THREE QUESTIONS
BY
LEO TOLSTOY
1. What type of story is this?
Three Questions by Leo Tolstoy is a parable.
2. When was this story published and where?
This story was published in 1885 in “What Men Live by and Other Tales”.
3. Who was called Tsar?
King of Russia was called Tsar.
4. What questions occurred to the Tsar?
Three questions occurred to the Tsar. First question was to select right time for every action. Second question was related to the selection of right people and the third question was to select the act to act.
5. Why was the Tsar so curious to get the answers of his questions?
The Tsar was very much keen to get his questions’ answers because he thought if he could get those answers, he would never fail in anything he might undertake.
6. What did the Tsar do when three vital questions occurred to him?
When three vital questions occurred to the Tsar, he proclaimed though out his kingdom that he would give a great reward who would answer his questions.
7. What did the learned men answer to Tsar’s first question?
To the first question (selection of right time for every action), some learned men proposed to draw up a time-table and follow it. Few told to attend to all activities. Then few proposed to build up a council of wise man whereas others suggested to consult a magician.
8. What answers did learned men give to the second question?
To the second question (selection of right man), every group of men answered differently. Theirs answers were- councillors, priests, doctors, warriors.
9. What answers did learned men give to the second question?
To the third question (selection of right act), learned men answered science, warfare, religious worship respectively.
10. Why did Tsar give the reward to none?
All the answers of learned men were different, so the Tsar give the reward to none.
11. Who was hermit? Why did Tsar decide to consult the hermit?
The hermit was widely renowned for his wisdom. He lived in a wood and led very simple life.
Tsar decided to consult the hermit because hermit was famous for his wisdom and the Tsar was sure to get answers from him.
12. Where did the hermit live?
The hermit lived in a wood that he never quitted.
13. What did the Tsar do before going to the hermit and why?
Before going to hermit, the Tsar put on simple clothes, dismounted from his horse and left his bodyguard behind because the hermit received none but the common folk.
14. What was the hermit doing when the Tsar reached him?
When the Tsar reached hermit’s hut, hermit was digging the ground in front of his hut.
15. How was the health of the hermit?
The hermit was very weak and frail and each time he stuck his spade into the ground, he breathed heavily.
16. “Thanks!”—Who said this and to whom and why?
The hermit said this to the Tsar because the Tsar wanted to help the hermit in his digging.
17. “Now rest awhile and let me work a bit”—Who said this and to whom? When was it said?
The hermit said this to the Tsar.
When the Tsar had dug two beds and asked for his answers, the hermit rose and told the Tsar to rest and he would now work.
18. How long did the Tsar dig the ground?
The Tsar dug the ground till the sunset.
19. “Here comes someone running”—Who said this and who was coming?
The hermit said this to the Tsar.
A bearded man with a wound in his stomach was coming from the wood.
20. What happened to the bearded man?
The Tsar’s body-guard wounded the bearded man who was ambushing to kill the Tsar.
21. How did Tsar and the hermit nurse the wounded man?
When the wounded man fell fainting in front of them, they removed the wounded man’s clothing, washed the wound and bandaged it with handkerchief and towel again and again until the blood ceased flowing.
22. “Forgive me”—Who seeks forgiveness and from whom?
The wounded bearded man seeks forgiveness from the Tsar.
23. Why did the bearded man seek forgiveness from the Tsar?
The bearded man wanted to kill the Tsar, but later the Tsar saved his life. So he sought forgiveness from the Tsar.
24. Why did the bearded man want to kill the Tsar?
The Tsar killed the bearded man’s brother and seized his property. So, to take revenge on the Tsar, the bearded man wanted to kill the Tsar.
25. How did the bearded man plan to kill the Tsar?
The bearded man knew that the Tsar went to the hermit alone. So he decided to kill him on his way back and he ambushed there.
26. How did the bearded man got wounded?
The bearded man was waiting to kill the Tsar on his way back from the hermit. But the day was passing and the Tsar did not return. So when the bearded came out to find the Tsar, his bodyguard saw him and wounded him severely.
27. What did the bearded man promise the Tsar?
When the Tsar saved the bearded man’s life, he promised the Tsar to become his most faithful servant and his sons would also do the same.
28. What did the Tsar promise the bearded man?
Tsar promised the bearded man to restore his property and he would send his physician to treat the wounded man.
29. What was the hermit doing on the next day morning?
On the next day morning, the hermit was sowing seed in the bed dug on the day before in front of his hut.
30. “You have already been answered”—Who said this and to whom? When did he said this?
The hermit said this to the Tsar when the Tsar for the last time wanted from him the answers of his three questions.
31. What is the right time for every action?
Present time is the right time for every action.
32. Who is the right people?
The man with whom you are, is the right person for you.
33. What is the right act or work?
To do good for human being is the right act or work.
