ENGLISH IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Novel: THE Prisoner OF ZENDA

1. Give a comparison between Elphberg and Rassendyll. (14, 13)
2. By whom and why was Rassendyll forced to impersonate the king of
Ruritania? (15, 12, 10)
3. Why could Duke Michael not succeed in his conspiracy to become the
king of Ruritania? (11)
4. Describe briefly ‘The Coronation Ceremony’ of Rudolf Rassendyll. (10)
5. Who was the prisoner of Zenda? Why was he imprisoned? (14, 13)
6. Where was King Rudolf Elphberg imprisoned? Name the person deputed
to look after him. (17M)
7. Describe the importance of ball. (17) / what is a ‘Ball’? State its
importance in the novel. (15)
8. Why did Madam de Maubau not want Black Michael to ascend the
throne? (17) / why did Madam de Maubau help Rassendyll? (16, 12) / Did
Madam de Maubau betray Michael rightly? Comment with reasons. (14) /
what role did Madam de Maua perform in the story of ‘The Prisoner of
Zenda’? (10)
9. Throw the light on the contents and significance of Maubau’s letter to
Flavia. (17M)
10. How did Rassendyll defend himself in the summer house? (17) / Which
incident do you enjoy the most in the novel, ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ and
why? (16, 8) / describe any important incident of the novel ‘The Prisoner
of Zenda’. (14) / describe the tea table incident in the novel, ‘The Prisoner
of Zenda’. (9)
11. How did Flavia learn the truth about Rudolf Rassendyll and what was her
reaction? (8)
12. What were the steps taken by Rudolf Rassendyll for the liberation of
Rudolf Elphberg? (15)
13. Describe the death scene of Black Michael. (17M)
14. Rupert is a dashing daredevil. Comment. (17, 12)
15. Describe two distinguishing qualities of Col. Sapt’s character. (17M)
16. Black Michael is a detestable character. Discuss. (17, 13)
17. Why do you like Rudolf Rassendyll? Give reasons. (9)
18. Princess Flavia has been portrayed as an ideal heroine. Discuss. (9)
1. Give a comparison between Elphberg and Rassendyll. (14, 13)
 The name “Rudolf” was common to both of them. Both had
dark red hair. Rassendyll was slightly taller than King Elphberg
and had a beard and moustache. Rassendyll did not take so much
wine as Elphberg did. Thus he was not as active as Rassendyll. He
was also very careless. Rassendyll was not careless or foolish like
him. Rassendyll invited danger and faced them boldly at the cost
of his own life. Rudolf was rather lazy, dull and weak. That is why
perhaps princess Flavia liked Rassendyll more than King Rudolf.

2. By whom and why was Rassendyll forced to impersonate

the king of Ruritania? (15, 12, 10)
 Colonel Sapt and Fritz Von Tarlenheim both forced Rudolf
Rassendyll to impersonate the king. They were loyal to the
Ruritanian Kingdom as well as the king. On finding the real king
senseless under the influence of drugged wine, they made
Rudolf Rassendyll as temporary king because they were aware
of the bad intentions of Black Michael of capturing the throne.
They placed the body of sleeping King in a room and left Joseph
to guard the room. They intended that they would rescue the
king after the coronation in the right time.

3. Why could Duke Michael not succeed in his conspiracy to

become the king of Ruritania? (11)
 Colonel Sapt and Fritz both persuaded and guided Rudolf
Rassendyll to work as the king. They impersonate him as the
king at the time of coronation. But unfortunately, Michael made
conspiracy and kidnaped real king. Later, Sapt, fritz and
Rassendyll worked together to release the real king from the
trap of Black Michael. Thus Duke Michael couldn’t succeed in his
conspiracy to become the king of Ruritania.
4. Describe briefly ‘The Coronation Ceremony’ of Rudolf
Rassendyll. (10)
 Rudolf Rassendyll as the king of Ruritania arrived at the cathedral
with the procession of nobleman, officers and soldiers. In the church,
he first time met with the Princess Flavia as well as Black Michael. He
knelt down to-proper and the cardinal of the cathedral anointed his
herd and presented to him the crown of Ruritania. After all the
ceremonies necessary for coronation, Marshall Strakencz declared him
as the King of Ruritania.
Ressendyll behaved like real king all through the coronation.

5. Who was the prisoner of Zenda? Why was he imprisoned? (14, 13)
 The prisoner of Zenda was the King Rudolf Elphberg V. He was
imprisoned by his cruel half-brother Black Michael because Duke
Michael wanted to capture the throne and to marry king’s beloved
Princess Flavia. In order to prevent king from coronation ceremony,
Michael sent him drugged wine at night before ceremony, do that
the king would become senseless. But, after all his cruel attempts,
Rudolf rassendyll who was face duo of king, attended coronation
ceremony with resemblance of king. After that defeat, Michael
kidnaped his brother and made him prisoner of zenda.

6. Where was King Rudolf Elphberg imprisoned? Name the person

deputed to look after him. (17M)
 Michael imprisoned the king in a small room in his old castle at
Zenda. That room had only one window near the surface of the
moat. This moat was full of water to stop anyone trying to reach the
king’s room. There was only one entrance to this room from an
inner room. Three strong men of Michael were always on guard.
There was large pipe going through the window of the king’s room
to the moat because if castle will be attacked michael’s men can kill
king and throw his body into the moat through the pipe.
7. Describe the importance of ball. (17) / what is a ‘Ball’? State its
importance in the novel. (15)
 The ball is a dance and music party. After the coronation of the King
there was observed increasing restlessness among the masses due to the
delayed betrothal of the King and the Queen. The people were worried
because of King’s nonchalance towards the Queen. They wanted to see
the King and the Queen married as soon as possible. In order to avert the
offended feelings of the masses Sapt arranges a ball for the Queen and
the King. The King and the Queen was the first pair to dance in the ball.
The ball proved a great success to please the people.
8. Why did Madam de Maubau not want Black Michael to ascend the
throne? (17) / why did Madam de Maubau help Rassendyll? (16, 12) /
Did Madam de Maubau betray Michael rightly? Comment with
reasons. (14) / what role did Madam de Maubau perform in the story
of ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’? (10)
 Madam de Maubau had no political interest but her ambition to win
Black Michael, involves her completely in the intrigues and counter
intrigues. She has come to Strelsau to safeguard her own interest. She
loves Black Michael above her head and soul but she knows very well the
intentions of Black Michael, who wants to be the King of Ruritania and he
realizes his dream by attracting Princes Flavia. Madam de Maubau has a
great courage, determination and will power but when she realizes that
Black Michael is neglecting her then she betrays him and tells everything
about his devilish plot to Rassendyll and Flavia.
9. Throw the light on the contents and significance of Maubau’s letter
to Flavia. (17M)
 We come to know about the letter of Lady Maubau to Princess
Flavia in chapter 11 entitled “Hunting a very big boar”. When Rassendyll
made up his mind his to release King from the custody of Michael, he met
Princess Flavia in her Palace, where Princess Flavia showed him the letter
warning Flavia not to accept invitation of Michael for spending a day at
his castle. The contents of the letter was a clear indication that Lady
Maubau was jealous of Princess Flavia, as Lady Maubau was desperately
in love with Michael. This letter of lady Maubau was quite significant
since it gives warning to Flavia that her life would be in danger if she goes
to Zenda alone.
10. How did Rassendyll defend himself in the summer house?
(17)/ Which incident do you enjoy the most in the novel,
‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ and why? (16, 8) / describe any
important incident of the novel ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’. (14) /
describe the tea table incident in the novel, ‘The Prisoner of
Zenda’. (9)
 Black Michael was deadly against Rudolf Rassendyll. He
asked lady Maubau to write a letter to Rassendyll to come alone
at midnight in the Summerhouse.
When he went to summer house, she was there and told
him that she was forced by Duke Michael to write him a letter
and invite him here. She told Rassendyll frankly that three men
of Michael would be here in twenty minutes to kill him.
Therefore, he should be careful. Soon armed men of Michael
reached there and Rassendyll saves himself by pulling the iron
topped tea table and esacaped through the ladder which lady
Maubau had told him.
11. How did Flavia learn the truth about Rudolf Rassendyll and
what was her reaction? (8)
 Flavia heard that the King is wounded in the castle of Zenda.
She came to Tarlenheim to see the wounded king at once.
Princes carriage drove up the hills near the forest. Rassendyll
and Fritz were there in the forest behind some bushes.
Wounded Rasendyll saw Flavia going to the castle and he did not
want to meet her at that time. But a farm girl ran to Flavia and
told her that King is lying in the bushes. Flavia herself came to
the bushes where Rassendyll was lying then, Rassendyll himself
said that he was not the King, thus she came to know the truth
about Rassendyll.
Flavia was shocked to know that the person she has been loving
from the heart was not the King.
12. What were the steps taken by Rudolf Rassendyll for the
liberation of Rudolf Elphberg? (15)
 Rassendyll made a final attempt to liberate the King from the cell.
He took Madam de Maubau in his confidence. According to scheme
Raseendyll swam across the moat. He hid near the Jacob’s pipe. The
drawbridge was over the moat. A light was burning in Michael’s room.
Lady Maubau and Rupert were there.
Detchard, one of the strong man of Michael, entered the King’s room to
kill him but Rassendyll also entered the King’s room through pipe.
There he had a fight with Detchard whom he ultimately killed.
Sapt and Fritz had already entered the castle and now the castle was in
the hands of Rassendyll and his companions. In this way they saved life
of the King.

13. Describe the death scene of Black Michael. (17M)

 Rassendyll swam across the moat. He hid near the pipe coming out
of the window of the King’s room. The drawbridge was over the moat.
A light was burning in Michael’s room. Madame De Maubau and Rupert
were here.
Rassendyll heard De Maubau crying in her own room to Michael for
help against Rupert. Michael ran to her help. There was a fight between
Michel and Rupert with swords. Finally, Rupert killed Michael.

14. Rupert is a dashing daredevil. Comment. (17, 12)

 Rupert of Hentzau is leading character among the six villains of
Black Michael. When lady Maubau comes to the castle of Zenda, he
falls in love and is attracted by her beauty. He wants to win Madame de
Maubau. For this purpose he meets Rassendyll in Zenda and offers him
to join his company to kill both of them real King as well as Duke
Michael but Rassendyll didn’t accept his devilish plan. Still, in order to
get lady Maubau, Rupert killed his master Black Michael. On viewing
these qualities of his character we can say that Rupert is really a
daredevil in the novel.
15. Describe two distinguishing qualities of Col. Sapt’s character. (17M)
 Colonel Sapt is an old and experienced soldier. He had got a highly
fertile and productive mind. Most of the schemes and plots for safety of
real King in the novel are the creation of his mind. He makes quick
decision on all occasions and saves Rassendyll from danger and helps in
rescuing the real King. Hence, we can say that Colonel Sapt’s wisdom and
loyalty towards King made it impossible for Black Michael to get the
throne of Ruritania. He admits that Rassendyll is a better man to rule over
the country.
16. Black Michael is a detestable character. Discuss. (17, 13)
 Black Michael is by nature a schemer, and all the time his mind
remains busy in making evil plots. He invites the King to his forest lodge
and imprisons him. He is a cruel man and makes several plots to kill
Rassendyll at Summer house, at the palace of Princess Flavia and at many
other places. He is a traitor because he wants to capture the throne of
Ruritania. He always sends his six villains to deal with his enemies. He is
also lustful towards the women. He promised Maubau to marry her but is
after flavia only to get the throne. He is extremely selfish, wicked and
ambitious.
17. Why do you like Rudolf Rassendyll? Give reasons. (9)
 I like Rudolf Rassendyll because he is the hero of the novel and
performs noble deeds through and through in the novel. He is very noble
man and possesses all the qualities of leadership. He accepts the request
of Col. Sapt to impersonate the king just to save the Kingdom of Ruritania.
Princes Flavia loves him, but he does not marry her because he does not
want to cheat the real king, his only mission was to liberate the real King
at the cost of his life.
18. Princess Flavia has been portrayed as an ideal heroine. Discuss. (9)
 Princes Flavia is the heroine of the novel “The Prisoner of Zenda”.
She is the cousin of the King, Rudolf Elphberg and the next heir to the
throne of Ruritania. She is tall, graceful and charming lady with a pale
face, blue eyes and glorious red hair. She is very young, beautiful and
attractive. She is very popular among the people of Ruritania on account
of her best qualities. She knows her duty to her lover and to her country.
She is self-sacrificing lady.