The Swan Song-Qs-Ans-in 100 words each on The Swan Song by Anton Chekhov

 Answer the following questions in about 100 words each:

Q1. How does Svietlovidoff prove to Nikita that his histrionic talents have not been exhausted?

Ans. Svietlovidoff is an old actor of sixty-eight years. He acted on stage for forty-five years. After giving his last performance, he drinks and falls asleep in the dressing room of the theatre. On waking up, he finds himself alone. His loneliness and the influence of wine make him remember his past. All this makes him feel sad. He thinks that his energy is lost due to old age. He is alone. No one is there to care for him.

Then Nikita meets him. He reassures him that he is still a powerful actor. He is a genius. This makes Svietlovidoff feel rejuvenated. He performs a few lines from King Lear and then Othello with full energy and talent. He feels that old age is no hurdle if a man is a genius and has talent. Thus he proves to Nikita that his histrionic (very emotional, energetic but not sincere) talent is not exhausted.

Q2. Comment on the use of dramatic irony in ‘The Swan Song’.

Ans. In this play ‘The Swan Song’ we may say that dramatic irony has been used by the dramatist. Svietlovidoff thinks that all is over and he is in old age. He cannot perform as he used to perform at a young age. He is in despair. He feels lonely because he has no one in his house. He also feels that his audience did not love him in reality. They only loved his acting.

 Even the woman he loved was not ready to marry him if he did not quit acting. All these remembrances made him disappointed. But he does not know that he has another audience that would always remember him. These are the readers. This is the use of dramatic irony in this play.

Q3. ‘Language and rendition of dialogues in an actor’s performance on the stage are pivotal.’ Explain the statement in the context of ‘The Swan Song’.

Ans. It is true that language and rendition in an actor’s performance on the stage are pivotal. The first requirement for the success of a play is the language of the dialogues. The second requirement is the performance or the rendition of the dialogues. Both the requirements combine together to appeal to the ears and minds of the audience. Then the play is sure to achieve success. In this play, Svietlovidoff proves this by reciting a few lines from King Lear and Othello. When Nikita recites a few lines of the role of a joker, he does not appreciate him. He realises that he can still perform powerful roles. His old age is not a hurdle in his acting. A man needs only talent and enthusiasm for his performance.

Q4. What does Svietlovidoff remember about the lady he loved?

Ans. Svietlovidoff tells Nikita that a woman fell in love with him when he first appeared on the stage in his youth. She loved him for his acting. She was beautiful, graceful, young, innocent, pure, and radiant like summer dawn. He remembers the day when she stood just in front of him. She had never seemed as lovely to him as she did then.

She spoke to him with her beautiful eyes. He tells Nikita Ivanich that he shall never forget her tender, soft and deep eyes even in the grave.

Feeling enraptured with her beauty, he fell to his knees in front of her and begged for accepting his proposal for marriage.

But she put on the condition that he must give up the stage if he wants to marry her. She told him that she could love an actor but cannot marry him.