Three Questions- Leo Tolstoy

Hello Friends... 

Hopefully, we all are doing well... Be careful, we must stay fit and shouldn't fall ill getting our studies affected. We shall eat and drink healthy, exercise regularly, and won't avoid our domestic and social responsibilities. And whatever time we get for ourselves at the end of the day, we must study hard for most of the time, so that we learn to think... and thereby,- learn. We simply cannot afford to stop thinking, for we are the learners,- we are the lucky ones who got the scope to learn... 

Let's learn to think first...

Who May Participate in the Discussion

This is a discussion on the English translation [by Aylmer and Louise Maude] of the short story Three Questions, originally written by Leo Tolstoy in Russian. Students of Class XII, WBCHSE have to study this text for their final examination. So, it is very likely that they may find this discussion helpful for them. 

However, this discussion may help any learner to develop a strategy suitable for him/herself to study a text of fiction intensively, focusing upon both linguistic and literary aspects. Even those who prefer reading stories for leisure only may also find this platform helpful to share and discuss their own views of what they read with other readers.

Shall we start reading the story, then?-

Three Questions

Leo Tolstoy- by Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky

The Title

How is the title? Doesn't the title seem to be very engaging in its approach? Doesn't it immediately engage us to raise questions like who asked the questions, what did they ask, whom did they ask, why did they ask, and so on?

So, now that we have such questions in our mind, we need to read the story to satisfy our curiosity, isn't it? At the same time, as we look for the answers while reading the story, we will be cross-checking if these are the questions that are the main foci of the story, or if they lead us to some other way,- right?

A Certain Tsar, And His Thoughts

It once occurred to a certain Tsar, that if he always knew the right time to begin everything; if he knew who were the right people to listen to, and whom to avoid; and, above all, if he always knew what was the most important thing to do, he would never fail in anything he might undertake.

First Reading

Have we missed the fact that the whole paragraph is a single sentence? 

Do you know why? 

It's simple. We didn't notice the fact as you didn't face any difficulty in understanding the overall meaning, for each sense-group or meaningful unit of the paragraph [which happens to be a single sentence as well] is here separated by different punctuation marks. But, a sentence of such a length is supposed to be extremely complex and convoluted, and so is this sentence. But, somehow we get the meaning mostly, right?

Detailed Reading

Would you like to see how it worked for us? Then, let's discuss in detail:

The Main Clause

'It [subject of the verb, indicating some idea/thought] once [adverb, indicating time] occurred to [phrasal verb, meaning 'came to the mind of'] a certain Tsar [object to the verb; Russian Kings were called Tsars],...' Yes, this is the main clause in the first paragraph, isn't it? 

The Pronoun 'It'

Now, what idea(s) occurred to the Tsar? And the rest part of the paragraph/sentence is the answer, or we may say that the subject 'It' actually refers to this rest part of the sentence:

...that if he always knew the right time to begin everything; if he knew who were the right people to listen to, and whom to avoid; and, above all, if he always knew what was the most important thing to do, he would never fail in anything he might undertake.

The Three Conditions,- Distinctly Punctuated

If we notice carefully, we will find that this part refers to the three conditions that the Tsar was thinking of. We may get some clues from the punctuation marks used-

Yes, there are two semi-colons that divide the part further into three parts, and each part refers to a single condition. You got it right...

The Structure Used

Now it's time to discuss how the three different conditions are structurally expressed in this part:

Here, we have the 'if-(then)' clauses serving the purpose-

1. If he always knew the right time to begin everything, (then) he would never fail in anything he might undertake.
2. If he knew who were the right people to listen to, and whom to avoid, (then) he would never fail in anything he might undertake.
3. If he always knew what was the most important thing to do, (then) he would never fail in anything he might undertake.

Since the second clause [the then-clause] is common in all the three statements, it is referred to only once at the last in the part we are discussing, linking up all the three if-conditions using semi-colons and linking phrase like 'and, above all' in chain together as one. 

Substituting the Pronoun

Are you wondering that what if we replace the subject 'It' with what it represents? Excellent idea... Let's see what do we get then:

That if he always knew the right time to begin everything; if he knew who were the right people to listen to, and whom to avoid; and, above all, if he always knew what was the most important thing to do, he would never fail in anything he might undertake, once occurred to a certain Tsar.

Which one do you feel easier to understand? Let me know...

The Tsar

How do you find the Tsar? Quite ambitious, right? He didn't want to fail in any job he would like to do... 

And hence, we find him doing his homework for securing success every time. He thought of three conditions to be the deciding factors of any sort of success: right time to begin the job, right people whom he should listen to and people who he should avoid, and the knowledge of what might be the most important job to do.

Do you agree with the conditions the Tsar chose to know to decide his success? If you disagree, why don't you let us know?

The Tsar's Declaration

And this thought having occurred to him, he had it proclaimed throughout his kingdom that he would give a great reward to anyone who would teach him what was the right time for every action, and who were the most necessary people, and how he might know what was the most important thing to do.

First Reading

This time, I am confident that you haven't missed the fact that this paragraph is too a single sentence, just like the previous one. Do you wonder, what specific purpose do such long sentences achieve?

Brevity Is the Soul of Art

Though it may sound apparently ridiculous, all these long sentences actually target to keep the length of the expression short, achieving brevity. Had the whole content been expressed in shorter and simpler sentences, it would have been a much longer paragraph. 

Would you like to express the content of this paragraph in simpler sentences on your own, and look for yourself? You're most welcome, and I will be there to help you remove your doubts on your way...

Reading in Details

Perfect Participle Phrases

Have you noted the perfect participle 'having occurred to'? It points out that this action was completed before the action of the verb 'had proclaimed' in the main clause. 

Would you like to study the structure of the following sentence to understand how it [perfect participle] works?-

Having studied the first paragraph thoroughly, we have moved on to the second.

We may choose to start with the main clause as well:

We have moved on to the second having studied the first paragraph thoroughly.

The Object 'it'

So the thought had occurred to the Tsar first. Then what had he done?-

'he had it proclaimed throughout his Kingdom' He had announced it throughout his kingdom. So, he had announced something. What did he announce? What does the object 'it' refer to here?

That-clause

Yes, we have a that-clause here in the sentence that is referred to by the object to the verb phrase 'had proclaimed',- 'it'. It refers to the announcement the Tsar had made:

... that he would give a great reward to anyone who would teach him what was the right time for every action, and who were the most necessary people, and how he might know what was the most important thing to do.

So, the Tsar had declared a great reward for anybody who would help him to decide about the right time, right people, and right action every time, and thus, lead him to success every time.

Other Clauses

I am sure you have noticed how the structure of the that-clause works here. It begins with the clause 'that he would give a great reward to anyone', and also includes the adjective/relative clause describing the pronoun 'anyone':

...who would teach him what was the right time for every action, and who were the most necessary people, and how he might know what was the most important thing to do.

Again, this relative clause includes three wh-clauses, functioning as the direct objects to the verb phrase 'would teach', linked together by commas followed by the conjunct 'and':

• what was the right time for every action,
• and who were the most necessary people,
• and how he might know what was the most important thing to do.

And, the last wh-clause has got another wh-clause functioning as the object to the verb phrase 'might know' in it- what was the most important thing to do.

Was it too complex to handle? Surely not. Longer sentences with multiple clauses are usually structured thus, linking smaller sense-groups with conjuncts and punctuations, that help the readers, or the listeners to grasp the meaning easily.

Direct Object And Indirect Object

Do you wonder what these are? Ditransitive Verbs like 'give' need two objects to convey a complete sense: what is given [direct object] and  to whom it is given [indirect object]. Actually, the subjects of the ditransitive verb phrases act directly upon the direct objects, whereas indirect objects refer to the people for [or to] whom the actions of the verbs are performed.

Would you like to see if we have any other ditransitive verb here in this second paragraph of the story other than 'give'?

Use of Adjectives

I am hopeful that you have noticed how the adjective 'great' qualifies the noun 'reward' above. Why don't you try to think of some other suitable adjectives to describe the same noun without distorting the essence as intended by the author? We often say 'amazing gift', or 'wonderful gift', don't we? Can we use these two adjectives here to describe the noun 'reward' too?

The Pronouns 'who'

We have this pronoun occurring twice in the that-clause studied above. Do you think both of them refer to the same people?

Certainly not. The first 'who' refers to the people who might have taught the Tsar the answers he was looking for.

On the other hand, the second 'who' refers to the people who would have proved themselves to be the most necessary people to the Tsar.

Third Paragraph- a Cue

And learned men came to the Tsar, but they all answered his questions differently.

What is the most striking aspect of the third paragraph, friends?

Yes, certainly, it is also a paragraph that consists of a single sentence. However, is it not a relief that the sentence, which constitutes the whole of the paragraph, is a small one this time?

But there is something more important here. Doesn't this particular paragraph function like a title? Yes, to be sure, it provides a hint to the content of the following paragraphs. 

Doesn't it provide a cue to the contradictions we are going to deal in the following paragraphs of the story? Have you missed the use of the linker 'but' in the paragraph? Moreover, we also have the adverb 'differently' used directly in the end of the sentence, don't we?

Fourth, Fifth And Sixth Paragraphs: Contradictory Answers to the First Question

Fourth Paragraph

In reply to the first question, some said that to know the right time for every action, one must draw up in advance, a table of days, months and years, and must live strictly according to it. Only thus, said they, could everything be done at its proper time.

The Rhythm

Would you read the paragraph once again? You may listen to somebody reading it as well. Don't you find the rhythm fascinatingly moving like waves? 

Yes, the frequent punctuation, breaking down longer sentences into smaller meaningful units, obviously builds up this poetic rhythm. But there is one another important aspect contributing to this rhythm...

What's that?

Inversion. That is to say, in English, sentences usually begin with the subject, followed by the verb phrase, followed by the object if the verb phrase is a transitive one. All the other information come next in an sentence, and are referred to as the adjunct [remaining part referring to the additional information]. Sometime, to induce a poetic rhythm, the regular structure of English sentences is inversed, as here. Would you prefer some further understanding?-

Let's take the last sentence from the paragraph, and restructure it as per the normal convention:

They [subject] said [transitive verb phrase] everything [subject] could be done [verb phrase] at its proper time [adverbial adjunct] [object to the transitive verb phrase in the main clause] only thus [adverbial adjunct].

Read it, or listen to it being read. Do you find it as rhythmic as the inverted one in the paragraph? 

If not, why do you think the original sentence sounds more aesthetic than this restructured one when both the sentences have exactly the same words and phrases?

Would you like to find out how the first sentence has been inverted? We may compare and discuss our answers together in the comment box down below, if you are willing...

By the way, has it occurred to you why we are coming across so many inverted clauses/sentences particularly in this story? Do you think that the syntax of Russian language [the story was originally written in Russian, if you remember, and it is a translated story that we are discussing] may have got something to do with it?

Haven't you come across any translated text earlier, where both the source and the target languages are known to you? Have you noticed if the expressions in the target language get influenced by the characteristics of the source language?

Phrasal Verb

I am hopeful that you have noted the phrasal verb 'draw up' meaning plan. Would you try to replace the same with another phrasal verb? You may browse through the internet if you are keen to strengthen your active vocabulary.

Shall we move on to the next paragraph?

Fifth Paragraph

Others declared that it was impossible to decide before hand the right time for every action; but that, not letting [allowing] oneself be absorbed [busy] in idle [lazy] pastimes [hobbies], one should always attend to  [notice] all that was going on, and then do what was most needful [necessary]. Others, again, said that however attentive the Tsar might be to what was going on, it was impossible for one man to decide correctly the right time for every action, but that he should have a Council of wise men, who would help him to fix the proper time for everything.

Rhythm

How do you find the rhythm here in this paragraph? And what are the contributing factors behind the rhythm, if you find it special in any way?

Linking Phrase

Have you noticed the use of the linking phrase 'but that', meaning 'except that', or 'other than that'? It is particularly used to indicate exceptions:

According to some scholars, it is impossible to know the right time for every action every time. However, other than that, people should notice the actions happening around them, and should get engaged in those which are of utmost importance and should not get engaged in idle hobbies.

Why don't you try to find out how the same linking phrase is used in this paragraph to indicate preference over some options than others? You got me to consult if you are stuck...

Sixth Paragraph

But then again others said there were something which could not wait to be laid [to be presented] before a Council, but about which one had at once to decide whether to undertake [attempt] them or not. But in order to decide that, one must know beforehand what was going to happen. It is only magicians you know that; and, therefore, in order to know the right time for every action, one must consult magicians.

Another Linking Phrase of But

Here too, as in the earlier paragraph, we have a phrase of 'but' used: 'But then again'. It includes some element of contradiction. Contradiction seems to be of prime significance here in this paragraph as we have the linker 'but' used twice in the same sentence. Isn't it? Would you mind going through the paragraph once again to check if we have more instances of 'but' used to indicate contrast?

The fifth and sixth paragraphs give us a scope to study the use of the conjunct 'but'. Why don't you follow them a bit closely, and see if you can replace them with other suitable linkers?

What's Your Answer?

Do you have any answer of your own to this first question of the Tsar in your mind? To which group of scholars do you agree? If you agree to none, then how does your answer differ from the answer of these scholars?

The Contradictory Answers

Shall we examine the contradictions closely now?

What did the first group of scholars emphasize upon in the fourth paragraph? Planning of the future, right?

How did the opinion of the second group of scholars in the fifth paragraph differ from the first group?-They didn't believe in the concept of future-planning, and rather emphasized the present course of actions. 

In the same fifth paragraph, we are also introduced to a third group of scholars who didn't believe in the opinions cited by either of the first two. According to them, the Tsar should have a body of wise councilors to advise him about the right time of every action. They believed it was impossible for a single person to know the right time of every action.

And we get the opportunity to listen to what the fourth group of scholars say in the sixth paragraph. They pointed out the fact that it's not possible to consult a council every time, particularly when there is a haste. They in particular, were of the opinion that it is only possible to decide the right time of such actions if a person has the knowledge of future. Since only magicians are believed to have such magical powers, these scholars prescribed the Tsar to consult magicians.

Do we have only contradictions here? 

Certainly not... In fact, consulting magicians actually involves the knowledge of future, which is included into the notion of planning the future, as suggested by the first group, isn't it?

Again, how different do you think is consulting a board of wise men from consulting magicians? Aren't magicians wise enough to get consulted?

Answers to the Second Question

Equally various were the answers to the second question. Some said, the people the Tsar most needed were his councillors; others, the priests; others, the doctors; while some said the warriors were the most necessary.

Emphasis

Structural inversion also helps to achieve foregrounding, emphasising the desired aspect.-

Blessed are those who are merciful. 

Don't mistake 'blessed' to be the subject of the state-verb 'are'. It is not functioning as a pronominal [- a noun, or a pronoun], don't you see? It is actually the complement which should have normally come after the verb phrase. However, here 'those who are merciful' is the subject which has been placed after the verb phrase, whereas the complement has been placed before the verb phrase where the subject to the verb is commonly expected.

What is the effect?

Yes... As a result, the aspect of being 'blessed' gets foregrounded and is emphasised.

What is it that gets emphasised in the very first sentence of this paragraph? Why do you think it needed to be emphasised? 

The Second Sentence

The Four Sections

Have you noted the second sentence with attention? It has got four parts, referring to four groups of scholars suggesting four different answers, and we have three semi-colons separating them from each other. 

Shortened Clauses

Isn't it interesting how the clauses in the second and the third part have been shortened omitting the obvious portions? Why don't you attempt to rewrite them in full,- doing away with the omissions? You may find the reason why they are shortened once you expand them again. You may study the first and the last part of the sentence if you get stuck...

With Whom Do You Agree?

And won't you like to guess about the people from their answers who advised the Tsar about the most important people? To which particular group do you belong? Do you want to subscribe to multiple groups? The Tsar won't allow, I'm afraid. You have to prioritise, and choose one...

You are welcome to come up with a completely new answer though.

Answers to the Third Question

To the third question, as to what was the most important occupation: some replied that the most important thing in the world was science. Others said it was skill in warfare; and others, again, that it was religious worship.

As to

The use of the phrase 'as to' is noteworthy here. It means 'with respect to'. Don't miss out the fact how the phrase links the reference to the third question to the matter that was asked. Why don't you consult a dictionary to try some other linkers to serve the same purpose?

Omission of Obvious Verb Phrase

Would you like to expand the last part of the second sentence once again by guessing the omitted verb phrase in its proper place?

How Did the Scholars Reply to All the Questions?

What about guessing how the same group of scholars had answered to all the three questions, now as you have heard all the answers? You must share the argument behind your guesswork as well...

The Tsar's Dissatisfaction

All the answers being different, the Tsar agreed with none of them, and gave the reward to none. But still wishing to find the right answers to his questions, he decided to consult a hermit, widely renowned for his wisdom.

Participle Phrases

These phrases beginning a participle function as adjectives, qualifying a noun phrase. The phrase 'being different', starting with the present participle 'being' qualifies the noun phrase 'All the answers'.

Such phrases may include objects, complements, or other modifiers as well. In the second sentence of the paragraph, we have the participle phrase 'wishing to find the right answers to his questions' qualifying the noun phrase 'he'.

Differences And Disagreement

Now, you get it confirmed why the differences in the answers needed to get emphasised earlier. 

Yes, it provided us the cue that the next course of action in the story was going to get determined by these differences,- the absence of agreement...

By the way, do you have the faintest idea why the Tsar didn't opt to consult the hermit [sage] at first, if he was widely renowned for his wisdom?

The Hermit

The hermit lived in a wood [forest] which he never quitted [left], and he received [met] none but  [except] common folk. So the Tsar put on [wore] some simple clothes, and before reaching the hermit's cell [hut] dismounted [got off] from his horse, and, leaving his body-guard behind, went on alone.

Participle Phrases

I hope that the meanings explained within brackets will help you to save some time, which you may devote in the study of participle phrases again. Do you think 'reaching the hermit's cell' is a participle phrase? Which noun phrase does it qualify?

Use of 'But'

Why don't you try to rewrite the clause 'he received none but common folk' without using 'but'? 

Use of 'dismount'

Have you come across the word 'dismount' earlier? You may dismount from anything you 'ride', say a camel, or an elephant, or a cycle, or a motorbike... 

Who's More Powerful

Do you feel that the hermit used to be more powerful than the King/Tsar of the country? Could you explain the reason behind?

The First Meeting

When the Tsar approached [came closer], the hermit was digging the ground in front of his hut. Seeing the Tsar, he greeted him and went on [continued] digging. The hermit was frail [weak] and weak, and each time he stuck his spade into the ground and turned [lifted] a little earth [soil], he breathed heavily.

Use of 'digging'

Isn't it interesting how the word 'digging' occurring twice in the paragraph is once being used as a part of the verb phrase and as a noun [gerund] in the other? Why don't you find out which one functions as the verb, and which one as the noun? 

Frail And Weak

As you can see, 'frail' means 'weak'. Then what sense does the phrase 'frail and weak' make? Well, repetition is another way of making an emphasis. The phrase 'frail and weak' actually means 'very weak'. Don't you find this way of using almost synonymous words to make an emphasis useful?

Do you have any proof of the hermit being being very weak in the paragraph, by the way?

The Conversation

The Tsar went up to him and said: "I have come to you, wise hermit, to ask you to answer three questions: How can I learn to do the right thing at the right time? Who are the people I most need, to whom should I, therefore, pay more attention than to the rest? And, what affairs [tasks] are the most important, and need my first attention?"

The hermit listened to the Tsar, but answered nothing. He just spat on his hand [to soothe the heat of holding the spade for long] and recommenced  [restarted] digging.

"You are tired," said the Tsar, "let me take the spade and work awhile [for sometime] for you."

"Thanks!" said the hermit, and, giving the spade to the Tsar, he sat down on the ground.

Did you find the meeting interesting? 

Wasn't the Tsar polite and humble enough? 

What good reason could have prohibited the hermit from answering, or declaring his inability to answer? Any idea?

When he had dug two beds [areas meant for sowing seeds to grow crops and plants], the Tsar stopped and repeated his questions. The hermit again gave no answer, but rose [got up], stretched out his hand [reached out] for the spade, and said: "Now rest a while -and let me work a bit."

Was the Tsar being too impatient? 

Did the hermit consider the Tsar asking his questions again as an indication that he was tired and required some rest by then?

But the Tsar did not give him the spade, and continued to dig. One hour passed, and another. The sun began to sink behind the trees, and the Tsar at last stuck the spade into the ground, and said: "I came to you, wise man, for an answer to my questions. If you can give me none, tell me so, and I will return home."

Why did the Tsar refuse to return the spade to the hermit so that he could dig?

Was the Tsar being too impatient at the end of the day? Did he sound rude?

"Here comes someone running," said the hermit, "let us see who it is."

Do you smell a twist in the plot now? Do you have anyone in your mind who might come running now?

Reporting Dialogues

Would you like to tell the story to your young brothers and sisters? Is it possible for you to tell the exact words uttered by the characters? Or would you prefer to retell the above dialogues exchanged between the Tsar and the hermit in your own words? 

If you prefer to retell the dialogues in your own words, you may choose to practice changing the mode of narration from direct to indirect. If you get stuck, you may visit the link below to revise how to change the mode of narration:

https://anirbaneng.blogspot.com/2020/05/change-in-mode-of-narration-or.html

The Stranger

The Tsar turned around, and saw a bearded man come running out of the wood. The man held his hands pressed against his stomach, and blood was flowing from under them. When he reached the Tsar, he fell fainting [being senseless] on the ground moaning [crying in pain] feebly. The Tsar and the hermit unfastened [untied] the man's clothing. There was a large wound in his stomach. The Tsar washed it as best he could, and bandaged it with his handkerchief and with a towel the hermit had. But the blood would not stop flowing, and the Tsar again and again removed the bandage soaked with warm blood, and washed and rebandaged the wound.

Do you find the twist too shocking? Do you find the suspense piling up fast? 

To be sure, we now have a lot of questions about this newly introduced character storming our mind, and it is more likely that the questions we have simply outnumber the Tsar's.

By the way, how would you have administer first-aid to the wounded man had you been there in the situation?

The Night,-till Morning

When at last the blood ceased [stopped] flowing, the man revived [recovered, got his sense back] and asked for something to drink. The Tsar brought fresh water and gave it to him. Meanwhile the sun had set, and it had become cool. So the Tsar, with the hermit's help, carried the wounded man into the hut and laid him on the bed. Lying on the bed the man closed his eyes and was quite; but the Tsar was so tired with his walk and with the work he had done, that he crouched down [lied in bundle] on the threshold [at the door], and also fell asleep- so soundly that he slept all through the short summer night. When he awoke in the morning, it was long before he could remember where he was, or who was the strange bearded man lying on the bed and gazing [watching] intently [closely] at him with shining eyes.

You already know that the hermit was frail and weak. The Tsar was not so, we may safely assume, right? Then, why do you think that he needed the hermit's help to carry the wounded man to the hut?

Was he too tired from the labour of digging beds and nursing the wounded man at the end of the day?

Was he being extra careful while carrying a badly wounded man?

Why do you think the Tsar was not able to remember for long where he was, and who the stranger was?

Do you have the slightest idea why the stranger was looking at the Tsar so closely, and why he had his eyes shining?

A New Conversation

"Forgive me!" said the bearded man in a weak voice, when he saw that the Tsar was awake and was looking at him.

"I do not know you, and have nothing to forgive you for," said the Tsar.

Why the stranger was asking for mercy? Do you feel that he was embarrassed for the fact that the Tsar of the country had nursed him? 

Do you feel the stranger would reveal some fact to let us, and the Tsar to know about himself?

"You do not know me, but I know you. I am that enemy of yours who swore [promised] to revenge himself [the stranger himself; please note that he is referring to himself in third person instead of the usual first person: 'that enemy of yours'] on you, because you executed [killed, in the name of the law] his brother and seized [took control over] his property. I knew you had gone alone to see the hermit, and I resolved [planned with determination] to kill you on your way back. But the day passed and you did not return. So I came out from my ambush [sudden attack from a hidden corner] to find you, and I came upon [met] your bodyguard, and they recognised [identified] me, and wounded me. I escaped [ran away] from them, but should have bled to death had you not dressed [nursed] my wound. I wished to kill you, and you have saved my life. Now, if I live, and if you wish it, I will serve you as your most faithful slave [bonded servant], and will bid [ask] my sons do the same. Forgive me!"

Do you remember why the Tsar was getting late in returning? Would you like to consider this to be his sheer luck, or just a chance?

Do you find anything ironical in this part of the story?

Now, if I live, and if you wish it... Why do you think the man had to count upon the Tsar's approval to live on?

Restoration of Peace

The Tsar was very glad [happy] to have made peace with his enemy so easily, and to have gained [secured] him for a friend, and he not only forgave him, but said he would send his servants and his own physician [doctor] to attend [treat and nurse] him, and promised to restore [give back] his property.

What proof do you have to say that the Tsar was very glad indeed?

Don't you wonder how this sub-plot is going to get linked up with the plot the story started with- that is, the Tsar looking forward to secure his success for ever?

'Not only, (...) but'

Earlier, we have study the use of 'but' and different phrases of 'but' as well to indicate 'exception' and 'contrast/contradiction'. 

Now, this a particular phrase used to indicate addition: We are not only studying the plot of the story, but the use of language as well. That is to say, we are studying both the plot of the story, and the use of language as well.

Approaching the Hermit Again

Having taken leave of [Saying good-bye to] the wounded man, the Tsar went out into the porch [covered entrance] and looked around [searched for] for the hermit. Before going away he wished once more to beg [request] an answer to the questions he had put [asked]. The hermit was outside, on his knees, sowing seeds in the beds that had been dug the day before.

Should he have waited for some more time?

The Tsar approached him, and said: "For the last time, I pray [beg] you to answer my questions, wise man."

"You have already been answered!" said the hermit, still crouching [stooping forward with knees bend] on his thin legs, and looking up at the Tsar, who stood before him.

Did we get the slightest hint of the answers? No? 

Then we must read on minutely, for we are not only going to get the answers the Tsar was looking for now, but, we are also going to find out how this plot of the story is woven to the other plot of the story...

"How answered? What do you mean?" asked the Tsar.

Make your guesses before you read the last paragraph...

The Answers

"Do you not see," replied the hermit. "If you had not pitied [felt sorry for] my weakness yesterday, and had not dug those beds for me, but had gone your way, that man would have attacked you, and you would have repented [felt sorry for] of not having stayed with me. So the most important time was when you were digging the beds; and I was the most important man; and to do me good was your most important business. Afterwards when that man ran to us, the most important time was when you were attending to him, for if you had not bound up [bandaged] his wounds he would have died without having made peace with you. So he was the most important man, and what you did for him was your most important business. Remember then: there is only one time that is important- Now [present time]! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power [to do what we can]. The most necessary man is he with whom you are, for no man knows whether he will ever have dealings [business] with anyone else: and the most important affair is, to do him good, because for that purpose [aim] alone [only] was man sent into this life [born]!"

Are you satisfied the way the hermit answered the Tsar? Do you have other answers than these?

Would you like to think again why the hermit did not answer the Tsar when he asked his questions on the day before?

The Three Questions

Don't you feel that the three questions referred to in the story do not belong to the Tsar only, but to us all as well? Have you never wondered to find out the answer to at least any one of the questions in your own life?

Well, the answers may not suit our lives and expectations, but the questions are perhaps more universally sought after. What do you say?

Parable

Do you think that this story is too overt a preaching? Yes, it is... for it is actually a parable. Do you know what are parables?

Parables are short stories aiming to preach moral and spiritual lessons. You may not like so direct a preaching, but Tolstoy is still remembered as a profound influence upon many great humanitarian leaders of the world.

The Author

Interested ones may browse the internet to know a bit more about the author. You may start by checking out the given link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Tolstoy

The Plots

Do you finally appreciate the way the two plots are woven together in the story? Which one, according to you, is the main plot of the story, and why?

Feel free to ask me questions, if you have any, in the space meant for publishing comments. And you are certainly welcome to share your views which are different from mine. An academic argument is always the best way to learn...