Class 9 English - KARNATAKA
Supplementary: The Beggar
Supplementary chapter 'The Beggar' by Anton Chekhov, prescribed for Class 9 Karnataka (KSEEB) students, is a touching story about transformation and human values. It narrates the life of Lushkoff, a weak and destitute drunkard who begs for survival, and Sergei, a successful advocate. Through a series of strict actions and the compassionate intervention of Sergei's cook, Olga, Lushkoff undergoes a remarkable moral and behavioral change. This chapter is very important for board exams as it tests students' understanding of character development, empathy, and the power of kindness, frequently featuring in comprehension and character sketch questions.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Deceit as a Coping Mechanism
Lushkoff resorts to lying and telling fabricated stories about being a school teacher or a student because he is too weak to work and needs sympathy to earn money for alcohol.
Tough Love vs. Compassion
Sergei initially offers strict physical labor instead of alms to teach the beggar a lesson, believing that work is the only way to cure alcoholism and laziness.
Role of Olga
Olga, the cook, verbally abuses Lushkoff on the outside but secretly chops all the wood for him and weeps for his miserable state, proving that true compassion often lies beneath a harsh exterior.
Inner Transformation
The realization that Olga was suffering and crying for his sake deeply impacts Lushkoff's soul, completely changing his outlook on life and making him stop drinking.
Dignity of Labor
The story emphasizes that honest work brings self-respect, transforming Lushkoff from a despised beggar into a respected notary earning thirty-five roubles a month.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Karnataka (KSEEB) Class 9 English board examinations, supplementary chapters like 'The Beggar' typically carry around 3 to 5 marks. Questions are commonly asked in the form of 2-mark short answers, paragraph answers about character sketches (especially Lushkoff or Olga), and reference to context (RTC) questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Lushkoff lie to Sergei initially?
Lushkoff lied about being a ruined school teacher and a student because he was too weak and addicted to alcohol to do hard work, and he used these false stories to evoke pity and get money from people.
Who actually chopped the wood for Lushkoff?
Although Sergei believed Lushkoff was doing the work, it was actually Olga, the cook, who chopped all the wood for him out of pity and sorrow for his miserable condition.
What was the turning point in Lushkoff's life?
The true turning point was when Olga scolded him while secretly chopping wood and weeping for his fate, which touched Lushkoff's heart, changed his inner self, and made him stop drinking.
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