PDF chapter test TRY NOW
“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. For eight years I was a village schoolteacher and then I lost my place through intrigues. I fell a victim to calumny. It is a year now since I have had anything to do.”
The advocate, Sergei, looked at the ragged, fawn-coloured overcoat of the suppliant, at his dull, drunken eyes, at the red spot on either cheek, and it seemed to him as if he had seen this man somewhere before.
“I have now had an offer of a position in the province of Kaluga,” the mendicant went on, “but I haven’t the money to get there. Help me kindly; I am ashamed to ask, but — I am obliged to by circumstances.”
Explanation:
The lesson "The Beggar" was written by Anton Chekhov. The story is about a beggar named Lushkoff, and he is the protagonist of the story.
The story opens with the beggar saying to someone to have some pity and attention towards him. He said that he hadn't eaten anything for the past three days and did not have five copecks (Russian coin equal to one-hundredth of a rouble) to pay for a room to spend the night. He also stated that he would promise it before God that he was speaking the truth.
The story opens with the beggar saying to someone to have some pity and attention towards him. He said that he hadn't eaten anything for the past three days and did not have five copecks (Russian coin equal to one-hundredth of a rouble) to pay for a room to spend the night. He also stated that he would promise it before God that he was speaking the truth.
A beggar
Then the beggar narrated his past stories to seek the attention of the man. Unfortunately, he had lost his job due to the conspiracy of his colleagues. He was penalised for the wrong that he had not committed. He said that he was sitting without having any work to do for the last year. The beggar was attempting to get money or assistance from the man through his sympathetic conversation.
After hearing the beggar's pity talk, Sergei, an advocate, looked at the beggar. The beggar wore a tattered, light brown coloured overcoat. His eyes seemed to be dull and drunken. There were red spots on both his cheeks. While seeing the beggar's appearance, Sergei remembered that he had seen the man somewhere before.
The beggar then continued to say that he had received a job offer in the Russian province of Kaluga. He said that he did not have enough money to travel there. So he asked Mr Sergei to help him. Even though the man was begging, he admitted that he felt ashamed to ask for help, but his circumstances had forced him to beg.
The beggar then continued to say that he had received a job offer in the Russian province of Kaluga. He said that he did not have enough money to travel there. So he asked Mr Sergei to help him. Even though the man was begging, he admitted that he felt ashamed to ask for help, but his circumstances had forced him to beg.
Meanings of the difficult words:
| S.No | Words | Meanings |
1 | Pity | The feeling of sorrow and compassion caused by the suffering and misfortunes of others |
2 | Attention | To make someone notice you |
3 | Copecks | A monetary unit of Russia and some other countries of the former Soviet Union, equal to one-hundredth of a rouble |
4 | Lodging | A room in someone's house that you pay money to live in |
5 | Swear | To utter or take solemnly (an oath) |
6 | Intrigue | Make secret plans to do something illicit or detrimental to someone |
7 | Calumny | The act of making a statement about someone that is not true and is intended to damage the reputation of that person |
8 | Victim | To be hurt, damaged, or killed because of something or someone |
9 | Advocate | A lawyer who defends someone in a law court |
10 | Ragged | Of a person untidy, dirty, and wearing old, torn clothes |
11 | Fawn | A light brown colour |
12 | Suppliant | A person making a humble or earnest plea to someone in power or authority |
13 | Drunken | Under the influence of alcohol, or a situation in which a lot of alcohol has been drunk |
14 | Province | A principal administrative division of a country or empire |
15 | Mendicant | Given to begging |
16 | Oblige | Make someone legally or morally bound to do something |
17 | Ashamed | Feeling guilty or embarrassed about something you have done or about quality in your character |
18 | Rouble | The standard unit of money used in Belarus, Russia, and Tajikistan |
Reference:
National Council of Educational Research and Training (2006). Moments. The Beggar – Anton Chekhov (pp. 62-68). Published at the Publication Division by the Secretary, National Council of Educational Research and Training, Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi.
Register for free to see more content