(i) (d) ownership of Meadows.

(ii) (b) perpetuity

(iii) Lomov's aunt's grandmother gave Oxen Meadows to Natalya's father's grandfather's peasants in lieu of making bricks for her.

(iv) According to Natalya, Oxen Meadows belonged to them because both her grandfather and great grandfather reckoned that their land extended to Burnt Marsh, which included Oxen Meadows.

(v) The peasants had free use of Meadows for forty years.

Source: The Proposal, Extract passage

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• (i) The core dispute is about who owns the Meadows, not merely their use or brick-making.
• (ii) Perpetuity means "forever/continuance" — a standard vocabulary question; look for the word that fits the meaning given.
• (iii) Copy the reason directly from Lomov's speech: peasants were to make bricks in return.
• (iv) Use Natalya's own words about the land extending to Burnt Marsh — that is her entire argument.
• (v) The number forty is stated explicitly in Lomov's dialogue — never guess.

Good morning everyone.

Relationships are the bond between two people based on mutual likes, understanding, need or love. I'd like to discuss relationships as portrayed in the two texts — The Proposal and Diary of Anne Frank.

In Chekhov's play, Natalya's relationship with Lomov is built on economic interest rather than genuine affection. Both quarrel over petty issues like land and dogs, yet agree to marry for practical reasons. Their relationship lacks emotional depth and is driven by social convenience.

Anne Frank, however, cherishes her relationships deeply. She treats her diary "Kitty" as a true friend, sharing her innermost feelings. She loves her grandmother and father sincerely, showing that relationships can be warm, honest and nurturing even in difficult times.

To conclude, I'd like to say that true relationships must be grounded in sincerity and understanding, not material interests. While Natalya's bond is superficial, Anne's connections remind us of the genuine warmth relationships can offer.

Thank you.

Source: The Proposal, Chapter 9; From the Diary of Anne Frank, Chapter 4

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• The examiner expects you to use both texts and contrast the two characters meaningfully.
• Natalya represents relationships driven by wealth/social convenience — quarrelsome yet bound by economic logic.
• Anne Frank represents sincere, emotionally rich relationships — with her diary, family, and teachers.
• Follow the given opening and closing lines exactly; marks are awarded for structure.
• Keep the comparison balanced — roughly equal space for each character.
• Avoid padding; every sentence should add a new idea.

(i) (A) to be heard

(ii) The sentence confuses and irritates Natalya. The long, complicated reference to "peasants of your father's grandfather" and "aunt's grandmother" is so convoluted that Natalya says she "can't make head or tail" of it. She finds the argument irrelevant and unnecessarily complicated, so she dismisses it entirely and simply asserts that the Meadows belong to her family.

(iii) The use of the phrase 'can't make head or tail' adds to a sense of confusion in the extract.

(iv) Lomov is trying to prove that the Oxen Meadows belong to him. He is tracing a long ancestral history — involving his aunt's grandmother and Natalya's father's grandfather — to establish his ownership of the Meadows.

Source: The Proposal (Anton Chekhov), Extract

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• (i) "I implore you" directly means Lomov is begging to be heard — option (A).
• (ii) For 2 marks, state the effect (confusion/irritation) AND the reason (complicated ancestry argument). Both are needed for full marks.
• (iii) "Can't make head or tail" is an idiom meaning unable to understand — so confusion is correct.
• (iv) The central dispute in the extract is ownership of the Meadows — keep the answer focused on that single point.

In The Proposal, Chekhov shows that arguments worsen situations rather than resolve them. Lomov comes with a genuine purpose — to propose marriage to Natalya — but all three characters are quarrelsome by nature. First, Lomov and Natalya dispute over the ownership of Oxen Meadows; then Chubukov joins and the argument turns bitter. The original purpose is completely forgotten. Only economic self-interest forces the proposal back on track. This proves that disputes over petty issues create chaos and never lead to resolution.

Source: The Proposal, Chapter 9

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The examiner expects you to:

• State the central idea clearly (arguments don't resolve problems).
• Give specific evidence from the play: the Oxen Meadows quarrel, Chubukov joining in, the proposal being forgotten.
• Link back to the statement at the end.

Avoid retelling the whole plot — pick only the evidence that directly supports the statement. Three focused points earn full marks here.

Russian society emerges as a silent but powerful character in The Proposal through the following instances:

1. Landowning class and its values: All three characters are wealthy landowners. Their identity and pride are tied to property — the quarrel over Oxen Meadows (worth only 300 roubles) reveals how social status is bound to land ownership.

1. Marriage as an economic arrangement: Lomov does not marry for love; he wants a practical alliance. Chubukov immediately blesses the proposal joyfully, showing that such matches were socially expected between neighbouring wealthy families.

1. Quarrelsome, petty nature: The characters constantly argue over trivial matters — the Meadows, then their dogs — reflecting the idle, bickering lifestyle of the Russian landowning class.

1. Hysterical temperament: Excessive emotional outbursts (fainting, wailing, threats of shooting oneself) are portrayed as typical behaviour, satirising Russian gentry society of the period.

Source: The Proposal, Chapter 9

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The examiner expects you to treat society — not just individual characters — as a character. Focus on class, property obsession, arranged/practical marriages, and idle quarrelling as features of Russian gentry society Chekhov satirises. Four clear points, each with a brief example from the play, will earn full marks. Avoid retelling the plot — analyse what each incident reveals about society.

Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov is a wealthy, middle-aged landowner of thirty-five. He is nervous, hypochondriac, and highly excitable — he suffers from palpitations, a twitching eyebrow, and a numb foot. Though he comes with good intentions to propose marriage, he is quarrelsome and argumentative, picking fights over trivial matters like Oxen Meadows and dogs.

Examiners expect two key aspects: Lomov's physical/medical traits (hypochondria, nervousness) and his personality flaws (quarrelsome, petty, argumentative). The textbook itself describes him as "large and hearty, but very suspicious." Quote or paraphrase from the play briefly. Avoid padding — 2 marks needs only 2–3 focused points.

Natalya and Chubukov both reveal themselves as greedy, quarrelsome, and hypocritical characters driven by self-interest.

Chubukov initially suspects Lomov has come to borrow money and tries to send him away, but the moment Lomov mentions marriage, he becomes overly affectionate, claiming he has "always loved" Lomov like a son. This sudden change exposes his insincerity — he values the proposal only for economic and social gain.

Natalya is equally quarrelsome and stubborn. She quarrels fiercely over the Oxen Meadows, calling Lomov an intriguer, but the moment she learns he came to propose, she bursts into hysterics and desperately demands he be brought back. This "turnaround" reveals she is eager to marry — as Chubukov says, "like a lovesick cat" — but is too proud to show it.

Both characters are self-centred, hot-tempered, and materialistic, interested in the proposal mainly to secure a financially advantageous match.

Source: The Proposal, Chapter 9

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• The question asks for a character assessment of both Natalya and Chubukov, focused on their "turnaround" after the proposal is revealed.
• Examiners look for: textual evidence (Chubukov's greed, his sudden warmth; Natalya's hysterics after learning of the proposal), and a brief judgement of their character traits.
• Key terms to use: hypocritical, quarrelsome, materialistic, self-interested.
• Don't write a plot summary — give character judgements backed by specific moments from the play.

Lomov visited Chubukov's house to ask for the hand of his daughter, Natalya Stepanovna, in marriage. He came dressed formally in evening dress and white gloves, and nervously requested Chubukov's consent. Chubukov joyfully agreed, saying he had long hoped for this proposal.

Source: The Proposal, chapter 9

The examiner expects two points: (1) the purpose of Lomov's visit — a marriage proposal — and (2) a supporting detail such as his formal attire or Chubukov's reaction. Quoting or closely paraphrasing the play ("I've come to ask the hand of your daughter, Natalya Stepanovna, in marriage") adds accuracy. Do not drift into the quarrel over Oxen Meadows — that is not the objective of his visit.

When Lomov asked for the hand of Natalya Stepanovna in marriage, Chubukov reacted with great joy and excitement. He exclaimed "By Jove! Say it again — I didn't hear it all!" and embraced and kissed Lomov warmly. He shed tears of happiness, saying he had always loved Lomov like his own son and had been hoping for this proposal for a long time. He also assured Lomov that Natalya would consent, saying she was "like a lovesick cat." He then rushed off to call his daughter.

Source: The Proposal, Chapter 9

The examiner expects you to cover three aspects: Chubukov's initial suspicion (he thought Lomov came to borrow money), his sudden joyful reaction on hearing the proposal, and his emotional response (embracing, shedding tears, giving assurances about Natalya). Note the contrast between his aside ("He's come to borrow money. Shan't give him any!") and his outward joy — this hints at insincerity, which is worth mentioning if marks permit.

When Lomov comes to propose, he mentions that his Oxen Meadows border the Chubukov estate. Natalya immediately interrupts and claims the Meadows belong to her family, not Lomov. She firmly insists, "They're ours, ours, ours!" and threatens to send her mowers there that very day. This assertion of ownership angers Lomov, turning what should have been a marriage proposal into a heated quarrel over land. Natalya's stubborn refusal to accept Lomov's claim, and her aggressive tone, provoke him into shouting and exchanging insults.

Source: The Proposal, Chapter 9

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The examiner expects you to identify the trigger (mention of Oxen Meadows), Natalya's immediate contradicting claim, and her aggressive/stubborn stance as the three elements that provoke the quarrel. Note that the quarrel starts before Natalya even knows Lomov has come to propose — the irony is key to the play's humour and worth mentioning briefly. Avoid retelling the whole plot; focus on how Natalya provokes, not just that they quarrel.

The line "Oh, what a burden, Lord, to be the father of a grown-up daughter!" reveals Chubukov's exasperation and helplessness as a father. He desperately wants Natalya to get married — he was overjoyed when Lomov came to propose, calling it his "continual desire." Yet he watches the proposal nearly collapse due to senseless quarrelling, much of it caused by Natalya herself. The line shows he feels trapped: he must manage his difficult daughter's marriage prospects while she drives away the very suitor he welcomed. His frustration is comic but also genuine — he even threatens to "cut his throat" in despair. He is an anxious, self-pitying father whose desire for a good match is repeatedly frustrated by circumstances beyond his control.

Source: The Proposal, Chapter 9

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The examiner expects you to link the quote directly to Chubukov's behaviour throughout the play: his eagerness for the proposal, his panic when Lomov storms out, and his helpless frustration. Don't just paraphrase the line — show why he feels this way using evidence from the text. Three key moments to recall: his joy at Lomov's proposal, his "I'll shoot myself!" panic, and his final exhausted blessing of the couple.

Initially, Chubukov suspected that Lomov had come to borrow money and privately resolved not to lend any. However, when Lomov revealed that he had come to ask for Natalya's hand in marriage, Chubukov's reaction changed completely. He became overjoyed, embraced and kissed Lomov warmly, shed tears of happiness, and exclaimed that it had been his "continual desire." He declared he had always loved Lomov "as if he were his own son" and rushed off excitedly to call Natalya. His dramatic transformation from suspicion to elation suggests his joy was genuine, driven largely by the economic and social advantage of the match.

Source: The Proposal, Chapter 9

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• Key contrast: The examiner expects you to mention both reactions — the initial suspicion (borrowing money) AND the joyful response to the actual proposal.
• Chubukov's sincerity is debatable (he seems opportunistic), but for a 3-mark answer, briefly noting it adds depth without over-explaining.
• Stick to textual evidence: "shed a tear," "embraced and kissed," "continual desire," "as if you were my own son."
• Do not drift into the Oxen Meadows quarrel — that's a different part of the play.

When Lomov formally asked for Natalya's hand in marriage, Chubukov reacted with overwhelming joy and delight. He exclaimed, "By Jove! Say it again — I didn't hear it all!" He then embraced and kissed Lomov warmly, shed tears of happiness, and declared that he had always hoped and desired for this proposal. He said, "I've always loved you, my angel, as if you were my own son." He also confidently assured Lomov that Natalya would consent, hinting she was already "like a lovesick cat."

Source: The Proposal, Anton Chekhov — Chapter 9

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• The examiner wants: Chubukov's immediate emotional reaction (joy, tears, embracing) + his words/expressions showing delight + his aside (he earlier suspected Lomov came to borrow money, showing his insincerity) — briefly hinting at this contrast earns full marks.
• Quote at least one direct line from the play to support your answer.
• Do not go into the subsequent quarrel about Oxen Meadows — that is a different part of the play.
• 3 marks = ~3 clear points with a supporting detail or quote. This answer covers: reaction, words used, confidence about Natalya's consent.