Summary
"The Three Questions" is a short story by the renowned Russian author Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910). It is included as a supplementary reading lesson in the 8th Standard English textbook.
A king is troubled by three questions that he believes hold the key to never failing in anything he undertakes:
- What is the right time to begin every action?
- Who are the most necessary people to pay attention to?
- What is the most important thing to do?
He proclaims a great reward throughout his kingdom for anyone who can answer these questions. Many learned men come forward, but their answers vary widely. Some suggest drawing up a timetable; others say he should attend to what is happening at the moment; still others recommend consulting a council of wise men or even magicians. For the second question, some say councilors, priests, doctors, or warriors are the most needed people. For the third, the answers range from science to warfare to religious worship. Dissatisfied with all the conflicting answers, the king gives the reward to none.
He then decides to visit a hermit widely renowned for his wisdom, who lives in a wood and receives only common folk. The king disguises himself in simple clothes, leaves his bodyguard behind, and goes alone. The hermit is digging the ground and is frail and weak. Instead of answering the king's questions, the hermit keeps digging. The king offers to help and takes over the digging work.
As evening approaches, a bearded man comes running out of the wood, badly wounded with blood flowing from his stomach. The king washes and bandages the wound repeatedly until the bleeding stops. They carry the man inside the hut. Exhausted, the king falls asleep on the threshold.
The next morning, the wounded man reveals he is actually the king's enemy — he had sworn revenge because the king had executed his brother and seized his property. He had planned to ambush the king on his way back but was wounded by the king's bodyguard instead. Moved by the king's kindness in saving his life, the man begs for forgiveness and pledges lifelong loyalty. The king forgives him and promises to restore his property and send his own physician.
Finally, the hermit provides the answers:
- The most important time is now — it is the only time when we have any power.
- The most necessary person is the one you are with at the present moment.
- The most important thing is to do good to the person you are with, because that is the purpose for which we were sent into this life.
Themes
| Theme | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Living in the Present | The story's central teaching is that the present moment (“now”) is the most important time. We cannot change the past or predict the future; we can only act in the present. |
| Compassion and Service | The king helps the hermit dig, tends to the wounded man's injuries, and ultimately does good to the person in front of him. True wisdom lies in serving others selflessly. |
| Forgiveness and Reconciliation | The king forgives his sworn enemy, who had come to kill him. This act of forgiveness transforms enmity into friendship and loyalty. |
| Humility | The king disguises himself in simple clothes, leaves his bodyguard, and performs manual labour for the hermit, showing that humility is necessary for gaining true wisdom. |
| Action over Theory | The learned men give theoretical and conflicting answers. The hermit teaches through experience and action rather than words, showing that wisdom is best learned by doing. |
| The Value of Every Person | No one can predict whom they will meet or need next. Therefore, every person deserves our full attention and goodness. |
Characters
| Character | Description |
|---|---|
| The King | A ruler who sincerely seeks wisdom to never fail in his undertakings. He is humble, hardworking, compassionate, and forgiving. |
| The Hermit | A wise, frail old man who lives in the woods and receives only common folk. He teaches through actions, not words, and reveals the answers to the three questions at the end. |
| The Bearded Man (Wounded Enemy) | An enemy of the king who sought revenge for his brother's execution and the seizure of his property. After the king saves his life, he repents and pledges loyalty. |
| The Learned Men | Various scholars, councilors, priests, doctors, and warriors who give conflicting and unsatisfactory answers to the king's questions. |
Literary Devices
| Device | Example / Explanation |
|---|---|
| Parable / Allegory | The entire story functions as a parable — a simple narrative used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson about living in the present and doing good. |
| Irony | The king seeks answers from learned men and a hermit, but the answers come from his own actions — digging for the hermit and saving an enemy. The man who came to kill him ends up owing his life to the king. |
| Symbolism | The hermit's digging represents humble, purposeful work. The king's disguise symbolises the shedding of power to gain true wisdom. The wound symbolises the consequences of hatred and revenge. |
| Repetition | The three questions are repeated multiple times throughout the story, building emphasis and creating a narrative structure that drives the plot toward the climactic answers. |
| Contrast | The learned men's theoretical, conflicting answers contrast sharply with the hermit's practical, experiential wisdom. The enemy's intention to kill contrasts with his ultimate gratitude and loyalty. |
| Foreshadowing | The hermit's refusal to answer directly and his words “Here comes someone running” foreshadow that the answers will come through the unfolding events themselves. |
Glossary
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Proclaimed | Verb | Announced officially |
| Absorbed | Verb | Took in or soaked up; deeply engaged |
| Renowned | Adjective | Famous, eminent, distinguished, prominent |
| Affairs | Noun | Events, incidents, matters of concern |
| Moaning | Verb | Sobbing, crying in pain |
| Unfastened | Verb | Undid, disconnected, untied |
| Revived | Verb | Restored to life or consciousness |
| Crouched | Verb | Bent down, stooped low |
| Threshold | Noun | Doorstep, entrance of a building |
| Seized | Verb | Snatched, grabbed suddenly and forcibly |
| Ambush | Noun | A surprise attack from a concealed position |
| Hermit | Noun | A person living in solitude, especially for religious reasons |
| Repented | Verb | Felt deep regret or remorse for a wrongdoing |
| Physician | Noun | A medical doctor or practitioner |
About the Author
Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) was a Russian writer who is regarded as one of the greatest authors of all time. He is best known for the novels War and Peace (1869) and Anna Karenina (1877). His later works often explored moral and philosophical themes, as seen in “The Three Questions,” which reflects his deep interest in ethical living and spiritual simplicity.