"The Bet" by Anton Chekhov: Summary, Facts, Vocabulary, and Questions
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নমস্কার ছাত্রছাত্রীরা! দ্বাদশ শ্রেণীর তৃতীয় সেমিস্টারের ইংরেজি প্রস্তুতির জন্য তোমাদের নির্ভরযোগ্য NoteZy-তে স্বাগত। আজ Anton Chekhov এর লেখা মনোগ্রাহী গল্প "The Bet" থেকে কিছু বহুবিকল্পভিত্তিক প্রশ্ন (MCQ) এবং শূন্যস্থান পূরণ Summary, Facts, and Vocabulary নিয়ে আলোচনা করবো যা তোমাদের পরীক্ষায় ভালো ফল করতে সাহায্য করবে। চলো শুরু করা যাক!
Summary
In English:
"The Bet" is a story about a rich banker and a young lawyer. Fifteen years ago, they made a bet during a party. They argued about whether the death penalty is better or worse than life imprisonment. The lawyer bet he could stay alone in prison-like conditions for fifteen years. If he did, the banker would give him two million rubles. The lawyer accepted the challenge and lived in the banker's garden lodge. Over the years, he read many books and gained a lot of knowledge about the world. Meanwhile, the banker lost most of his money. As the bet was about to end, the banker realized paying the lawyer would ruin him, and he thought about killing the lawyer. But he found a letter where the lawyer said he would leave early, showing he no longer cared about money or worldly things after gaining so much knowledge. The lawyer left before the time was up, and the banker was relieved he didn't have to pay, but also felt ashamed.
In Bengali:
"দ্য বেট" গল্পটি একজন ধনী ব্যাঙ্কার এবং একজন তরুণ আইনজীবীকে নিয়ে। পনেরো বছর আগে একটি পার্টিতে তারা একটি বাজি ধরেছিলেন। তারা তর্ক করেছিলেন যে মৃত্যুদণ্ড যাবজ্জীবন কারাদণ্ড থেকে ভালো না খারাপ। আইনজীবী বাজি ধরেছিলেন যে তিনি পনেরো বছর একা কারাবাসের মতো পরিস্থিতিতে থাকতে পারবেন। যদি তিনি পারেন, ব্যাঙ্কার তাকে বিশ লক্ষ রুবল দেবেন। আইনজীবী চ্যালেঞ্জটি গ্রহণ করেন এবং ব্যাঙ্কারের বাগানের একটি লজে থাকতে শুরু করেন। বছরের পর বছর ধরে, তিনি অনেক বই পড়েন এবং বিশ্ব সম্পর্কে প্রচুর জ্ঞান অর্জন করেন। এদিকে, ব্যাঙ্কার তার বেশিরভাগ অর্থ হারান। বাজি শেষ হওয়ার ঠিক আগে, ব্যাঙ্কার বুঝতে পারেন যে আইনজীবীকে টাকা দিলে তিনি দেউলিয়া হয়ে যাবেন এবং তিনি আইনজীবীকে হত্যা করার কথা ভাবেন। কিন্তু তিনি একটি চিঠি খুঁজে পান যেখানে আইনজীবী লিখেছেন যে তিনি নির্ধারিত সময়ের কয়েক ঘন্টা আগে লজ থেকে চলে যাবেন। এর মাধ্যমে তিনি দেখান যে এত জ্ঞান অর্জনের পর তিনি অর্থ বা পার্থিব জিনিসের প্রতি আর আগ্রহী নন। আইনজীবী সময় শেষ হওয়ার আগেই চলে যান এবং ব্যাঙ্কার টাকা দিতে না হওয়ায় স্বস্তি পেলেও লজ্জিত বোধ করেন।
Fact File: The Bet (গুরুত্বপূর্ণ তথ্য)
Author (লেখক): Anton Chekhov (আন্তন চেখভ) - A renowned Russian writer, considered one of the greatest writers of short stories.
Original Language (মূল ভাষা): Russian (রুশ)
Published (প্রকাশিত): 1889
Main Characters (প্রধান চরিত্র):
- The Banker (ব্যাঙ্কার): A wealthy man at the beginning of the story, who becomes financially ruined by the end. He is initially confident and somewhat arrogant, proposing the bet out of a frivolous impulse.
- The Lawyer (আইনজীবী): A young man of twenty-five at the start, who takes the bet out of ambition and a belief that any life is better than death. He undergoes a dramatic intellectual and spiritual transformation during his confinement.
The Bet (বাজি): 15 years of solitary confinement vs. 2 million rubles (১৫ বছর একক confinement বনাম বিশ লক্ষ রুবল) The lawyer agrees to fifteen years of solitary confinement in exchange for two million rubles from the banker.
Key Themes (মূল বিষয়বস্তু): Value of life and freedom (জীবন ও স্বাধীনতার মূল্য), The meaning of knowledge (জ্ঞানের অর্থ), Materialism vs. Spirituality (বস্তুবাদ বনাম আধ্যাত্মিকতা).
Duration of Confinement (কারাবাসের সময়কাল): 15 years. The lawyer was supposed to be confined from November 14, 1870, to November 14, 1885.
Location of Confinement (কারাবাসের স্থান): The banker's garden lodge. The confinement conditions were strict, with no contact with the outside world except through a window for necessary items.
Turning Point (মোড়): The lawyer's intense study over fifteen years leads him to reject worldly knowledge and material wealth as meaningless, ultimately causing him to forfeit the bet by leaving confinement early.
Banker's Motivation Near the End (শেষের দিকে ব্যাঙ্কারের উদ্দেশ্য): Facing bankruptcy, the banker contemplates killing the lawyer to avoid paying the two million rubles.
Outcome (ফলাফল): The lawyer leaves his confinement just hours before the agreed time, intentionally losing the bet, having realized the worthlessness of the prize money compared to the wisdom he gained. The banker, relieved and ashamed, keeps the lawyer's renunciation letter.
Word Meanings (শব্দার্থ)
Here are some important words from the story with their meanings in Bengali:
- Bet (বাজি): A wager or gamble (শর্ত, বাজি ধরা).
- Banker (ব্যাঙ্কার): A person who owns or manages a bank (ব্যাংকের মালিক বা পরিচালক).
- Lawyer (আইনজীবী): A person who practices law (আইন পেশাদার).
- Capital Punishment (মৃত্যুদণ্ড): Legal killing as punishment (আইনসম্মতভাবে প্রাণদণ্ড).
- Life Imprisonment (যাবজ্জীবন কারাদণ্ড): Being in prison for life (আজীবন কারাগারে থাকা).
- Solitary Confinement (একক কারাবাস): Being kept alone in a prison cell (একেলা বা নিরালা কারাবাস).
- Argument (তর্ক): A disagreement or debate (বাদানুবাদ, বিতর্ক).
- Frivolous (অসার/তুচ্ছ): Not having any serious purpose or value (গুরুত্বহীন, ঠুনকো).
- Speculation (জল্পনা/অনুমান): Investing with risk (অনুমানভিত্তিক বিনিয়োগ).
- Ruin (ধ্বংস/সর্বনাশ): The state of collapse or destruction (ধ্বংসপ্রাপ্তি, সর্বনাশ).
- Contempt (ঘৃণা/অবজ্ঞা): The feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration, worthless (ঘৃণ্যতা, অবজ্ঞা).
- Forfeit (ছেড়ে দেওয়া/হারানো): To give up or lose something as a penalty (দণ্ডস্বরূপ হারানো বা ত্যাগ করা).
- Illusory (মায়াবী/অলীক): Based on illusion; not real (অবাস্তব, মিথ্যা).
- Mirage (মরীচিকা): An optical illusion (দৃষ্টিভ্রম, মরীচিকা).
- Wisdom (জ্ঞান/প্রজ্ঞা): The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgement (জ্ঞান, প্রজ্ঞা).
One-Liner Questions with Answers:
1. Who is the author of the story "The Bet"?
Anton Chekhov
2. In which language was "The Bet" originally written?
Russian
3. When was "The Bet" first published?
1889
4. Who are the main characters in the short story?
A banker and a lawyer
5. What was the weather like on the night the story begins?
Dark
6. When did the party take place?
In the evening
7. Where was the banker pacing at the beginning of the story?
His study
8. Who were referred to as "they" when talking "Among other things they had talked of...."?
Clever men
9. What was the main topic of the initial discussion at the banker's party?
Capital punishment
10. Who among the following was not at the party?
None of these (The lawyer and intellectual men and journalists were mentioned as guests)
11. What form of punishment did most guests disapprove of?
Death penalty
12. What does 'that' refer to in the sentence "They considered that form of punishment out of date...."?
Capital punishment
13. To which states did most guests find capital punishment unfitted?
Christian States
14. What season was it when the fateful bet occurred?
Autumn
15. What did the banker remember at the beginning of the story?
The party that he gave in the autumn fifteen years ago.
16. According to some guests, what should replace the death penalty?
Life-imprisonment
17. What does 'a priori' mean as used in the story?
Fact assumed by analyzing earlier concepts
18. What form of punishment did the banker favor?
Capital punishment
19. How does execution kill, according to the host of the party (the banker)?
Instantly
20. According to the banker, how does life-imprisonment kill?
Slowly
21. One of the guests remarked that both capital punishment and life-imprisonment are what?
Immoral
22. Why are capital punishment and life-imprisonment considered immoral by one guest?
Their purpose is to take away life.
23. According to one guest, the state is not what?
God
24. How old was the young lawyer at the time of the bet?
Twenty-five
25. Which opinion does the lawyer support regarding life and death?
To live somehow is better than not to live at all.
26. What does 'the second' refer to in "I would certainly choose the second."?
Life-imprisonment
27. Why was the young lawyer in favor of life-imprisonment?
It would allow one to live somehow.
28. How much money did the banker stake in the bet?
Two millions
29. The banker doubted the lawyer could stay in the cell for more than how long?
Five years
30. Who were involved in the bet?
Both (a) & (c) - The banker and the lawyer
31. How long was the lawyer supposed to stay in solitary confinement?
15 years
32. At the time of the bet, how was the banker described when he staked two millions?
All of these (wealthy, frivolous, spoiled)
33. What, according to the banker, is much heavier than enforced imprisonment?
Voluntary confinement
34. Why did the banker advise the lawyer to rethink the bet?
- Voluntary confinement is much heavier than enforced imprisonment and the idea of having the right to free himself will poison his whole life in a cell.
35. Who is 'I' in the statement "I am sorry for you."?
The banker
36. Fifteen years later, how did the banker find the bet?
Nonsensical and meaningless
37. What did the banker say led him to make the bet?
The caprice of a pampered man
38. What did the banker think led the lawyer to the bet?
Simple greed for money
39. Where was it decided the lawyer would undergo his imprisonment?
In the garden lodge of the banker's house
40. What rights was the lawyer deprived of during his imprisonment?
All of these (to cross the threshold, to see living people, to hear human voices)
41. What was the lawyer deprived of the right to receive during imprisonment?
All of these (books and newspapers, letters and books, letters and newspapers)
42. What was the lawyer permitted to have during his imprisonment?
All of these (A musical instrument, Wine, Books)
43. How could the lawyer receive necessary things during his imprisonment?
By writing an order
44. When did the lawyer's solitary imprisonment begin?
November 14, 1870
45. When was the lawyer's imprisonment scheduled to end?
November 14, 1885
46. What was the consequence for the lawyer if he tried to escape the cell?
The banker would be free from paying two millions to the lawyer.
47. What did the lawyer suffer from during the first year of imprisonment?
Both (a) & (c) - Loneliness and depression
48. What could be heard from the lodge during the first year of imprisonment?
The sound of the piano
49. What did the lawyer refuse at the very beginning in the cell?
Wine and tobacco
50. What was the lawyer's reason for refusing wine in the first year?
He thought that wine excited desires which were the worst foes of a prisoner.
51. According to the lawyer, nothing could be more dreary than what?
Drinking good wine alone
52. What was the lawyer's reason for refusing tobacco?
It spoiled the air in the lawyer's room
53. What kind of books were sent to the lawyer in the first year?
Novels with a complicated love plot
54. What kind of books did the lawyer request in the second year of imprisonment?
Classics
55. What changed in the second year of the lawyer's imprisonment?
Both (b) & (c) - He asked only for classics and the piano was no longer heard from his room.
56. When did the lawyer ask for wine?
In the fifth year
57. In which year was music heard again from the prisoner's wing?
Seventh year
58. What did people notice the prisoner doing during the fifth year of his imprisonment?
The prisoner was only eating, drinking and lying on his bed.
59. What did the prisoner do during the fifth year of his imprisonment?
All of these (He yawned often, talked angrily to himself; Sometimes at night he would sit down to write something; In the morning he would tear up all that he had written the previous night).
60. What subjects did the prisoner begin studying diligently in the second half of the sixth year?
Philosophy, Languages, History
61. Why did the banker have to do a lot to get the lawyer the books he ordered?
Because the lawyer would read voraciously
62. How many books were purchased for the prisoner in four years?
Twelve hundred
63. About six hundred volumes were bought at the prisoner's request in the span of how many years?
Four years
64. During the imprisonment, to whom did the lawyer send a letter?
The banker
65. In how many languages did the prisoner once write to the banker?
Six languages
66. The lawyer asked the banker to fire a shot in the garden if what happened?
No mistake could be found by the experts in the letter which he wrote in six languages.
67. What did the lawyer understand by the sound of the gun fired in the garden?
That he had excelled in all the six languages.
68. What did the prisoner gain after understanding the works of geniuses in different languages?
Unearthly happiness
69. How many shots were fired in the garden?
Two
70. Who ordered to fire a gun?
The banker
71. After the tenth year of confinement, what did the lawyer exclusively read?
The New Testament
72. Which book(s) replaced the Gospel for the banker after reading it?
History of Religions and Theology
73. How was the prisoner's reading habit during the last two years of his confinement?
Haphazard
74. What did the lawyer read during the last two years of confinement?
Both (a) & (b) - The Natural Sciences and Byron and Shakespeare.
75. Which books did the prisoner ask the banker to send during the last period of his confinement?
Both (a) & (b) - A book on Chemistry, a manual of Medicine and A novel, some treatise on philosophy or theology.
76. On what date did the banker recall the incident of the party?
November 13, 1885
77. At what time was the prisoner decided to receive his freedom?
Twelve o'clock
78. Fifteen years later, what was the state of the banker?
Ran into debts
79. What gradually caused the decay of the banker's business?
All of these (Gambling on the Stock-Exchange, Wild speculation, Excitability).
80. What kind of person was the banker fifteen years ago?
Fearless and self-confident
81. How did the downfall of his business transform the banker?
Into an ordinary banker, trembling at every rise and fall in his investments
82. Who is referred to as the 'old man' muttering "Cursed bet!"?
The banker
83. How old was the lawyer when his imprisonment ended?
Forty years.
84. What thought disturbed the banker as the bet was ending?
That a forty-year-old man would take away his last penny, would get married and enjoy life.
85. What did the banker think was the only way to avoid giving the lawyer two millions?
The lawyer's death
86. At what time did the banker go to kill the lawyer?
3 am
87. For how many years had the door of the prisoner's room not been opened?
Fifteen years
88. From where did the banker take out the key to the door?
His safe
89. What did the banker wear when he went out into the garden?
An overcoat
90. What did the banker do before going to kill the prisoner?
Both (a) & (c) - Trying to make no sound, he took out the key of the door from his safe and Put on his overcoat and went out of the house.
91. At what time was it raining?
Three o'clock
92. What howled in the garden as the banker approached the prisoner's room?
A damp cutting wind
93. Describe the atmosphere when the banker went to kill the prisoner.
All of these (It was raining, A damp wind raced about the garden, The garden was dark and cold).
94. Whom did the banker call as he approached the garden wing?
The watchman
95. How many times did the banker call the watchman near the garden lodge?
Twice
96. Where was the watchman thought to be when the banker called him?
In the kitchen or in the greenhouse
97. What was the presumed reason for the watchman not replying to the banker's call?
He was probably asleep somewhere in the kitchen or in the greenhouse
98. What intention is referred to in "If I have the courage to fulfil my intention..."?
The murder of the lawyer
99. Who did the banker think suspicion of the prisoner's murder would fall on?
The watchman
100. What did the banker find in the narrow passage in front of the prisoner's room?
The seals on the door of the prisoner's room were unbroken.
101. Whom did the banker find in the narrow passage in front of the prisoner's room?
No one
102. What did the banker do after entering the narrow passage to the prisoner's room?
Lighted a match.
103. What caused the old man (banker) to tremble after the match went out?
Agitation
104. What did the old man (banker), trembling with emotion, do after the match went out?
Peeped into the little window
105. What was the source of light in the prisoner's room?
A candle
106. Where did the banker find the prisoner in his room?
Sitting at the table
107. Which body parts of the prisoner were visible to the banker upon entering the room?
His back, his hair and his hands
108. Where were the books scattered in the prisoner's room?
All of these (table, two easy-chairs, carpet)
109. How much time passed without the prisoner stirring?
Ten minutes
110. What had fifteen years of confinement taught the prisoner?
Sit still
111. How did the banker try to get the lawyer's attention for a reply?
Tapped on the window with his finger
112. How did the lawyer react when the banker tapped on the window?
He made no movement.
113. What did the banker do when the prisoner did not reply?
He tore the seals from the door and put the key into the lock.
114. Describe the lock of the prisoner's door.
Rusty
115. What kind of sound was heard when the key was put into the rusty lock?
A grating sound
116. What did the banker expect to hear from the prisoner's room upon opening the door?
Both (b) & (c) - a cry of surprise and the sound of steps.
117. How long did the banker wait before deciding to enter the prisoner's room?
Two minutes
118. Why did the banker decide to enter the prisoner's room?
When no reply came from the room
119. What did the banker see the prisoner doing upon entering the room?
Both (b) & (c) - leaning his head upon his hand and sitting at the table.
120. Describe the physical appearance of the prisoner when the banker entered the room.
All of these (He looked like a skeleton with tight-drawn skin, He had long curly hair like a woman and a shaggy beard, The colour of his face was yellow, his cheeks were hollow).
121. Describe the prisoner's hand.
Thin and delicate
122. The prisoner's face was of what tint?
Earthy tint
123. Describe the prisoner's hair.
Streaked with silver
124. What lay on the table before the prisoner's bowed head?
A sheet of paper on which something was written
125. What did the banker think the lawyer was seeing in his dream?
The banker begging on the roads.
126. How did the banker intend to kill the lawyer?
Smothering him with the pillow
127. What did the prisoner want to do before gaining his freedom?
He wanted to say a few words to the banker.
128. What worldly blessings did the lawyer confess he despised in his letter?
All of these (freedom, life, health).
129. What did the prisoner "drink" in the books?
Fragrant wine
130. What were beautiful women compared to by the prisoner?
Ethereal clouds
131. Who whispered beautiful stories to the prisoner?
Poets and geniuses
132. What had set the prisoner's brain in a whirl?
Great stories told by great novelists.
133. In the books, the prisoner climbed the peaks of which mountains?
All of these (Elbruz & Mont Blanc, Alps & Shkhara, Pyrenees & Mont Blanc)
134. Whose wings did the prisoner touch in the books?
Attractive devils
135. What did the comely devils do to the prisoner in the books?
Showed him some vision and sang songs
136. What did books give the prisoner?
Wisdom
137. According to the prisoner, what was the unresting thought compressed to?
A small compass in his brain
138. The lawyer knew that he was wiser than whom?
The banker
139. As the prisoner says, how will death wipe out mankind?
Like the huge waves of tsunami wash away lands
140. According to the prisoner, what will happen to the posterity, history, and immortality of geniuses?
Both (a) & (b) - as frozen slag and burnt down together with the earthly globe.
141. What has "you" (referring to humanity) taken for truth?
Delusion
142. What has "you" taken for beauty?
Falsehood
143. According to the prisoner, the banker would marvel under what conditions?
Both (a) & (b) - if frogs and lizards suddenly grew on apple and orange trees instead of fruits and if roses began to smell like a sweating horse.
144. The lawyer marvelled at "you" who exchanged heaven for what?
Earth
145. What did the lawyer once dream two millions as?
Paradise
146. How did the prisoner decide to break the agreement?
By coming out from the wing five hours before the stipulated term
147. After reading it, where did the banker put the letter written by the prisoner?
On the table
148. What did the banker do after reading the prisoner's letter?
All of these (He kissed the head of the prisoner, He began to weep, He went out of the lodge).
149. When did the banker feel contempt for himself?
When he finished reading the letter written by the prisoner.
150. After returning from the prisoner's room, what did the banker do?
Slept instantly
151. What did the banker's tears and emotion prevent him from for hours?
Sleeping
152. Who informed the banker the next morning that the prisoner had escaped?
The watchmen
153. How did the prisoner escape from the cell?
By climbing through the window into the garden
154. After hearing about the prisoner's escape, who did the banker go to the cell with?
His servants
155. Why did the banker take the letter from the table after the prisoner escaped?
To avoid arousing unnecessary talk
Fill in the Gaps
"The Bet" গল্প থেকে কিছু গুরুত্বপূর্ণ শূন্যস্থান পূরণ নিচে দেওয়া হলো। শূন্যস্থানটির পরে সঠিক উত্তরটি উল্লেখ করা হয়েছে।
1. The ________ was specially constructed so that the lawyer could communicate his wishes.
window
2. By the agreement, the lawyer could communicate, but only by ________.
writing
3. The agreement that provided for all the minutest details made the confinement strictly ________.
solitary
4. According to the lawyer, wine excites ________.
desires
5. During the first year of imprisonment, the lawyer was sent novels with a complicated ________ plot.
love
6. The prisoner was heard to weep in the ________ year.
fifth
7. After the tenth year, the lawyer sat ________ before his table.
immovable
8. The lawyer had mastered ________ volumes in four years.
learned
9. The banker found it ________ that the lawyer was reading the Gospel for a whole year.
strange
10. The Gospel, according to the banker, was easy to understand and by no means ________.
thick
11. During the last two years of confinement, the prisoner read as though a man was swimming in the sea among the wreckage of his ________.
ship
12. At ________, the prisoner was destined to receive his freedom.
twelve o'clock
13. The banker thought that the only escape from ________ and disgrace would be the death of the prisoner.
bankruptcy
14. Though he strained his eyes, the banker could not see ________.
all of these (the earth and the white statues, the lodge, the trees)
15. The old banker recalled the party he gave in an ________ evening.
autumn
16. At the very beginning, the banker was ________ in his study room.
walking up and down
17. The party was given by the banker ________ years ago.
fifteen
18. The guests of the party found capital punishment ________ as a means of punishment.
obsolete
19. The guests thought that capital punishment was ________ for Christian States.
unfitted
20. According to the banker, ________ is more moral and more humane than ________.
death penalty; imprisonment for life
21. The lawyer thought that ________ was/were immoral.
both (a) & (c) - capital punishment and life-imprisonment
22. There ensued a/an ________ discussion.
heated
23. The banker lost his temper at the ________.
lawyer
24. The lawyer staked his ________ for two millions.
freedom
25. The banker suggested the lawyer not to stake his ________ for two millions.
freedom
26. The ________ extended the time span of the bet.
banker
27. During ________, the banker advised the lawyer not to stake his freedom on the bet.
supper
28. The banker groped his way into a little passage and lighted a ________.
match
29. The candle was burning ________ in the prisoner's room.
dimly
30. To get the reply of the prisoner, the banker tapped the window with his ________.
finger
31. The cheeks of the prisoner were ________.
hollow
32. The prisoner's back was long and ________.
narrow
33. In the prisoner's room, the banker found a letter written to the ________ himself.
banker
34. The banker went to the prisoner's room on ________.
November 13, 1885
35. Through books, the prisoner saw sunset when the rays overflowed the sky, the ocean and the mountain ridges with a ________ effect.
gold and crimson
36. The prisoner experienced ________ lightning while cleaving the clouds.
bursting
37. The prisoner saw ________.
both (a) & (b) - green forests, fields, rivers, lakes and towns.
38. The prisoner heard ________.
both (a) & (b) - syrens singing and the strains of the shepherds' pipes.
39. In the books, the prisoner ________.
all of these (flung himself into bottomless pit, performed miracles and preached new religions, burned towns and conquered whole kingdoms).
40. The prisoner despised ________.
all worldly blessings
41. According to the prisoner, everything is worthless, illusory, deceptive like a/an ________.
mirage
42. According to the watchmen, the prisoner had gone to the gate and ________.
disappeared
43. To avoid unnecessary rumors, the banker took the paper from the table and kept it in his ________.
safe
