PSEB Class 12 Chapter 2 A Chameleon Important Question Answers from A Rainbow of English book (Section C)
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PSEB Class 12 English Chapter 2 A Chameleon Textbook Questions
I. COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
1. Short Answer Type Questions:
1. Where was the police superintendent Otchumyelov walking? What was he carrying under his arm?
Ans. The police superintendent, Otchumyelov, was walking across the market square. He was carrying a parcel wrapped in a handkerchief under his arm.
2. Who was walking after him?
Ans. A red-haired policeman named Yeldyrin was walking after Otchumyelov.
3. What was the red haired policeman carrying in his hands?
Ans. The red-haired policeman, Yeldyrin, was carrying a sieve full of freshly picked gooseberries in his hands.
4. Who was chasing the dog?
Ans. A man named Hryukin, who was a goldsmith by profession, was chasing the dog.
5. Why was Hryukin chasing the dog?
Ans. Hryukin was chasing the dog because it had bitten his finger. He wanted to complain and demand compensation for his injury.
6. What was Hryukin wearing?
Ans. Hryukin was wearing a faded overcoat and an unbuttoned waistcoat, which gave him an untidy appearance.
7. What did Hryukin display to the crowd?
Ans. Hryukin displayed his bitten finger to the crowd. The finger was bleeding slightly, and he showed it as proof of the dog’s attack.
8. How was Hryukin’s bleeding finger a flag of victory?
Ans. Hryukin’s bleeding finger became a flag of victory because he used it as evidence to gain public sympathy and prove that he was right, hoping to get compensation from the dog’s owner.
9. Why did Hryukin think that he must have damages?
Ans. Hryukin believed he should receive damages because he was injured while standing quietly and not harming anyone. He felt the dog’s owner should be punished and that he deserved payment for his suffering.
10. What was Otchumyelov’s first reaction on Hryukin’s complaint?
Ans. Otchumyelov’s first reaction was one of anger. He ordered that the dog should be strangled immediately and declared that such dangerous animals should not be allowed to roam in public places.
11. Why did Otchumyelov later refuse to take any action against the owner of the dog?
Ans. When Otchumyelov heard that the dog might belong to General Zhigalov, he immediately changed his attitude. He refused to take action against the dog or its owner, fearing to offend a powerful person.
12. What was police superintendent’s opinion about the biting of the dog when he came to know that it was the General’s dog?
Ans. When Otchumyelov heard that the dog might belong to General Zhigalov, he immediately changed his attitude. He refused to take action against the dog or its owner, fearing to offend a powerful person.
13. What did the policeman tell the superintendent about the General’s dog?
Ans.The policeman told the superintendent that the General’s brother had arrived recently and that the dog might belong to him, not to the General himself.
14. Who was Prohor?
Ans. Prohor was the General’s cook. He helped clarify to whom the dog actually belonged.
15. What information did Prohor give about the dog?
Ans. Prohor told Otchumyelov that the dog indeed belonged to the General’s brother. This made Otchumyelov once again change his tone and defend the dog politely.
16. Why did the crowd laugh at Hryukin at the end of the story?
Ans. The crowd laughed at Hryukin because Otchumyelov sided with the powerful General’s family and blamed Hryukin for the incident. The crowd found his situation amusing as he was left humiliated and helpless.
II Long Answer Type Questions:
1. Give a brief character-sketch of Otchumyelov.
Ans. Otchumyelov, the police superintendent, is a symbol of hypocrisy and cowardice. He constantly changes his opinion depending on who owns the dog that bit Hryukin. When he believes it belongs to a poor man, he becomes rude and strict, but when he hears it may belong to a General, he becomes polite and protective. His shifting behaviour reflects his name, “chameleon”, as he changes colour with circumstances. Chekhov uses Otchumyelov to criticize corrupt officials who misuse power and show no sense of justice. His character highlights the moral weakness of people who value rank more than truth.
2. Give a brief character-sketch of Hryukin.
Ans. Hryukin, the goldsmith, represents the common man in society. He is greedy, self-centered, and eager to take advantage of situations. When bitten by the dog, he exaggerates his injury to claim compensation. However, he becomes helpless when Otchumyelov turns against him after hearing the dog belongs to a General. His situation exposes how powerless ordinary people are when faced with corrupt authority. Though he tries to defend himself, he ends up being mocked by the crowd. Through Hryukin, Chekhov shows how the poor suffer injustice and have no voice against the powerful.
3. Why did Otchumyelov’s statement keep on changing regarding Hryukin’s complaint?
Ans. Otchumyelov’s statement kept changing because his opinion depended entirely on who owned the dog. If he believed it belonged to a poor man, he became angry and ordered punishment. But when he heard it might belong to a General or his brother, he became soft and polite. His fear of authority and desire to please the powerful made him change sides repeatedly. Chekhov uses this shifting behaviour to expose Otchumyelov’s hypocrisy and lack of integrity, showing that his concern was not justice but his own safety and reputation.
4. Otchumyelov took off or put on his coat with every new statement. What does this show?
Ans. Otchumyelov’s action of taking off or putting on his coat symbolizes his constantly changing attitude. When he is angry or confident, he removes his coat, showing his boldness. But when he learns the dog may belong to a General, he puts it back on, becoming polite and fearful. This repeated action highlights his unstable nature and how he “changes colour” like a chameleon depending on the situation. Chekhov cleverly uses this gesture as a visual symbol of hypocrisy and cowardice in people who lack moral strength.
5. Justify the title of the story, A Chameleon’
Ans. The title “A Chameleon” perfectly fits the story because Otchumyelov behaves exactly like a chameleon that changes its colour with its surroundings. His opinions and actions shift depending on who owns the dog. He is harsh when he thinks the owner is a poor man but becomes respectful when he suspects the dog belongs to a General. This constant change reflects his hypocrisy and cowardly nature. Chekhov uses the title to symbolically criticize people who lack principles and change their behaviour to suit powerful individuals.
Punjab Board Class 12 English Chapter 2 A Chameleon Extra Question and Answers
Extract-Based Questions
A. “There is the sound of a dog yelping. Otchumyelov looks in the direction of the sound and sees a dog, hopping on three legs and looking about her, run out of Pitchugin’s timber-yard. A man in a starched cotton shirt, with his waistcoat unbuttoned, is chasing her. He runs after her, and throwing his body forward falls down and seizes the dog by her hind legs. Once more there is a yelping and a shout of “Don’t let go!” Sleepy countenances are protruded from the shops, and soon a crowd, which seems to have sprung out of the earth, is gathered round the timber-yard. “It looks like a row, your honour…” says the policeman. Otchumyelov makes a half turn to the left and strides towards the crowd.”
Q1. Where did Otchumyelov hear the yelping come from?
Ans. Otchumyelov heard the sound of the dog yelping coming from Pitchugin’s timber-yard.
Q2. Describe the dog that Otchumyelov saw.
Ans. The dog was a small white puppy with a sharp muzzle, hopping on three legs and trembling with fear.
Q3. Who was chasing the dog and how did he catch it?
Ans. A man in a starched cotton shirt with his waistcoat unbuttoned was chasing the dog, and he caught her by seizing her hind legs after falling forward.
Q4. How did the crowd gather around the timber-yard?
Ans. People with sleepy faces peeped out from the nearby shops, and within moments a curious crowd appeared around the timber-yard, as if they had sprung out of the earth.
Q5. What did the policeman say to Otchumyelov after seeing the commotion?
Ans. The policeman informed Otchumyelov that it looked like a quarrel or a disturbance and called his attention to it by saying, “It looks like a row, your honour.”
B. “”H’m. Very good,” says Otchumyelov sternly, coughing and raising his eyebrows. “Very good. Whose dog is it? I won’t let this pass! I’ll teach them to let their dogs run all over the place! It’s time these gentry were looked after, if they won’t obey the regulations! When he’s fined, the blackguard, I’ll teach him what it means to keep dogs and such stray cattle! I’ll give him a lesson!… Yeldyrin,” cries the superintendent, addressing the policeman, “find out whose dog this is and draw up a report! And the dog must be strangled. Without delay! It’s sure to be mad…. Whose dog is it, I ask?” “I fancy it’s General Zhigalov’s,” says someone in the crowd.”
Q1. How did Otchumyelov react to Hryukin’s complaint about being bitten?
Ans. Otchumyelov reacted very sternly and angrily to Hryukin’s complaint, declaring that he would punish the dog’s owner for letting such animals run loose in the streets.
Q2. What orders did Otchumyelov give to the policeman Yeldyrin?
Ans. Otchumyelov ordered Yeldyrin to find out who owned the dog, to prepare an official report, and to have the dog strangled immediately, suspecting that it might be mad.
Q3. What did Otchumyelov say about people who let their dogs roam freely?
Ans. Otchumyelov said that it was time to teach such people a lesson because they refused to follow regulations, and he promised to make the owner pay for this carelessness.
Q4. What did someone in the crowd say about the dog’s possible owner?
Ans. Someone in the crowd suggested that the dog might belong to General Zhigalov.
Q5. How did Otchumyelov’s attitude begin to change after hearing the General’s name?
Ans. When Otchumyelov heard that the dog might belong to General Zhigalov, his harshness started to fade and he became uncertain, showing respect and hesitation towards punishing someone of high rank.
C. “”Don’t argue!” “No, that’s not the General’s dog,” says the policeman, with profound conviction, “the General hasn’t got one like that. His are mostly setters.” “Do you know that for a fact?” “Yes, your honour.” “I know it, too. The General has valuable dogs, thoroughbred, and this is goodness knows what! No coat, no shape…. A low creature. And to keep a dog like that!… where’s the sense of it. If a dog like that were to turn up in Petersburg or Moscow, do you know what would happen? They would not worry about the law, they would strangle it in a twinkling! You’ve been injured, Hryukin, and we can’t let the matter drop…. We must give them a lesson! It is high time….!””
Q1. What did the policeman say about the General’s dogs?
Ans. The policeman said that the General’s dogs were mostly setters, implying that the little stray dog could not possibly belong to the General.
Q2. How did Otchumyelov describe the dog standing before them?
Ans. Otchumyelov described the dog as a low, shapeless creature with no proper coat, unworthy of being kept by a person of importance like the General.
Q3. What comparison did Otchumyelov make with big cities like Petersburg or Moscow?
Ans. Otchumyelov said that in large cities like Petersburg or Moscow, no one would waste time on legal procedures; they would kill such a dog immediately.
Q4. What did Otchumyelov decide must be done about Hryukin’s injury?
Ans. Otchumyelov insisted that Hryukin’s injury could not be ignored and declared that they must punish the dog’s owner to teach everyone a lesson.
Q5. What does this passage reveal about Otchumyelov’s character?
Ans. This passage reveals Otchumyelov’s hypocritical and arrogant nature, showing that he is eager to use his authority to punish common people but also afraid to offend anyone of high social status.
D. “”H’m, help me on with my overcoat, Yeldyrin, my lad… the wind’s getting up…. I am cold…. You take it to the General’s, and inquire there. Say I found it and sent it. And tell them not to let it out into the street…. It may be a valuable dog, and if every swine goes sticking a cigar in its mouth, it will soon be ruined. A dog is a delicate animal…. And you put your hand down, you blockhead. It’s no use your displaying your fool of a finger. It’s your own fault….” “Here comes the General’s cook, ask him… Hi, Prohor! Come here, my dear man! Look at this dog…. Is it one of yours?” “What an idea! We have never had one like that!””
Q1. What new instructions did Otchumyelov give Yeldyrin regarding the dog?
Ans. Otchumyelov told Yeldyrin to take the dog to the General’s house, say that he found and sent it, and advise them not to let it out on the street again.
Q2. How did Otchumyelov’s attitude change after hearing that the dog might belong to the General’s brother?
Ans. As soon as Otchumyelov heard that the dog might belong to the General’s brother, his tone softened completely, and he began to speak kindly of the dog, calling it a lively and delicate little creature.
Q3. What did Prohor, the General’s cook, say about the dog’s ownership?
Ans. Prohor said that the dog did not belong to their master, General Zhigalov, but to the General’s brother, who had recently arrived for a visit.
Q4. How did Otchumyelov treat Hryukin after learning who might own the dog?
Ans. Otchumyelov mocked and scolded Hryukin, saying that it was his own fault for annoying the dog, and he completely dismissed Hryukin’s injury.
Q5. What does Otchumyelov’s changing attitude throughout the story show?
Ans. Otchumyelov’s shifting attitude reveals his hypocrisy and cowardice, as he changes his opinions based on the social position of the people involved, favoring the powerful and blaming the weak.
Multiple-Choice Questions
Q1. Who is the main character in the story “A Chameleon”?
A. Hryukin
B. Yeldyrin
C. Otchumyelov
D. Pitchugin
Ans. C. Otchumyelov
Q2. What is Otchumyelov’s profession?
A. Goldsmith
B. Police Superintendent
C. General
D. Shopkeeper
Ans. B. Police Superintendent
Q3. What is Otchumyelov carrying under his arm at the beginning of the story?
A. A basket
B. A parcel
C. A newspaper
D. A book
Ans. B. A parcel
Q4. Who is following Otchumyelov at the start of the story?
A. A soldier
B. A policeman with a sieve of gooseberries
C. A merchant
D. The General’s servant
Ans. B. A policeman with a sieve of gooseberries
Q5. Who got bitten by the dog?
A. Otchumyelov
B. The policeman
C. Hryukin
D. Prohor
Ans. C. Hryukin
Q6. What is Hryukin’s profession?
A. Cook
B. Goldsmith
C. Carpenter
D. Policeman
Ans. B. Goldsmith
Q7. What colour patch does the dog have on her back?
A. Brown patch
B. Yellow patch
C. Black patch
D. Red patch
Ans. B. Yellow patch
Q8. What does Otchumyelov first order to be done with the dog?
A. To feed it
B. To return it to its owner
C. To strangle it
D. To send it to the General’s house
Ans. C. To strangle it
Q9. Someone in the crowd first says that the dog belongs to _________
A. General Zhigalov
B. General’s brother
C. Pitchugin
D. The policeman
Ans. A. General Zhigalov
Q10. How does Otchumyelov’s attitude change after hearing the dog might belong to General Zhigalov?
A. He becomes even angrier
B. He becomes polite and protective
C. He arrests Hryukin
D. He ignores the matter completely
Ans. B. He becomes polite and protective
Q11. What does the General’s cook say about the dog?
A. It belongs to the General
B. It belongs to the General’s brother
C. It is a stray dog
D. It belongs to Hryukin
Ans. B. It belongs to the General’s brother
Q12. What is the name of the policeman with Otchumyelov?
A. Hryukin
B. Prohor
C. Yeldyrin
D. Pitchugin
Ans. C. Yeldyrin
Q13. What does Otchumyelov do when he thinks the dog is a stray?
A. Praises it
B. Wants to keep it
C. Orders it to be killed
D. Sends it to the General’s brother
Ans. C. Orders it to be killed
Q14. How is the crowd described when they gather around the timber-yard?
A. Calm and quiet
B. Angry and violent
C. Suddenly appearing, as if sprung out of the earth
D. Fearful and confused
Ans. C. Suddenly appearing, as if sprung out of the earth
Q15. What is Otchumyelov wearing at the beginning of the story?
A. An old coat
B. A new overcoat
C. A soldier’s uniform
D. A raincoat
Ans. B. A new overcoat
Q16. What is the main theme of “A Chameleon”?
A. Love and friendship
B. Corruption and hypocrisy in authority
C. War and peace
D. Hard work and honesty
Ans. B. Corruption and hypocrisy in authority
Q17. Why is the story titled “A Chameleon”?
A. Because it is about a changing animal
B. Because Otchumyelov keeps changing his attitude to suit the situation
C. Because the dog changes its color
D. Because Hryukin is a tricky man
Ans. B. Because Otchumyelov keeps changing his attitude to suit the situation
Q18. What does Otchumyelov accuse Hryukin of doing to the dog?
A. Feeding it
B. Hitting it with a stick
C. Putting a cigarette in its face
D. Throwing stones at it
Ans. C. Putting a cigarette in its face
Q19. How does the crowd react when Prohor takes the dog away?
A. They laugh at Hryukin
B. They scold Otchumyelov
C. They follow the dog
D. They feel sorry for the dog
Ans. A. They laugh at Hryukin
Q20. What does the story “A Chameleon” mainly criticize?
A. The foolishness of common people
B. The dishonesty of traders
C. The hypocrisy and double standards of people in power
D. The cruelty towards animals
Ans. C. The hypocrisy and double standards of people in power
True or False
State whether the following are true or false–
1. Otchumyelov is a police superintendent.
2. Hryukin is a carpenter by profession.
3. The dog had a yellow patch on its back.
4. The dog bit Hryukin on his hand.
5. At first, Otchumyelov orders that the dog should be taken care of.
6. Someone says the dog belongs to General Zhigalov.
7. The General’s cook says the dog belongs to the General’s brother.
8. Otchumyelov remains firm in his decision throughout the story.
9. The crowd laughs at Otchumyelov in the end.
10. The story “A Chameleon” shows how people in authority change sides according to power.
Answers-
1. True
2. False
3. True
4. True
5. False
6. True
7. True
8. False
9. False
10. True
Fill in the blanks
1. The story “A Chameleon” is written by __________.
2. Otchumyelov was walking across the __________ at the beginning of the story.
3. The policeman following Otchumyelov was carrying a sieve full of __________.
4. The man bitten by the dog was named __________.
5. The small white dog had a __________ patch on her back.
6. Otchumyelov first orders that the dog should be __________.
7. The dog was said to belong to General __________.
8. Later, it is revealed that the dog actually belongs to the General’s __________.
9. The cook who identifies the dog is named __________.
10. The title “A Chameleon” refers to Otchumyelov’s habit of __________ according to circumstances.
Answers-
1. Anton Chekhov
2. market square
3. gooseberries
4. Hryukin
5. yellow
6. strangled
7. Zhigalov
8. brother
9. Prohor
10. changing his attitude
Extra Questions
Answer the following questions-
Q1. Who is Otchumyelov? Describe his character.
Ans. Otchumyelov is the police superintendent in the story “A Chameleon.” He is a symbol of hypocrisy and misuse of authority. His behaviour constantly changes depending on the social status of the people involved. When he believes the dog belongs to a common man, he becomes harsh and orders punishment. But when he hears that the dog might belong to a General, he becomes polite and protective. His changing attitude shows that he lacks fairness and integrity. Through his character, Chekhov criticizes the corruption and double standards of people in positions of power.
Q2. What incident takes place in the market square?
Ans. In the market square, Otchumyelov hears a dog yelping and sees a commotion near Pitchugin’s timber-yard. A man named Hryukin, a goldsmith, claims that a small white dog has bitten his finger. The crowd gathers quickly to witness the argument. Otchumyelov investigates the matter and keeps changing his opinion about the dog and its owner depending on who it belongs to. The incident exposes his hypocrisy and the fear of authority that rules the society. What begins as a small accident turns into a lesson on how power influences justice.
Q3. How does Otchumyelov behave when he thinks the dog is a stray?
Ans. When Otchumyelov believes the dog is a stray, he becomes angry and cruel. He immediately orders the dog to be strangled, declaring that biting is against the law and that such animals should not be allowed to roam freely. He also insults the unknown owner, calling him careless and irresponsible. This shows Otchumyelov’s eagerness to misuse his power over common people. His reaction is harsh and unfair, driven by his desire to appear strict and authoritative rather than just. His behaviour reflects his lack of true justice and sympathy.
Q4. How does Otchumyelov’s attitude change when he learns the dog may belong to General Zhigalov?
Ans. As soon as Otchumyelov hears that the dog might belong to General Zhigalov, his attitude completely changes. He becomes polite and begins to defend the dog. He questions whether Hryukin really got bitten and accuses him of making up the story to get compensation. Otchumyelov suddenly treats the dog as valuable and delicate, showing great concern for its well-being. This quick change in behaviour reveals his hypocrisy and cowardice. He is afraid of offending someone powerful and is willing to twist justice to please the rich.
Q5. What role does Hryukin play in the story?
Ans. Hryukin, the goldsmith, is the man who claims to have been bitten by the dog. He represents the common man who often suffers under unfair authority. Although he demands justice for his injury, he is mocked and ignored by Otchumyelov once the dog’s connection to the General is suspected. Some people in the crowd accuse him of teasing the dog with a cigarette. In the end, Otchumyelov humiliates him, and the crowd laughs at his expense. Hryukin’s situation shows how powerless ordinary citizens are when justice depends on social position rather than truth.
Q6. How does Chekhov use humour in “A Chameleon”?
Ans. Anton Chekhov uses humour in “A Chameleon” through irony and exaggeration. The entire story revolves around Otchumyelov’s constantly changing behaviour, which becomes both funny and ridiculous. Each time he hears a new detail about the dog’s ownership, he instantly changes his tone, from angry and commanding to kind and flattering. The way he orders his coat to be removed or put on according to the situation adds to the comic effect. Chekhov uses this humour to criticize the hypocrisy of officials who change their opinions based on who holds power.
Q7. What is the main theme of “A Chameleon”?
Ans. The main theme of “A Chameleon” is hypocrisy and corruption in positions of authority. The story shows how people like Otchumyelov change their attitudes according to social rank. When he believes the dog belongs to a poor person, he is harsh and cruel. But when he suspects it belongs to the General’s family, he becomes respectful and gentle. This changing behaviour, like that of a chameleon changing its colour, symbolizes moral weakness and injustice. Chekhov uses the story to criticize how truth and fairness are often ignored in favour of power and status.
Q8. Explain the significance of the title “A Chameleon.”
Ans. The title “A Chameleon” perfectly reflects the main idea of the story. A chameleon is an animal that changes its colour according to its surroundings, and Otchumyelov behaves exactly the same way. His words and actions keep changing depending on who owns the dog. He is harsh when he thinks it belongs to a common man but becomes polite when he hears it might belong to a General. This behaviour symbolizes the hypocrisy of those who lack moral strength and fairness. Thus, the title represents Otchumyelov’s changing attitude and cowardly nature.
Q9. What social message does Anton Chekhov convey through this story?
Ans. Through “A Chameleon,” Anton Chekhov gives a strong social message about the abuse of power and the lack of justice in society. He shows how officials like Otchumyelov use their authority to please the rich and suppress the poor. The story reflects the unfair social system where truth and equality have no value before power and influence. Chekhov criticizes the double standards of people who change their opinions based on social status. His message encourages honesty, fairness, and equality for all, regardless of wealth or position.
Q10. How does the story end, and what is its impact on the reader?
Ans. The story ends with Prohor, the General’s cook, taking the dog away and the crowd laughing at Hryukin. Otchumyelov, now sure that the dog belongs to someone powerful, turns his anger on Hryukin and defends the dog. The ending exposes Otchumyelov’s complete hypocrisy and moral weakness. He changes sides again to please the influential. Chekhov ends the tale with irony, forcing readers to reflect on how power continues to influence justice and behaviour in society.