'The Beggar', written by Anton Chekhov (Class 9 English, Moments), is a touching story about redemption, human kindness, and how true compassion can completely transform a person's life. Here are the most important exam questions.
The author, Anton Chekhov, is considered one of the greatest short story writers in the history of world literature. He was a Russian physician who famously said: 'Medicine is my lawful wife, and literature is my mistress'.
Answer: Lushkoff was a middle-aged beggar who used to sing in a Russian choir. He was fired from his job because of his severe drunkenness (alcoholism). Since he had no money and was too lazy and weak to work, he resorted to begging by telling lies to people (sometimes pretending to be an expelled student, sometimes a poor village schoolmaster).
Answer: Sergei, a wealthy advocate, caught Lushkoff lying about his identity. Instead of handing him over to the police, Sergei offered him a job to chop wood at his house, believing that honest, hard labor could cure his laziness and alcoholism.
Answer: It was Sergei's cook, Olga, who actually chopped the wood. When she saw how weak, shivering, and pathetic Lushkoff was, she would scold him and cry for him. Out of sheer pity and kindness, she would chop all the wood herself so that Lushkoff could get paid by Sergei.
Answer: While Sergei believed his 'hard labor' cured the beggar, it was actually Olga's unconditional kindness and self-sacrifice that transformed Lushkoff. Seeing a stranger cry for him and do his hard work made him feel deeply ashamed. Her pure compassion inspired him to quit drinking and start a new life. He eventually became a respectable notary earning a good salary.
Yes. Two years later, when Sergei and Lushkoff met at a theatre, Lushkoff finally revealed that he hadn't chopped a single piece of wood, and that it was the angry but kind-hearted cook, Olga, who saved his life.
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