L-2 A CHAMELEON

L-2 A CHAMELEON

                    - ANTON CHEKHOV

SHORT Q/A

Q.1. Where was the police superintendent Otchumyelov walking? What was he carrying under his arm?

Ans. He was walking across the market square and carrying a parcel under his arm. The police superintendent Otchumyelov was walking across the market square. He was carrying a parcel under his arm.

 

Q.2. Who walking after him?

Ans. A red haired policeman. A red haired policeman was walking after him.

 

Q.3. What was the red-haired policeman carrying in his hands?

Ans. A sieve (filter)  full of gooseberries. He was carrying a sieve full of confiscated gooseberries in his hands.

 

Q.4. Who was chasing the dog?

Ans. Hryukin was chasing the dog. A man in a starched cotton shirt, with his waist coat 1 unbuttoned was chasing the dog. His name was Hryukin.

 

Q.5. Why was Hryukin chasing the dog?

Ans. The dog had bitten his finger and he wanted money for his damages.  It was because the dog had bitten the finger of his right hand.

 

Q. 6. What was Hryukin wearing'?

Ans. A cotton shirt and a waistcoat. He was wearing a starched cotton shirt. His waist coat was unbuttoned.

 

7. What did Hryukin display to the crowd? 

Ans. A bleeding finger.  He was holding his right hand in the air and displaying his bleeding finger to the crowd.

 

Q.8. How was Hryukin's bleeding finger flag of victory?

Ans. He wanted to get some easy money for his damages. Hryukin was sure of getting money as damages for his bleeding finger. SO it-was i. sign of victory for him.

 

Q.9. Why did Hryukin think that he must have damages?

Ans. Because he was a fine workman and could not do work with his injured finger. First of all it was against regulation to let dogs run all over the place, Secondly because the police superintendent's posture seemed to be in Hryukin's favour.

 

Q.10. What was Otchumyelov's first reaction on Hryukin's complaint?

Ans. He wanted to teach lesson to those people who let their dogs out. Otchumyelov sternly asked whose dog it was. He won't let that pass.

 

Q.11. Why did he later refuse to take any action against the owner of the dog?

Ans. Because it was a General’s dog. When someone in the crowd said that the dog belonged to General Zhigalov, he refused to take action against the dog.

 

Q.12. What was police superintendent's opinion about the biting of the dog when he came to know that it was General's dog?

Ans. He told that how a big man could be bitten by a small dog. His opinion was that it was a little dog but Hryukin was large and heavy like a bull. It could not skratch his finger with a nail.

 

Q.13. What did the policeman tell the superintendent about the General's dog?

Ans. He told that the General’s dogs are mostly setters (informers)  and of good breeds. The policeman told him that it was not the General's dog. The General didn't have any such dog. His dogs were mostly setters.

 

Q.14. Who was Prohor?

Ans. 14 Prohor was the General’s cook. Prohor was General Zhigalov's cook.

 

Q.15. What information did Prohor give about the dog?

Ans. Prohor told that General’s brother was the owner of the dog. Prohor gave the information that the dog belonged to the General's brother who arrived the other day.

 

Q.16. Why did the crowd laugh at Hryukin at the end of the story?

Ans. Because he failed to get some money by showing his bleeding finger by telling lies. The police superintendent   threatened him. When Prohor walked away with the dog, and the police superintendent spoke threateningly to Hryukin, the crowd laughed at Hryukin.

 

 

Ans1 Otchumyelov is the main character of the story ‘A Chameleon’. It is written by Anton Chekhov. He is an interesting character. The writer has tried to throw the light on the theme of this story through this character. He was the SP in a town. When Hryukin made a complaint. He listened him very carefully. He posed to be strict. He wanted to teach a lesson to those people who left their dogs out. But he changed his stand every now and then. When he comes to know that the dog belonged to General. He begins to feel hot and removed his coat. He asked Hryukin how a small dog could bite a big man like you. He was a comic figure. He had an altering nature.

 

Ans2. Hryukin is the second main character in the story. He was a goldsmith. He had a sharp brain. He was a liar. He wanted to make easy money. The dog did not bite him. He put a cigarettes in the dog’s mouth and so the dog bit him on the finger. He leaves a deep impact on us. The crowd laughed at him in the end.

 

 

Ans3 Otchumyelov is the SP in this story. He had latering nature. He shows sympathy with Hryukin. He shouts that he will take action against the owner of the dog. But when he comes to know that the dog belonged to General Zhigalov. He changes his aptitude. Later he comes to know that it is not the General’s dog. He again takes the side of Hryukin. But then the cook tells him that the dog belongs to the General’s brother. He once again changes his aptitude.

 

 

Ans4 Otchumyelov takes off or puts on his overcoat with every new statement. He shows sympathy with Hryukin. He shouts that he will take action against the owner of the dog. But when he comes to know that the dog belonged to General. He feels uneasy. He takes of his coat. He changes his aptitude. Later he comes to know that it is not the General’s dog. He puts on the coat. He again takes the side of Hryukin. But then the cook tells him that the dog belongs to the General’s brother. He once again changes his aptitude. In this way taking of and wearing it again, shows the chameleonic nature of Otchumyelov.

 

 

Ans5 The title of the story is very suitable/appropriate. It is very short and meaningful. It throws the light on the theme of the story. A chameleon is a creature which changes its colour according to situations. In the same way Otchumyelov changes his stand in this story. The title revolves around him. He posed to be strict. As he heard the goldsmith’s complaint. He shouts that he will take action against the owner of the dog. He was a chameleon. He changed his stand every now and then. He was a comic character. He used his overcoat cover his nervousness and made us laugh.

 

 

 

A Chameleon is a lizard that can change its colour according to its background. The title throws light on the story and captures its theme. Octhumyelov is a police officer. He is walking in the market. A goldsmith named Hryukin is bitten by a dog. He complains to the police officer and demands compensation. Police officer says that stray dogs must be killed. He wants to know the name of the dog’s owner. Soon he comes to know that the General is the owner. This makes him nervous. He scolds Hryukin. According to situations, he changes his decisions. His behavior justifies the title.

 

 

Q1. What was Otchumyelov walking? What was he carrying under his arms?

Ans. He was walking across the market square. He was carrying a parcel under his arms.

 

Q2. What was the red haired man carrying in his hands?

Ans. He was carrying a sieve full of gooseberries.

 

Q3. How was Hryukin’s bleeding finger a flag of victory?

Ans. Hryukin’s bleeding finger was a flag of victory because it proved that the dog has bitten him.

         

Q4. Why did Hryukin think that he must have damages?

Ans. A dog had bitten his finger. It was bleeding. He could not work for 7 days. So he thought he must have damages.

         

Q5. What was Otchumyelov’s first reaction on Hryukin’s complaint?

Ans. He supported Hryukin. He promised Hryukin that he will teach a lesson to the owner of the dog.

 

Q6. Why did Otchumyelov later refused to take any action against the owner of the dog? Ans. When he came to know that it was general’s dog, he refused to take any action.

 

Q7. What was Otchumyelov’s opinion when he came to know that it was general’s dog?

Ans. He blamed Hryukin for the incident. He said a weak and small dog could not bite a tall and heavy man.

 

Q8. Why did the crowd laugh at Hryukin?

Ans. The police superintendent blamed Hryukin for his bleeding finger. He did not get any compensation for it. So the crowd laughed at him.

 

          Justify Title- A Chameleon

Chameleon is a reptile. It changes its color to match its surroundings. A man who changes according to situation is also called chameleon. In the story, the policeman, Otchumyelov behaves like a chameleon. Hryukin complains about dog bite to the policeman. He shows his bleeding finger. He asks for compensation from dog’s owner.

         

Otchumyelov promises to do justice. He tries to find out dog’s owner. When he comes to know that the dog belongs to the general, he changes his stand. He starts shouting at Hryukin. After some time Prohor, the General’s cook, tells that the dog is not of General. Otchumyelov again changes his stand and promises for justice.

         

Later, Prohor tells that the dog is of General’s brother. It makes Otchumyelov again to change his stand. He starts shouting at Hryukin again. This behavior of Otchumyelov justifies the title of the story.

         

Points to remember

 

1)      The writer of the story is Anton Chekhov.

2)      Otchumyelov was the police superintendent.

3)      He was walking in the market square.

4)      He was carrying a parcel with him.

5)      A red haired policeman was walking after him.

6)      He was carrying a sieve full of gooseberries.

7)      Hryukin was a gold smith.

8)      He was wearing a starched cotton shirt.

9)      He was chasing the dog.

10)    His finger was bleeding.

11)    It was bitten by a dog. 

12)    It was a small white puppy.

13)    He demanded compensation.

14)    Police superintendent agreed with him.

15)    He asked for the owner of the dog.

16)    He came to know that it was General's dog.

17)    He changed his opinion.

18)    General's cook identified the dog.

19)    Prohor was general's cook.

20)    The dog was of general's brother’s.

21)    The cook took away the dog.

22)    Otchumyelov scolded Hryukin.

23)    The crowd made fun of Hryukin.