CHAPTER

10
The Beggar by Anton Chekhov
Summary of the Chapter
Chapter Sketch Sergei Meets the Beggar
The Beggar is a story about a drunkard
beggar named Lushkoff. Sergei lAn Sergei meets abeggar who wants him to take
and he tells him that he was a schoolteacher pity
on him. His name is Lushkoft
advocatel gives him work at his house so in a village.
that he can feed himself and stop He further adds that he is
begging. Although he agrees, he is not jobless since a year now and although he has got a
willing to work. The work given to him is job offer in a different province, he does not have
done by Olga (Sergeï's cook) as she feels
money to go there.
pity on his miserable condition. He goes to
another place for work as recommended
Sergei Recognises the Beggar
When Sergei looks him closely he remembers that
at
by Sergei and becomes a Notary. Sergei he had met him at
meets him after 2 years and is happy to different street two days ago.
a

know about his new job. He thinks that he The beggar was posing as a student then. The
is responsible for
changing him but he was not him but Sergei tells beggar
him that he is a cheat (Lushkoff)
denies that it
tells him that it was Olga's kindness and
unconditional help that had made him police. Lushkoff then admits that it was him and and threatens to call the
change his ways. that people take pity. on him and says that he has to tell lies so
give money or things to him.
About the Characters Sergei Takes him to his House
Lushkoff He is a drunkard beggar. He Sergei takes him to his house and gives him the
does not want to do any work and tells Lushkoff is not willing to work, he job of chopping wood. Thougn
lies so that people may feel pity on his of every month to chop wood agrees to do the work. He is called first aay
condition and give him alms. In the end and is given half a Rouble.
he is changed person due to Olgo's However, he starts coming at Sergei's house
unconditional support. some work is
assigned to him. All his work isregularly
done
and whenever he comes
Sergei He is an advocate. He meets house) as she feels pity on his miserable by Olga (the cook at Serge
Lushkoff and gives him work at his house. condition.
However, she does not tell this to
He thinks that he has changed Lushkof.
doing any work. Sergei. Lushkoff is happy to get paid withou
Olga She is a cook who works at Sergei's
house. She feels pity on the miserable
condition of Lushkoff and does all his The Beggar Goes to WNork for Sergei's Friend
work. She cries for him and chops wood Sergei is
happy to see Lushkoff coming regularly at his home.
thinks that he
for him unconditionally. It is due to her
kindness that Lushkoff changes his ways
is working and asks him to go to
his friend's place where
He
iob. He he
in the end and becomes a successful is pleased at having
put
can
Lushkoff on the right path and gives hima get a WTI
notary. letter that needs to be handed to
his friend. Lushkoff agrees and
goes there
 The Beggar
(Section C) 437

Word Meaning
Sergei and Lushkoff ragged (of clothes) old and torn
to someone in
person making a
humble plea
Meet After Two Years suppliant a
power or authority.

Sergei and Lushkoff meet after two years at a theatre. district: region
province
Sergei asks about him and he tells that he has become a a beggar
is mendicant
Notary n o w and is paid 35 roubles per month. Sergei overshoees a shoe worn over a normal shoe, typically

takes the credit for changing made of rubber to protect the normal shoe
happy to know that and
removed
his lite. expelled
and tells the murmur
However, Lushkoff thanks him for his help mumble
and hot, typically as
for his change as flushed (of a person's skin) red
truth. He says that Olga is responsible the result of illness or strong emotion.
him. Her
she used to do all the work assigned to a feeling of dislike for something
or someone
disgust
unconditional help and c o n c e r n for him made him
PAGE 63
leave from Sergei
change his ways. Lushkoff then takes a swindling cheating
the show was about to start.
as
choir anorganised group of singers
drunkenness intoxicatO
»Chapter Highlightsbeggar meets a drunkard named Lushkoff.
skilled
hasten
experienced
to move or act quickly
Sergei (An advocale) a person who is very badly dressed
beg as he has no work to do. scarecrow
2 Lushkoff tells him that he has to odd-looking, or thin
his house.
wood at
Sergei gives him the work of chopping PAGE 64
with Sergei.
4 Although Lushkoff does not want to work, he goes
pseudo not genuine
cook) sees Lushkoff's miserable condition and saliva from one's mouth, sometimes as a
Olga (Sergei's spat eject
helps him by doing his work. past tense of spit) gesture of contempt or anger
work. He keeps
6 Lushkof is happy to get paid without doing any scold criticise
on coming at Sergei's house regularly. (here) a thick piece of wood.
billet
to do
7 After some time, Lushkoff is sent to a different place
feebly lacking in force
writing work. forth
8 He mends his ways and works hard to become a Nofary. waver move back and
(of work) not requiring much skill and lacking
menial
9Sergei meets him after 2 years and is happy
see
his to prestige.
that he has been changed due fo him.
Condition and thinks a homeless, neglected or abandoned person
that Waif
10 Lushkoff tells him that it was Olga's unconditional help
PAGE 65
made him change his ways.
hauling pulling ordragging
move something with a shovel (Shovel is a tool
shovel
Word Meanings the pages in the prescribed
with a long handle used for lifting and throwing
dirt, sand, snow, etc.

he given page nos. corespond to irresolutely hesitantly

a person's manner of walkin9
textbook. 9ait
Word Meanin9 consented agree to do something
lessen the effectiveness, power or ability of
PAGE 62 undermined
Someone
Swear a solemn declaration by some sacred being or

work very hard

object toil
stare in an angry or fierce way
odging temporaryaccommodation glared
Copeck a monetary unit of Russia equal to
wrathfully extremely Angrily
one-hundredth of a rouble strike or put down something forcefully and
nang
calumny defamation of character noisily
advocate lawyer
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 438 Allinone English Language and Literature Class 9th

Word Meaning Word Meaning

tug mat
grateful thankful
dober serious, sensible and dignified noble havingor
showingfine personal qualities or
gloomy sad or depressed high moral principles.
pretence acting indebted owing something (such as money or thanks)
jeer make rude and mocking remarks, to someone
typically in a
lOud voice strictly rightly
tattered old and torn; in poor condition
sot a habitual drunkard
rouble the basic
monetary unit of
Russia miserable being in a pitiable state of distress or
employment the state of
having paid work unhappiness
tapped to strike lightly strain an outburst filled with emotional
parting leaving speech
notary a
person authorised to ruin
aa state of complete destruction
perform certain legal
formalitiess PAGE 67
tmidly unconfidently sight
PAGE 66 View, glimpse
Owing due
delighted very happy bow to bend the head or
roasting severe criticism
body in respect to
someone or something

NCERT FOLDER
(Here we have covered questions
given in the NCERT textbook along with their
answers.)
Think About it (Page 67, 68)
Ans. Sergei says that on seeing Lushkoff
1 Has Lushkoff become
choice?
a beggar by circumstance or regularly for work. He means to saycoming to his house

that Lushkoft is
coming to work
regularly at his
Ans. Lushkoff became beggar by choice as he did not want
a him to leave begging and start home as he had urged
to work. He was a
drunkard and was thrown of the No, he is not working.
choir he sang due to drunkenness.
out
right in saying so as
Lushkoff did not do
any work at his place and all
2 What reasons does he (the cook of Sergei). his work was done by Og
lies?
give to Sergei for his telling
5 Lushkoff is earning
Ans. He told thirty five
Sergei that he cannot get along without
He also said that
nobody would take pity on himlying.
is he
obliged to Sergei for this?roubles a month. How
Ans.
give him anything if he told the truth.
and Lushkoff is obliged to
Sergei for this it was at
Olga. Olga did all his work Serg
house as

3 Is Lushkoff a
that he met
willing worker? Why, then, does he
to
weep tor his miserable U to and
agree to chop wood for Sergei? mend his ways and condition. This led LushkoT
start
Ans. No, Lushkoff 6
working diligently.
is not a willing worker. He
wood for Sergei as he lied agrees to chop During their conversation Lushkoff
cannot find any worl
to him that he
had to
beg as he Serger's cook, Olga, is responsible reveals
for the
that
change in him. How has posiu
4 Sergei says, "I am happy that my words have Ans. Olga saved Lushko?
taken Olga has saved Lushkoff
effect. "Why does he
say so? ls he right in miserable condition and as she used to feel piry on s

this? saying did all the work assigned

unconditionally.
and start working.This made Lushkoff to quit drink
 Exam Practice
[4 Marks each]
Extract Based Questions
Read the following extracts carefully and choose the correct option.
1 The advocate, Sergei, looked at the Ans. (i) (a) Olga
ragged, fawn-coloured overcoat of the (ii) (c) As he lied that he was a teacher
suppliant, at his dull, drunken eyes, at the red ii) (d) Spit
spot on either cheek, and it seemed to him as (iv) (c) Fling
if he had seen this man somewhere before. 3 On the first of the month the waif made his
(i) Who is 'his' in the extract?
(a) Sergei Lushkoff appearance and again earned half a rouble,
(b) Olga's brother (d) Olga's husband although he could barely stand on his legs.
From that day on he often appeared in the
(i) Where did Sergei see him before? him.
(a) Sergei saw him begging in a different city yard and every time work w a s found for
Sergei saw him begging in a different street (i) Who is the 'waif' in the extract?
(b) Sergei's servant
(c) Sergei saw him sleeping in a cabin (a) Sergei
e f Lushkoff (d) Olga's husband
(d) Sergei saw him stealing in a different street rouble?
(i) Why is the waif given half a
(i) Find a word from the extract which means wood at Sergei's house
'A person makinga humble plea to someone (al For chopping
(b) For cleaning Sergei's house
in power or authority'.
(c) For washing Sergei's clothes
(a) Beggar (b) Supplicant
(d) For entertaining Sergei
(c) Supplier Suppliant
ii) Find a word from the extract that means
(iv) What is the opposite of "dull'?
(a) Blighted (b) Dusky hardly'
a) Barely (b) Slowly
Bright (d) Blooper
(c) Scarcely (d) Evenly
Ans. () (b) Lushkoff (iv) The word 'again' in the extract is a/an . .
different
(ü) (6) Sergei saw him begging in a street
(a) Adjective by Adverb
(ii) (d) Suppliant (c) Preposition (d) Conjunction
Civ) (c) Bright Ans. ) (c) Lushkoff
2 Next he saw the pseudo-treacher seat himself i) (a) For chopping wood at Sergei's house
and become lost in thought with his (ii) (a) Barely
on a log
(iv) (b) Adverb
red cheeks resting on his fists. The w o m a n
flung down an axe at his feet, spat angrily, 4 Thank Heaven! That's fine !I am delighted
and, judging from the expression on her lips, for your sake. I am very, very glad Lushkoff.
began to scold him. You see, you are my godson, in a sense. I
(i) Who is the 'woman' mentioned in the extract? gave you a push along the right path, you
(b) Sergei's mother
NA) Olga know. Do you remember what a roasting I
(c) Sergei's daughter (d) Olga's mother
gave you, eh?
i) Why is he called a pseudo-teacher? i) Who is I' in the extract?
(a) As he used to be a teacher earlier (a) Lushkoff b ) Sergei
(b) As he used to be a professor earlier (d) Lushkoff's friend
(c) Olga
(As he lied that he was a teacher (i) Why is 'T delighted?
(d) As he lied that he was a farmer (a) As Lushkoff has stopped drinking
(ii) Give the present tense of the word 'spat'? (b) As Lushkoff has started drinking
(a) Spate (b) Spake (c) Spitted dSpit (c) As Lushkoff has stopped begging and
(iv) What is the present tense of 'fung'? become a doctor

(a)lang (b) Flinged A s Lushkoff has stopped begging and

d Fling (d) Flangs become a notary
440 AlinOne English Language and Literature l .
ure Class 9th

(iii) The word 'sake' in the extract is a.. Aus. () (6) Sergei
ua Noun (b) Verb (i) (d) As hkoff has stopped
(c) Preposition (d) Conjuction become a notary begging and
(iv) What does 'delighted' mean? (ii) (a) Noun
(a) Happy b Very pleased (iv) (b) Very pleased
(c) Sad (d) Shocked

Short Answer SA) Type Questions [2 Marks each]

1 Describe the appearance of the 5 Describe the initial behaviour of Olga
beggar.
Ans. The beggar was old, had dull, drunken eyes and towards the begga
a red
spot on his either cheek. He wore ragged Aus. Olga glared angrily at the beggar and shoved
clothes and one of his overshoes was higher than him aside with her elbow. Then she
the other. He appeared to be in the utmost an axe at his feet,
flung down
poverty and spat angrily and scolded him.
misery. His face was supportive of the misery he wanted She kept cursing him all the time for his
on
to put on. drunkenness and scolded him.
2 What plea did the beggar make before Sergei? 6

What different kinds of work did Lushkoff

Ans. The beggar pleaded Sergei to have pity on him as he was
poor and hungry. He also said that he was jobless, had
nothing to eat for three days and didn't have money for
lodging. He put on the expression of misery and
depravity on his face so that someone could have pity on
him and give him money.
3 Why did Sergei threaten to call the police?
Ans.
Sergei threatened to call the police as the beggar,
Lushkof, was lying. He was posing as an expelled
student and a jobless schoolteacher at different instances
in order to get money from people. Since, he was
cheatings; so Sergei threatened him.
4 What job was given to Lushkoff? Why did he
agree to do it?
do at Sergei's house?
Aus.
Lushkoff chopped wood, shovelled snow, put
the wood-shed in order, beat the dust out of
rugs and mattresses and helped in the packing
and moving of the furniture at Sergei's house.
Why did Sergei send Lushkoff to his
friend? What advice did he give to him?
Ans. Sergei sent Lushkoff to his friend so that he can
get some cdeaner employment and won't have to
do menial labour. He advised him to work hard
and not to drink. He wanted him to be
successful at his work.
8 Who saved the beggar? How?

Ans.
Lushkoff was given the job ofchopping wood by Sergei.
Ans. Olga, the cook of Sergei,
saved the beggar.
She used to do all his work and criticised him
He agreed to do it as he had lied that he had to beg as he
severely. She also cried looking at his miserable
did not have a job. But, now he had been offered work,
he couldn't deny it. condition. Seeing all this, the beggar mended
his ways and
stopped drinking

(Long Answer (LA Type Questions [8 Marks each)

1 Describe Sergei's meeting with the beggar Lushkoff was taken aback and said that it was no
Aus.
Sergei met Lushkoff (the beggar) on astreet. him.
Lushkoff was posing as a village schoolteacher and and

pleaded him to show mercy on him. Sergei looked at

him. When he saw his overshoes, one of which was
high and the other low, he remembered that he had
met him earlier.
He confronted Lushkoff and told him that when he
had met him earlier, he was posing as a student.
Sergei called him a liar and a dishonest persL
threatened to call the police. This made Lushko
admit that he was lying, He told him that he 15
that
neither a schoolteacher nor a student. He sad
he sang in a Russian choir and was expellead i
arunkenness. He also explained that if he told u
truth no one would
give
him anything:
he Beggar (Section C 441

When Lushkoff urged him to work he said that 3 "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't
he cannor find any worki. So. he offered him the make it drink."
work of chopping wood at his house. Although reference to the
he did not want to work, he accepted his ofter
Justify the above proverb with
story "The Beggar"
and went with him rto his housc. "You
Ans. The story The Beggar justities proverb
the can

lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

2 Give a character sketch of Lushkoff.
man. He has
Lushkoff, the beggar, is an old. drunkard
Lushkoff was an old. drunkard beggar. He had taken to begging as he is not willing to work. Sergei
ns.
dull drunken eyes and a red spot on either cheek. him by giving him the job of chopping
wood at
He used to tell lies so that people would take pity helps his ways.
his house and thinks that he would change
on him and give him money. He
did not want too Lushkotf has intention to change and
However. no

work and was thrown out of the Russian choir, does nor do any work. All his work is done by Olga.
where he sang earlier, for drunkenness. He keeps coming at Serget s house so
Sergei's cook. on

due without doing any work and uses

Lushkoff accepted Sergei's offer to work
to
that he can
get nmoney
shame. He hardly did any work at
it for drinking.
pride and
Sergei's home and wasgreatly helped by Olga It was only when he sees Olga's
concern tor him and

completing his assigned tasks. in him

(Sergei's cook) in her unconditional help that moves somcthing
moved by Olga's concern for him and the and makes him change his ways.. He leaves drinking
He was
her to him. This
unconditional help rendered by and starts working hard. It is due to his own willpower
and better person and
made him change and he left drinking that he quits drinking and becomes a
started working hard. He also grateful someone else.
not due to the request or torcing of
was a

indebted Sergei and Olga for is justitied with reterence to

person as he
was to
Hence, the proverb
their help.He had good willpower as
a changing the story.
one's habits in old age is very difticult.)
Selt Assessment
Extract Based Question
Read the following extract carefully and choose the correct option.
Kind sir, have pity; turn your attention to a poor, hungry man! For three days I have had nothing
to eat; I haven't five copecks for a lodging. I swear it before God.
(i) Who said the above lines and to whom?
(a) Lushkoff to Sergei's brother b ) Lushkoff to Sergei
(c) Lushkoff to Olga's husband (d) Lushkoff to Olga's brother
(ii) What are copecks?
(a) Indian coin (b) German coin
Ye Russian coin (d) French coin
(ii) Find a word from the extract which means 'mercy'.
Ya Pity (b) Kindness
(c) Compassion (d) Leniency
(iv) Fire' in the extract is a/an . .
(a) Adjective (b) Pronoun
(c) Adverb Ydy Noun

Short Answer (SA! Type Questiens

2 Who was Sergei? Why does he help the beggar?
What did the beggar tell people to get money?
Give a character sketch of Sergei.
Why did the other make fun of Lushkoff?

Long Answer(LA Type Questions

(6) Give a character sketch of Olga.
Describe the values highlighted in the story The Beggar'.