Honours 2nd Year: Department of English

Introduction to Drama ■ Arms and the Man: Brief, Short and Broad Questions, Explanation and Notes

Brief Questions and Answers Ans: By defeating the Serbians at Slivnitza, Sergius
becomes the hero of the hour and the idol of the
1. When was Shaw awarded Nobel Prize? What did he regiment.
do with the prize money? 12. How does Sergius win the battle at Slivnitza?
Ans: He was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in Ans: Sergius wins the battle at Slivnitza by means of his
1925, but he gave away the prize money to start the cavalry attack. When Sergius attacks the Serbs with his
Anglo-Swedish Literary Foundation. cavalry soldiers, the machine gun of the Serbs suddenly
2. What is ‘the New Drama’? stops functioning. So Sergius becomes able to defeat
Ans: ‘The New Drama’ is a type of drama which started them.
at the end of the 19th century and which deals with 13. What is an opera?
realistic social issues instead of idealism of the Ans: An opera is a type of drama in which the actors
traditional drama. make their speeches in musical verse, not in prose. Thus
3. What is ‘New Theatre’? an opera is a musical drama.
Ans: It is a theatrical organization which was 14. Who is Louka?
established in London in 1891 in order to popularize the Ans: Louka is the maid-servant of the Petkoffs.
intellectual dramas of Ibsen and Shaw. 15. What kind of girl is Louka?
4. What is the background of Arms and the Man? Ans: Louka is a spirited woman. She is proud, bold and
Ans: The play is based on the play historical war haughty. Though a maid-servant, she has not the spirit
between Bulgaria and Serbia fought in 1885. of a servant.
5. From where is the title of Arms and the Man taken? 16. What is Tsar?
Ans: The title of the play Arms and the Man is taken Ans: Tsar is the title of the Enperor of Russia before
from Dryden’s translation of Virgil’s epic The Aeneid, 1917.
beginning with “Arms and the man I sing” 17. Whom did Captain Bluntschli call Don Quixote?
6. What is the importance of the year 1885 in Arms and Ans: Sergius.
the Man? 18. “Nine soldiers out of ten are born fools” – Who is the
Ans: The year 1885 in importance because the war speaker? Why does he say this?
between Serbia and Bulgaria took place in the year. The Ans: The Man who enters Raina’s bedroom at night
war started on November 14 and ended with the defeat says this. Here he means that most of the soldiers are
of defeat of Serbia on November 19 at Slivnitza. very foolish persons. He says this to encourage Raina
7. What is Slivnitza? that she can easily deceive the Bulgarian soldiers who
Ans: Slivnitza is a Bulgarian town, about twenty miles are about to enter her room for search.
north-west of Sophia, the capital of Bulgarian 19. What kind of soldiers is the Man (Bluntschli) who
8. What is the Dragoman Pass? enters Raina’s bedroom at night?
Ans: It is a mountain pass in the west of Bulgarian. It Ans: He is a professional soldier.
provides an easy passage between Bulgarian and Serbia. 20. What is a professional soldier?
9. What is a Turkish ottoman? Ans: A professional soldier is a person who taken
Ans: It is a cushioned seat or sofa without back or arms. soldiering as a professional. He fights for money.
It was first used in Turkey. 21. Why does Raina offer chocolate creams to the Man
10. Who is a Raina’s mother? (Bluntschli)?
Ans: Raina’s mother is Catherine Petkeff, an energetic Ans: When the Man (Bluntschli) tells Raina that he
and dominating woman with black hair and eyes. aways carries chocolate in the battle instead of
11. How does Sergius become the hero of the hour and cartridges, she offers him chocolate creams out of
the idol of the regiment? sympathy.
22. How according to Bluntschli can one recognize an
old soldier?
 Ans: According to Bluntschli, an old soldier can be 8. What is the dramatic significance of the flirting scene of
recognized from the contents of his pistol cases and Segius and Louka?
cartridge boxes, where he carries some food. 9. Describe the coat-episode.
23. Who was Don Quixote? 10. Write a note on the photograph episode.
Ans: Don Quixote was the romantic hero of the novel 11. Who embodies life-force in Arms and the Man?
of the same name by the Spanish writer, Cervantes. He 12. Why does Bluntschli compare Sergius to Don Quixote?
attacked a windmill in action taking it a giant. 13. Make a short note on the character of “Louka”.
24. Why doesn’t Raina want to let Bluntschli stay in her
room? Explanations
Ans: Raina doesn’t want to let Bluntschli stay in her
room because he has said something insulting about 1. This is batter weapon than the revolver: eh?
Sergius’ cavalry charge. 2. Soldering, my dear madam, is the coward’s art of
25. How does Raina pride on the Petkoff family? attacking mercilessly when you are strong, and keeping
Ans: Raina pride on the Petkoff family by saying that it out of harm’s way when you are weak. That is the whole
is the richest and best known family in Bulgaria. secret of successful fighting. Get your enemy at a
26. Who was Ernani? disadvantage; and never, on any account, fight him on
Ans: Ernani was the titular hero of an opera of the same equal terms.
name by Giuseppi Verdi, an Italian composer. 3. And how ridiculous! Oh war! War! The dream of
27. On what condition did Bluntschli agree to stay in patriots and heroes! A fraud, Bluntschli. A hollow sham,
Raina’s room? like love.
Ans: Bluntschli agreed ro stay in Raina’s room on the 4. What a man! Is he a man?
condition that Raina must inform her mother about his 5. Oh yes they are. There are only two sorts of soldiers: old
presence in her room. ones and young ones.
28. Why does Raina call Bluntschli a chocolate cream
soldier? Short Notes
Ans: Raina sarcastically calls him a chocolate cream
soldier because he carried chocolate instead of 1. Catherine Petkoff
cartridges in the battle-field. 2. Chocolate-cream soldier
29. Who is Nicola? 3. Raina
Ans: Nicola is the servant-man of the Petkoff family. 4. Anti-hero
30. What, according to Nicola, is the secret of success in
service? Broad Questions
Ans: According to Nicola, to have the soul of a servant
is the secret of success in service. 1. Consider Arms and the Man as an anti-romantic
comedy/ theme of love and war.
2. How is the theme of war handled in ‘Arms and the
Short Questions
Man’?
3. Do you think ‘chocolate-cream soldier’ is an appropriate
1. Why is Shaw’s Arms and the Man called a drama of
epithet for Bluntschli? Give reasons for your answer.
ideas?
2. What farcical elements do you find in Arms and the
Man?
3. What is a comedy.
4. Why is Arms and the Man called an anti-romantic
comedy?
5. Is Arms and the Man a problem play?
6. Describe the bedroom episode.
7. How is the ‘higher love’ of Raina and Sergius shattered?