"Three Questions"

"Three Questions" is a short story written by Leo Tolstoy that explores the importance of living
in the present moment, and the value of kindness and compassion in human relationships. The
story revolves around a king who seeks answers to three important questions that will help him
become a wise and just ruler.

The first question that the king asks is "What is the best time to do things?" He believes that if he
knows the answer to this question, he can accomplish his goals efficiently and become a
successful ruler. To find the answer, he consults with wise men and scholars, but their answers
are all different, which leaves the king confused and frustrated.

The second question that the king asks is "Who are the most important people to listen to?" He
believes that if he can identify the most important people in his kingdom, he can make the right
decisions and avoid making mistakes. However, the answers he receives from his advisors are
contradictory, which adds to his confusion.

The third and final question that the king asks is "What is the most important thing to do?" He
believes that if he can determine the most important task, he can focus his energy on it and
achieve success. However, the answer he receives is vague and unsatisfactory, which leaves him
feeling hopeless and lost.

The story takes a dramatic turn when the king is visited by a hermit who lives in the forest. The
king asks the hermit to answer his three questions, but the hermit is busy tending to his garden
and cannot help him immediately. Despite this, the king decides to stay and help the hermit with
his work.

During their time together, the king learns the value of living in the present moment and the
importance of being kind and compassionate towards others. He also learns that the answers to
his questions were within him all along, and that by being present and attentive to the needs of
those around him, he can become a wise and just ruler.
In the end, the king's experiences with the hermit help him to answer his three questions. He
realizes that the most important time is the present moment, the most important people are those
who are right in front of him, and the most important thing to do is to do good to others. The
story ends with the king returning to his kingdom with a newfound sense of purpose and a
commitment to being a just and compassionate ruler.

"The Necklace"
"The Necklace" is a short story by Guy de Maupassant, first published in 1884. The story follows
the life of Mathilde Loisel, a beautiful and ambitious woman who is married to a low-paid clerk.
Mathilde is dissatisfied with her simple life and wants to be wealthy and admired by society. One
day, her husband brings an invitation to a fancy ball, He thought his wife would be excited but
instead, she was upset. She complained that she had nothing suitable to wear to such a great
occasion. Her husband generously agreed to give her four hundred francs that he had saved to
buy a new rifle to get herself a dress and Mathilde borrows a stunning diamond necklace from
her wealthy friend Jeanne Forestier to wear to the event.

Matilda looked very pretty, elegant, and graceful in the party, everyone at the party noticed her
and they all wanted to be introduced to her. But when she returns home, she realizes that she has
lost the necklace. They searched for it everywhere in the house. They thought if it fell in the cab
that brought them home but neither of them noticed the number. Matilda’s husband went out to
search the streets but returned empty-handed. He also went to the policeman and to the cab
offices to raise a complaint. He advertised in the newspaper and offered a reward. To buy some
time from Jeanne, Matilda wrote a letter that she broke the clasp of the necklace and so she sent
it for repair. In the meantime, they found a similar kind of necklace. The cost of the necklace was
thirty-six thousand francs. Her husband inherited eighteen thousand francs from his father and he
borrowed the rest of the amount from the moneylenders.

Finally, they purchased the necklace and Matilda gave it to Jeanne who did not care to look at
it. Matilda’s life changed dramatically in the next ten years. They moved to a much smaller
apartment where she cooked and cleaned herself. Her husband did multiple jobs and she also did
other work to pay all the money they had borrowed. After ten years, they were able to pay all the
money back but by then Matilda had aged a lot.

One day, Matilda met Jeanne Forestier. She decided to confess the truth about the necklace.
Jeanne was surprised to see Matilda’s state. Matilda told her that she had lost the necklace that
she borrowed from her and had to pay a huge amount for the replacement. Jeanne was shocked to
hear the entire story behind the necklace and she confessed that the necklace Matilda borrowed
was a fake, which was not more than worth five hundred francs.
 "All the world's a stage"
"All the world's a stage" is a famous monologue from William Shakespeare's play "As You Like
It". It is spoken by the character of Jaques, a melancholy and cynical lord, who reflects on the
seven stages of human life. The monologue presents a metaphor for life as a drama or play, with
each person playing different roles in the various stages of life.

This poem is a masterpiece of Shakespeare’s keen observation and fine poetry. All the World’s
A Stage is an extract from Shakespeare’s famous play As You Like It. Shakespeare is regarded
as the world’s greatest dramatist and poet.

In this poem, he has described various stages of human life. He compares the world with a big
stage and all human beings are actors and actresses.

Infancy Man first appears in this stage as an infant crying and vomiting in the arms of a nurse or
mother. this is the stage where a person is born and is helpless, unable to do anything on their
own.

Schoolboy Then he is seen as a schoolboy with a shining morning face, walking slowly and
unwillingly to school. This is the stage where a person learns to walk and talk and begins to
explore the world around them.

The lover Soon he becomes a young man burning with the passion of love and singing in praise
of his beloved. This is the stage where a person experiences their first love and the joys and
sorrows that come with it.

The Soldier:- In the next stage, he is like an ambitious soldier who is ready to undertake any
adventure in order to gain honor and fame. This is the stage where a person becomes an adult
and begins to take on responsibilities, including serving their country if necessary.

Justice: - In the next stage, he plays his role as wise and mature justice. this is the stage where a
person becomes a respected member of society and works to uphold its laws and values.

The pantaloon - Then we find him as an old man with spectacles on the nose and a bag in his
hand. His size shrinks and his manly voice turns into a thin childish voice.

Old Age - This is the final stage of life. This last stage is very pathetic where a person becomes
feeble. He loses almost all his senses and joys of life and eventually dies.
Jaques argues that all people must play these roles, whether they want to or not, and that life is
ultimately a brief and meaningless performance. The monologue is often interpreted as a
commentary on the transience of human existence and the inevitability of death, as well as the
importance of accepting and making the most of each stage of life.

The poem draws a sad and realistic picture of human life. The underlying meaning is that life is
temporary and changing phases of life pass rather too quickly. The language is simple and the
imagery is attractive. He shows us that man’s stay in his world is quite temporary. After
performing the role allotted by God, he leaves this world.

“A Psalm of Life,”
The subtitle of the poem “A Psalm of Life,” is “What The Heart Of The Young Man Said To The
Psalmist”. The poem is a dramatic monologue. It is written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
The poet describes the purpose of life, and how one should handle the sorrow and struggles
along the [Link] speaker of the poem is the “Heart of the Young Man,” while his audience is a
“Psalmist,” a writer of biblical psalms.

The speaker of the poem argues against some of the Psalmist’s religious views, particularly that
earthly life is an empty precursor to eternal life in heaven. At the very beginning of the poem,
the poet disapproves of the idea put in the mournful numbers i.e. sad poems that life is nothing
but an empty dream i.e. hollow and meaningless like the dream. For him, the soul of those who
slumber i.e. sleep (or in other words those who consider life as a meaningless dream) is dead.
And what such a person may see is not the reality. Or in other words what the pessimists and
those who curse the life see is different from the reality.

The psalmist said that from dust you are born and to dust we have to go back to the dust. But
according to the poet, life is real and earnest (passionate) and death (as the pessimists believe) is
not the goal of life. One who said that dust thou art (from dust you are born) and to dust returnest
(to dust we have to go i.e. we will have to die) was not a man with a purpose.

According to the poet, neither enjoyment nor sorrow is one’s destined end or way i.e. everlasting
or the end goal. These two emotions are temporary but part of life. One should never take them
seriously.
Instead, one should make a balance between the two and start working hard so that each to-
morrow i.e. the coming days would be far better than the present one.

According to the poet, time is Fleeting (running) fast and the Art (work) is too much. Though
our hearts are stout (strong) and brave yet like muffled (not loud) drums they beat funeral
marches to the graves i.e. keep thinking about death. This fear or thought of death cannot be
forgotten.

In the fifth stanza, the poet considers the world as a vast battlefield. And we humans are in the
bivouac of life i.e. temporary camps. The situation is of “do or die”. We do not have any other
option.

Hence on the battlefield, we should not be dumb (empty-headed) and driven cattle (a domestic
animal) which is like a slave. We should never be like such an animal. Instead, we should be a
hero in the strife i.e. battle and try our best.

The poet says that we should not trust the future i.e. we should never think of a better future all
the time and also let the dead past (which is gone) bury its dead i.e. take away bad thoughts with
it.

Instead, we should act now – in present. For that, we should believe in the heart within
(ourselves) and have faith in God who is with us (o’erhead).

According to the poet, the story of great men all tells us that we can also make our lives sublime
i.e. awesome. After departing (dying), they have left their footprints (inspirational stories) on the
sand of time (history). Thus are still alive and inspiring the coming generations.

The poet urges us to make similar footprints i.e. make our lives inspiring so that someday
another person who comes sailing over life’s solemn main (from the ocean of sorrows).

He may be forlorn (alone) and shipwrecked (sufferer). Our stories will inspire him to give up
dejection and begin his journey towards success again.
In the final stanza, the poet says that let us be up (get ready) and start working with a heart (full
dedication) without thinking of fate (success or failure).

We should have a belief in ourselves and a goal to achieve. We should be always working hard
to pursue the goal. We should have learned to work hard and to keep patience.