The Three Questions /Leo Tolstoy/WBCHSE

 

The Three Questions

(Leo Tolstoy)

“The Three Questions” is a short story by Leo Tolstoy. The story revolves around a king who believes he can face any challenge if he knows the answers to three critical questions:

“What is the best time to begin everything?”

“Who are the best people to listen to?”

“What is the most important thing to do?”

Many educated men attempted to answer the king’s questions, but their answers varied and did not satisfy the king. The king then decided to ask a wise hermit in a nearby village. The hermit was digging flower beds when the king arrived. The king asked his questions, but the hermit went on digging.

The king offered to dig for him for a while. After digging for some time, the king again asked his questions. Before the hermit could answer, a man emerged from the woods. He was bleeding from a terrible stomach wound. The king tended to him, and they stayed the night in the hermit’s hut.

By the next day, the wounded man was doing better but was incredulous at the help he had received. The man confessed that he knew who the king was and that the king had executed his brother and seized his property. He had come to kill the king, but the guards wounded him in the stomach1. The man pledged allegiance to the king, asked for forgiveness and went on his way.

The king asked the hermit again for his answers, and the hermit responded that he had just had his questions answered:

The most important time is now. The most important person is whoever you are with. The most important thing is helping the person you are with.

The story explores themes of wisdom, acceptance, kindness, and forgiveness.

 

Do you agree with the hermit’s answers to the three questions of the Tsar? If yes, why state the reasons. If not state the reasons why not?

I can tell you that the hermit’s answers are widely regarded as wise for several reasons:

The most important time is now: This emphasizes the importance of the present moment. It’s the only time we have control over, so it’s the best time to act.

The most important person is whoever you are with: This highlights the value of every individual and the importance of giving full attention to the person you’re interacting with at any given moment.

The most important thing is to help the person you are with: This underscores the value of altruism and helping others.

These answers align with many philosophical and ethical teachings that prioritize mindfulness, respect for others, and altruism. They suggest that focusing on the present, valuing every individual, and prioritizing kindness can lead to a fulfilling and ethical life.

 

All the answers being different the Tsar agreed with none of them’- What were the different questions the Tsar got answers of? Whom did the Tsar decide to consult to after being dissatisfied? Where did the person lived whom, the king decide to consult to? Why was the person famous for? (H.S 2021)

The Tsar received different answers to his three questions from many educated men, but none of them satisfied him. The questions were:

“What is the best time to begin everything?”

“Who are the best people to listen to?”

“What is the most important thing to do?”

The answers varied greatly depending on who was answering, which is why the Tsar agreed with none of them.

Dissatisfied with the answers he received; the Tsar decided to consult a wise hermit who lived in a nearby forest. The hermit was known for his wisdom and was respected by all. He lived a simple life in nature, which many believed gave him a unique perspective on life and its many questions.

 

What were the three Questions the Tsar wanted to be answered? Why did he need the answers Why was he dissatisfy with the answers given by learned men? (H.S 2020)

The Tsar wanted answers to the following three questions:

“What is the best time to begin everything?” “Who are the best people to listen to?” “What is the most important thing to do?”

The Tsar believed that if he knew the answers to these questions, he would never fail in anything he might undertake.

However, he was dissatisfied with the answers given by the learned men because they were all different and none of them seemed to provide a definitive answer that could apply to all situations. The Tsar was looking for universal answers that could guide him in any situation he might face.

 

How was the wounded man revived and nursed? Why did he ask forgiveness of the Tsar? What did the Tsar do when he had gained the man as for a friend? (H.S 2019)

The wounded man was revived and nursed by the Tsar himself. The Tsar cleaned his wounds and bandaged them, then stayed with him through the night in the hermit’s hut.

The wounded man asked for forgiveness because he had originally come to kill the Tsar as an act of revenge. The Tsar had executed his brother and seized his property. However, after being saved by the Tsar, he felt remorse for his intentions and asked for forgiveness.

After gaining the man as a friend, the Tsar let him go in peace. The experience also provided the Tsar with the answers to his three questions, as explained by the hermit.

 

Why did the bearded man become enemy of the Tsar? What did the man swear and resole to do? Why did he ask forgiveness of the Tsar and what did he promise him?

The bearded man became an enemy of the Tsar because the Tsar had executed his brother and seized his property. This act of injustice led the man to swear revenge against the Tsar. He resolved to kill the Tsar as an act of vengeance

However, when the man was wounded and helpless, it was the Tsar who tended to his wounds and saved his life. This unexpected act of kindness from his enemy made the man rethink his intentions. He asked for forgiveness from the Tsar for his vengeful thoughts and actions.

In addition, he promised the Tsar that he would serve him as a loyal subject henceforth. This change of heart was a direct result of the compassion and care that the Tsar showed him in his time of need.

 

How did the Tsar nurse the wounded man?

The Tsar nursed the wounded man by cleaning his wounds and bandaging them. He stayed with the man through the night, ensuring his safety and recovery. This act of kindness had a profound effect on the wounded man, leading him to ask for forgiveness and pledge his loyalty to the Tsar.

 

How did three Tsar make peace with his enemy and when?

The Tsar made peace with his enemy, the wounded man, by showing him kindness and compassion. When the man was injured and helpless, it was the Tsar who tended to his wounds and nursed him back to health. This act of kindness led the man to rethink his intentions of revenge. He asked for forgiveness from the Tsar and pledged his loyalty to him.

The exact time when this happened is not specified in the story, but it occurred after the Tsar had visited the hermit and during his stay at the hermit’s hut.

 

How did Tsar get his answers of the three questions?

The Tsar found the answers to his three questions not from the hermit’s words, but from his own experiences while he was with the hermit. Here’s how:

“What is the best time to begin everything?” The Tsar realized that the most important time is now, the present moment. This became clear when he decided to help the hermit dig, and later when he chose to help the wounded man. If he had delayed or waited for a ‘better’ time, things might have turned out differently.

“Who are the best people to listen to?” The Tsar learned that the most important person is the one you are with at the moment. This was evident when he paid attention to the hermit and later to the wounded man. By focusing on them, he was able to help them and also learn from the situation.

“What is the most important thing to do?” The Tsar understood that the most important thing is to do good for the person you are with. He saved a man’s life by tending to his wounds, and in doing so, not only made a friend out of an enemy but also found the answers he was seeking.

So, it was through his actions and experiences, rather than direct answers, that the Tsar found what he was looking for.

 

You have already been answered” – Who said this to whom and when? What did the speaker get?

The phrase “You have already been answered” is said by the hermit to the Tsar in Leo Tolstoy’s short story “The Three Questions”. After the Tsar had helped the wounded man and made peace with him, he asked the hermit again for the answers to his questions. The hermit responded by saying that the Tsar had already been answered through his actions:

The most important time was when he was digging the beds, then when he was tending to the wounded man - because it was ‘now’, the present moment.

The most important person was first the hermit, then the wounded man - because it was the person he was with at that moment.

The most important thing to do was to help - first to help dig the beds, then to help save a life.

So, through his actions of helping others, the Tsar had found the answers to his questions. The speaker, the hermit, gained a deeper understanding of life’s truths and was able to impart this wisdom to the Tsar.

 

Why did the Tsar visit the Hermit? How was he dressed? Why was he dressed so/ What was the hermit doing at that time?

The Tsar visited the hermit because he was seeking answers to his three questions and he believed that the wise hermit could provide him with those answers.

The Tsar was dressed in simple clothes. He chose to dress this way because he wanted to meet the hermit as an ordinary man, not as a king. His intention was to seek genuine wisdom, and he believed that his royal status might influence the hermit’s responses.

When the Tsar arrived, the hermit was digging flower beds. Despite his old age, the hermit lived a simple life, doing his own gardening and other chores.

 

What was the third question of the Tsar? How did the learned men answer it?

The Tsar’s third question was “What is the most important thing to do?”

The learned men gave various answers to this question. Some said that the most important thing was to engage in science, others insisted on religious practices, while yet others stressed the importance of military service. However, none of these answers satisfied the Tsar because they were all different and none of them seemed to provide a definitive answer that could apply to all situations.

 

What was the second question of the Tsar? How did the learned men answer it?

The Tsar’s second question was “Who are the best people to listen to?”

The learned men gave various answers to this question. Some said that the best people to listen to were those who were wise and experienced. Others suggested that priests or warriors were the best people to listen to. Yet others believed that physicians, scientists, or even fortune-tellers were the best people to listen to.

However, none of these answers satisfied the Tsar because they were all different and none of them seemed to provide a definitive answer that could apply to all situations. The Tsar was looking for a universal answer that could guide him in any situation he might face.

 

What was the first question of the Tsar? How did the learned men answer it?

The Tsar’s first question was “What is the best time to begin everything?”

The learned men gave various answers to this question. Some said that the best time to begin something was when you are ready, others suggested that it was when you have everything in place for the task, while yet others believed that the best time was when you feel a strong desire or motivation to do it.

However, none of these answers satisfied the Tsar because they were all different and none of them seemed to provide a definitive answer that could apply to all situations. The Tsar was looking for a universal answer that could guide him in any situation he might face.

 

“Forgive me, said the bearded man ...” – who was the bearded man? Why did he ask for forgiveness?

The bearded man in the story “The Three Questions” by Leo Tolstoy is a man who had become an enemy of the Tsar because the Tsar had executed his brother and seized his property. He had sworn to take revenge on the Tsar.

However, when he was wounded and found himself in the presence of the Tsar, it was the Tsar who tended to his wounds and saved his life. This unexpected act of kindness from his enemy made him rethink his intentions.

He asked for forgiveness from the Tsar for his vengeful thoughts and actions. He was remorseful for having intended to harm the Tsar, who had shown him nothing but kindness in his time of need. This is why he asked for forgiveness.

 

“For the last time, I pray to answer my questions, wise man “- Who said this to whom and when? How and What did the wise man answer?

The phrase “For the last time, I pray to answer my questions, wise man” was said by the Tsar to the hermit in Leo Tolstoy’s short story “The Three Questions”. The Tsar asked this after he had helped the wounded man and made peace with him.

In response, the hermit explained that the Tsar had already found his answers through his actions:

The most important time was when he was digging the beds, then when he was tending to the wounded man - because it was ‘now’, the present moment.

The most important person was first the hermit, then the wounded man - because it was the person he was with at that moment.

The most important thing to do was to help - first to help dig the beds, then to help save a life.

So, it was through his actions and experiences, rather than direct answers, that the Tsar found what he was looking for.

 

Briefly describe the final resolution that the tsar received from the hermit?

The final resolution that the Tsar received from the hermit was not a direct answer to his questions, but a realization through his own actions. The hermit explained:

The most important time is now, the present moment. This became clear when the Tsar decided to help the hermit dig, and later when he chose to help the wounded man.

The most important person is the one you are with at the moment. This was evident when he paid attention to the hermit and later to the wounded man.

The most important thing is to do good for the person you are with. He saved a man’s life by tending to his wounds, and in doing so, not only made a friend out of an enemy but also found the answers he was seeking.

So, it was through his actions and experiences, rather than direct answers, that the Tsar found what he was looking for.

 

What is the moral of Leo Tolstoy's story 'The Three Questions'?

The moral of Leo Tolstoy’s story ‘The Three Questions’ is about the importance of living in the present moment, valuing the people around us, and prioritizing kindness and help towards others. The story suggests that:

The most important time is now: The present moment is the only time over which we have control, and thus it is the best time to act.

The most important person is the one you are with: Every individual has value, and we should give our full attention to the person we are interacting with at any given moment.

The most important thing to do is to help others: Altruism and kindness towards others is the most important action one can take.

These lessons emphasize mindfulness, respect for others, and altruism as key principles for leading a fulfilling and ethical life.

 

What do you think?  Why did the hermit not answer the Tsar directly?

I can analyse that the hermit’s approach to not answering the Tsar’s questions directly could be seen as a method of teaching through experience rather than through words. The hermit might have believed that the answers to such profound questions are best understood when experienced firsthand. By allowing the Tsar to help him dig and then save a man’s life, the hermit created situations where the Tsar could learn the answers to his questions through his own actions and experiences. This method ensured that the Tsar deeply understood and internalized the answers, rather than just hearing them.

 

Do you think the title of the story "Three Questions " Appropriate and justified. State in your answer.

I can analyze that the title “Three Questions” seems quite appropriate and justified for Leo Tolstoy’s story. The entire narrative revolves around three questions posed by the Tsar, which are central to the plot. These questions drive the Tsar’s actions, lead him to the hermit, and ultimately guide him to the moral of the story. Therefore, the title accurately reflects the main theme and structure of the story.