grammar and punctuation | 1 |
Where students lose marks in The Proposal
The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.
Mistake: Mixing up the dogs' owners
Both names are unusual and the quarrel moves fast, so students swap them.
Wrong working
Lomov insists that his dog Squeezer is better than Guess.
Right working
Lomov insists his dog Guess is better; Natalya and Chubukov defend their Squeezer.
Do this: Remember: Squeezer and Stepan both start with S.
Usually costs: A wrong fact can cancel a value point, which may cost 1 of the 2 content marks in a 3-mark answer.
Mistake: Calling Lomov a romantic lover
Students assume a proposal must come from love and ignore his monologue.
Wrong working
Lomov is deeply in love with Natalya and cannot live without her.
Right working
Lomov proposes for practical reasons: he is 35, unwell and wants a quiet, regular life.
Do this: Go back to his speech while Chubukov fetches Natalya; every reason there is practical.
Usually costs: Misreading the theme can cost most of the content marks in an answer on marriage.
Mistake: Retelling the story instead of answering
Students feel safe narrating events and forget the question asks for a trait or a theme.
Wrong working
First Lomov came in evening dress, then Chubukov called Natalya, then they fought about the Meadows, then...
Right working
Lomov is quarrelsome: he forgets his proposal to fight over Oxen Meadows 'on principle'.
Do this: Begin each point with the trait or idea, then add one line of evidence.
Usually costs: A plain narration can lose content marks (out of 3) and expression marks (out of 2) in a long answer.
Mistake: Going far over the word limit
Students write everything they remember to be safe.
Wrong working
A 90-word answer to a 3-mark question that repeats the plot.
Right working
A 40-50 word answer with two or three precise points.
Do this: Plan two or three points, write them, stop.
Usually costs: Can cost the expression mark and wastes time needed for other questions.
Mistake: Misreading the ending as peaceful
The engagement feels like a happy ending, so students skip the last lines.
Wrong working
In the end they stop quarrelling and live happily together.
Right working
Even after the engagement they argue over the dogs, and Chubukov shouts 'Champagne!' to drown them out.
Do this: Always quote the last exchange when asked about the ending or the future.
Usually costs: Can cost 1 or more content marks in questions on the ending or the play's message.
Mistake: Giving a line to the wrong speaker
Students remember famous lines but not who said them.
Wrong working
Natalya says she is like a lovesick cat.
Right working
Chubukov says Natalya is 'like a lovesick cat', to assure Lomov she will consent.
Do this: For each quote you learn, note the speaker and the moment.
Usually costs: Loses the 1-mark extract part or a value point in a short answer.
The Proposal: previous year questions
- Asked in 4 of the 21 board papers we hold (2023 to 2026), on average 1 marks per paper; 4 questions in all, counting OR alternatives. In 2 of 4 sample papers.
Counted from the real papers on our previous year papers page, not estimated. Average marks are over every board paper we hold, with an OR pair counted once. Chapter tags are ours.
Solved board questions from The Proposal
Real questions from recent papers. Try each one first, then open our step-by-step solution with marks per step.
2025, set 2/5/1, Q6(b) · 5 marks · Reading comprehensionCompetency-based
Read the given extract and answer the questions.
Lomov : Hear me out, I implore you ! The peasants of your father's grandfather, as I have already had the honour of explaining to you, used to bake bricks for my aunt's grandmother. Now my aunt's grandmother, wishing to make them a present.
Natalya : I can't make head or tail of all this about aunts and grandfathers and grandmothers. The Meadows are ours, that's all.
Lomov : Mine
Natalya : Ours ! You can go proving it for two days on end.
- (i)1 mark
What is Lomov pleading for ?
- (A)to be heard
- (B)bricks for his aunt's grandmother
- (C)documents of the Meadows
- (D)for two days time to prove himself
- (ii)2 marks
What effect does the following sentence have on Natalya ? Why ?
'The peasants of your father's grandfather ……… used to bake bricks for my aunt's grandmother.' - (iii)1 mark
Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket :
The use of the phrase 'can't make head or tail' adds to a sense of ________ (confusion/realization) to the extract. - (iv)1 mark
What is Lomov trying to prove ?
Try it first, then show our solutionSolution
- 1 mark
(i) Option (A): Lomov is pleading to be heard.
- 2 marks
(ii) The sentence makes Natalya angry and she loses her temper, because she believes the Oxen Meadows belong to her family and thinks Lomov is wrongly claiming them.
- 1 mark
(iii) confusion
- 1 mark
(iv) Lomov is trying to prove that the Oxen Meadows are his and that Natalya is wrongly claiming them.
Answer: (i) A; (ii) she becomes angry because she believes the Meadows are hers; (iii) confusion; (iv) that the Meadows belong to him
Where the marks are
- (i) A (1 mark)
- (ii) Effect: anger (1 mark); reason: she believes the Meadows are hers (1 mark)
- (iii) Confusion (1 mark)
- (iv) The Meadows are his (1 mark)
2024, set 2/3/1, Q10(b) · 6 marks · Long answerCompetency-based
(b) Based on your understanding of the Play, 'The Proposal', what do you think of relationships?
Prepare a speech draft on relationships based on Natalya's and Anne Frank's characters.
You may begin this way.
Good morning everyone.
Relationships are the bond between two people based on mutual likes, understanding, need or love. I'd like to discuss relationships as portrayed in the two texts ……
You may end this way
To conclude, I'd like to say that …….
Thank you,
(Reference : The Proposal & from the Diary of Anne Frank)
Try it first, then show our solutionSolution
- 1 mark
Good morning everyone. Relationships are the bond between two people based on likes, understanding, need or love. I'd like to discuss them as portrayed in The Proposal and the Diary of Anne Frank.
- 2 marks
Natalya and Lomov show how relationships with others suffer when ego rules. Natalya's poor relationship with herself, her pride, leads to petty quarrels over land and dogs.
- 2 marks
Anne Frank shows a healthy relationship with herself. She loves her father, grandmother, sister and headmistress, and makes her diary a friend, 'Kitty', to confide in.
- 1 mark
To conclude, I'd like to say that good relationships with others begin with a healthy relationship with oneself. Thank you.
Answer: A speech stating that healthy relationships with others begin with a healthy relationship with oneself, using Natalya's quarrelsome ego and Anne Frank's loving, self-aware nature as examples.
Where the marks are
- Opening and introduction (1 mark)
- Natalya's example (2 marks)
- Anne Frank's example (2 marks)
- Conclusion with a clear message (1 mark)
Every The Proposal question, by year
Practice questions on The Proposal
Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.
Q1 · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level
What is the dispute over Oxen Meadows? State the claim made by each side. Answer in 40-50 words.
Hint
Lomov goes back to his aunt's grandmother; Natalya goes back to Burnt Marsh.
Answer
Value points: Lomov's aunt's grandmother gave free use of the Meadows to the peasants of Natalya's father's grandfather in return for bricks; so Lomov says they are his. Natalya says her grandfather and great-grandfather reckoned their land extended to Burnt Marsh.
Model answer: Lomov says his aunt's grandmother gave the Meadows to the peasants of Natalya's father's grandfather for free use, in return for bricks, so they are his. Natalya says her grandfather and great-grandfather believed their land reached Burnt Marsh, so the Meadows are theirs.
Q2 · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level
What does Natalya remind Lomov of to show that her family has always been a good neighbour to him? Answer in 40-50 words.
Hint
Think of a machine and a month.
Answer
Value points: they thought of him as a good neighbour and friend; lent him their threshing-machine last year; had to put off their own threshing till November; she says he now treats them as if they were gypsies.
Model answer: Natalya reminds Lomov that her family always treated him as a good neighbour and friend. Last year they lent him their threshing-machine and had to put off their own threshing till November. Yet, she says, he treats them as if they were gypsies.
Q3 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Chubukov's words of affection for Lomov turn into insults within minutes. What does this reveal about Chubukov? Answer in 40-50 words.
Hint
Compare 'my angel' at the start with what he calls Lomov during the quarrels.
Answer
Value points: early endearments ('my angel', 'my darling'); later insults ('pettifogger', 'Boy! Pup!', 'Milksop!'); orders him never to set foot in his house; inference: shallow, self-interested affection; poor temper control.
Model answer: Chubukov first calls Lomov 'my angel' and 'my darling', but during the quarrel he calls him a 'pettifogger', 'Boy! Pup!' and 'Milksop!'. He even orders Lomov never to set foot in his house. This suggests his affection is shallow and self-interested; his temper quickly overpowers his politeness.
Q4 · 6 marks · Long answerHarder board level
How does 'The Proposal' show marriage as a practical and economic arrangement rather than a matter of love? Answer in about 100-120 words.
Hint
Look at Lomov's reasons, Chubukov's joy and how quickly Natalya gives up the land.
Answer
Value points: Lomov's reasons (age 35, health, quiet life); his list of Natalya's qualities; Chubukov's suspicion about money then delight; neighbouring estates (Oxen Meadows touch the birchwoods); Natalya yields the land at once; Chubukov joins their hands to be left in peace; no love shown.
Model answer: Chekhov's play laughs at the way wealthy families treat marriage as a practical deal. Lomov, a wealthy landowner, proposes not out of love but because he is 35, unwell and needs a quiet, regular life. He values Natalya as an excellent housekeeper, not bad-looking and well-educated. Chubukov is overjoyed, saying he has long hoped for this match, though moments earlier he suspected Lomov wanted money. The neighbouring estates matter too: Lomov's Oxen Meadows touch the Chubukovs' birchwoods. Natalya, who fights fiercely for land, gives it up the moment she hears of the proposal. In the end Chubukov joins their hands just to be left in peace. Love is missing; convenience rules.
Q5 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
How do Lomov's physical complaints add to the farce of the play? Answer in 40-50 words.
Hint
List his symptoms and notice when they get worse.
Answer
Value points: palpitations, twitching eyebrow, numb foot, pull in his side; symptoms worsen with each quarrel; collapse; Natalya thinks he is dead; exaggeration over trivial disputes is the essence of farce.
Model answer: Lomov's complaints grow with every quarrel: palpitations, a twitching eyebrow, a numb foot, a pull in his side. At the climax he collapses and Natalya thinks he is dead. Such exaggeration of physical symptoms over trivial disputes makes the play a farce.
Q6 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Chubukov says, 'let’s stop arguing' and later suggests changing the subject 'in case I lose my temper'. Does he keep his word? What does this show about him? Answer in 40-50 words.
Hint
Read what Chubukov says to Lomov right after these lines.
Answer
Value points: he mocks Lomov's hunting and palpitations; calls him 'Boy! Pup!'; threatens to shoot him like a partridge; inference: lacks self-control, his calls for peace are empty.
Model answer: No. Right after urging calm, he mocks Lomov's palpitations and hunting, calls him 'Boy! Pup!' and even threatens to shoot him like a partridge. This shows Chubukov lacks self-control; his words of peace are empty, and his temper is as quick as Lomov's.
Q7 · 6 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency
Your school is holding an assembly on anger management. Using 'The Proposal', write a speech on how small issues create big quarrels and what we can learn from it. Answer in about 100-120 words.
Hint
Use the Meadows, the 'principle' and the dogs as your evidence, then turn to everyday life.
Answer
Value points: greeting and topic; Meadows worth perhaps 300 roubles; 'principle' really pride; family insults nearly lose the proposal; second quarrel over dogs; link to everyday quarrels; advice to pause and value relationships; closing.
Model answer: Good morning, everyone. Today I want to talk about how small issues create big quarrels. In Chekhov's 'The Proposal', Lomov comes to ask for Natalya's hand, but within minutes he and the Chubukovs are shouting over Oxen Meadows, land worth perhaps 300 roubles. Each side claims to defend 'principle', yet it is really pride. Insults about grandfathers and aunts follow, and the proposal is almost lost. Even after reconciling, they fight again over two dogs. We behave the same way when we argue over a seat on the bus or a cricket decision. Before reacting, let us pause, ask whether the issue truly matters and choose the relationship over our ego. Thank you.
Q8 · 3 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency
Suppose Chubukov had told Natalya about the proposal before sending her in to meet Lomov. How might the scene have been different? Justify your answer from the play. Answer in 40-50 words.
Hint
What did Papa actually tell her, and what did she do once she knew?
Answer
Value points: she would likely have listened instead of disputing 'my Oxen Meadows'; once she knew, she yielded the land at once; Chubukov only said a merchant had come; his silence triggers the comedy.
Model answer: Natalya would probably have listened patiently instead of disputing 'my Oxen Meadows'. After hearing of the proposal she instantly yielded the land, which suggests she would have avoided the quarrel. Chubukov's silence (he only said a merchant had come) sets off the comedy.
Test your recall
Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.
1.Who says, aside, that Lomov has come to borrow money?Show answer
Chubukov.
2.How old are Lomov and Natalya?Show answer
Lomov is 35; Natalya is twenty-five.
3.Who did Papa tell Natalya had come, before she entered?Show answer
A merchant come for his goods.
4.Where are Oxen Meadows?Show answer
Wedged in between the Chubukovs' birchwoods and the Burnt Marsh.
5.What did the Chubukovs lend Lomov last year?Show answer
Their threshing-machine, which delayed their own threshing till November.
6.How much did Lomov pay for Guess, and Chubukov for Squeezer?Show answer
Lomov paid Mironov 125 roubles for Guess; Chubukov paid 85 roubles for Squeezer.
7.What does 'overshot' mean, according to Lomov?Show answer
The dog's lower jaw is shorter than the upper, which he says makes it a bad hunter.
8.How does the play end?Show answer
Lomov and Natalya are engaged but still argue about the dogs, while Chubukov shouts for champagne.
Quick revision checklist
The night before the exam: can you do each of these without looking?
- Can you explain why Lomov wears evening dress and how each Chubukov misreads it?
- Can you list Lomov's three practical reasons for marrying, without looking?
- Can you state both sides of the Oxen Meadows claim in two lines?
- Can you say what makes Natalya change her mind about the Meadows, and what that reveals?
- Can you name the two dogs, their owners and their prices?
- Can you give three insults Chubukov uses for Lomov and one Lomov uses for him?
- Can you explain why the play is a farce, with two examples?
- Can you link each of the five themes to one moment in the play?
The Proposal: frequently asked questions
What is the main theme of The Proposal?
The play mocks how marriage among wealthy families is a practical, money-minded deal rather than a matter of love. It also shows how petty quarrels driven by ego almost ruin something important. The ending hints that the quarrels will continue even after the engagement.
Why does Lomov want to marry Natalya?
Lomov is 35, which he calls a critical age, and he wants a quiet, regular life because of his palpitations and poor sleep. He sees Natalya as an excellent housekeeper, not bad-looking and well-educated. He never mentions love, so his reasons are practical.
What are the two main quarrels in The Proposal?
The first is over Oxen Meadows, a small piece of land that both families claim. The second is over which dog is better, Lomov's Guess or Chubukov's Squeezer. Both start from small points and turn into personal insults about each other's families.
Why is The Proposal called a farce?
A farce is a comedy with exaggerated characters and absurd situations. Here a simple proposal is delayed by silly fights, the hero collapses and is thought dead, and the couple is engaged in seconds only to quarrel again. The humour comes from how ridiculous the characters behave.
Is Chubukov sincere when he says he loves Lomov like a son?
It seems not. Just before, in an aside, he suspects Lomov has come to borrow money and decides not to lend any. Later he calls Lomov a pettifogger and orders him out, which suggests his loving words are only flattery.
Why does Natalya suddenly agree that the Meadows belong to Lomov?
She learns from her father that Lomov had come to propose, and she wants to marry him. So she apologises and gives up her claim to win him back. This shows her stand depends on self-interest, not on facts.
Based on: CBSE English Language and Literature syllabus 2026-27; NCERT First Flight (Reprint 2026-27), The Proposal