Leo Tolstoy
1. What are the three questions that occurred to the Tsar? What did he do as the questions occurred to him?
In his short story Three Question, the author Leo Tolstoy presents the basic crisis of human life. It once occurred to a certain Tsar, the King of Russia that if he always knew the right answers of three vital questions of life, he would never fail in anything.
These three important questions are –
i) What is the right time to begin everything?
ii) Who are the right people whom he should listen to and whom he would avoid?
iii) What is the most important action to do for him?
As this thought occurred to the Tsar, he proclaimed throughout his kingdom that he would give a great reward to anyone who would give him the right answers.
2. What were the answers of the learned men to the Tsar’s three questions?
The learned men came to the Tsar and answered differently. In reply to the first question, some said one must prepare a timetable and follow it strictly. Others said that it was impossible to decide the right time for doing something in advance. He should notice all that was going on, avoid foolish pleasures, and always do whatever seemed necessary at that time. Yet others said that he needed a council of wise men who would help him to act at the proper time. Some others said that only the magician would help him. In answer to the second question they said that the most needed persons were his councilors, the priests, the doctors and the warriors. In answer to the third question they said that the most important things were science, skill in warfare and religious worship.
3. Why did the Tsar go to the hermit? Why did he go alone? / Why did he go in disguise? What was he doing then?
It once occurred to a certain Tsar that if he always knew the right answers of three vital questions of life, he would never fail in anything. As this thought occurred to the Tsar, he proclaimed throughout his kingdom that he would give a great reward to anyone who would give him the right answers.
The learned men came to the Tsar and answered differently. All the answers being different, the Tsar agreed with none of them. But still he was very eager to find the right answers. So he decided to consult a hermit who was widely famous for his wisdom.
The hermit lived in a wood which he never left and received none but common people. So the Tsar put on simple clothes, left his horse and bodyguard behind and walked to the hermit alone.
When the Tsar went there, the hermit was digging the ground in front his hut. He was very tired as he was
breathing heavily while striking the spade into the ground.
4. How did the Tsar and the hermit treat the wounded man?
The bearded man came running out of the wood. He had bad wound in his stomach. It was bleeding. When he
reached the Tsar, he fainted and fell on the ground. The Tsar and the hermit unfastened his clothing. The Tsar washed and bandaged the wound with his handkerchief and the hermit’s towel. As the blood would not stop flowing, the Tsar removed the blood-soaked bandage and washed and rebandaged the wound again and again.
When the blood ceased flowing and the man revived, the Tsar fetched and gave him fresh water. Then the tsar and the hermit carried him into the hermit’s hut and laid him on the bed.
5. “You have already been answered!” – How is the Tsar answered? / What were the hermit’s answers to the three
questions of the Tsar?
At the end of the story the hermit explained the answers to the Tsar’s questions. He said that at first the previous day the most important time was when he was digging the beds; and he was the most important man; and his most important business was doing good for him because if the Tsar did not dig the beds and would go away, the bearded man would attack him.
Afterwards when that man ran to them, the most important time was when he was nursing the man for he might die without treatment without making peace with him. So the most important man was that bearded man and his most important business was nursing him.
According to the hermit, present is the most important time because only in this time we have any power. The most necessary man is his companion as nobody knows what would happen to him and the most important affair is doing good for him because man for man’s shake.
6. What impression does the hermit leave on your mind? / Hermit’s character.
The hermit was widely well-known in the kingdom for his wisdom. He lived honestly in a wood and received none but common people. He was frail and weak. But he was self-employed. He worked hard to earn his livelihood. He was kind and considerate too. He asked the Tsar to take rest and helped him to treat the wounded man. He was a realistic man of principle. He did not give lecture to the Tsar’s questions. He waited till the Tsar learnt through his own experiences.
This is how the hermit not only answers the Tsar but also gives a great lesson to all of us. Hence he comes out as an interesting character who is friend, philosopher and guide in one body with genuine humanities.
7. How did the Tsar make peace with his enemy?
When the bearded man reached the Tsar, he fainted and fell on the ground. The Tsar started his treatment with the hermit’s help. The man was saved and fell asleep. The next morning he told the Tsar to forgive him for saving the life of his enemy. The Tsar had executed his brother and seized his property. So he wanted to kill the Tsar. But that Tsar saved his life. Hence the man gave up all anger. Above all he wanted to serve the Tsar. The Tsar was very happy. He promised to give back his property. Even he wanted to send his servants and his own physician for his treatment. Thus the Tsar made peace with his enemy.
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