XI SC English Drama 1

Dear Students,

I suggest that that we move ahead with the study of our play Arms and the Man in the following manner :

1. We shall read a page a day.
2. I shall post comments on the page and suggested follow-up work
3. You are invited to keep up with the work
4. Kindly keep me informed through your comments of anything you wish to ask me.

So,

• Read down through Act 2 page 33, from the moment Catherine enters
• We remember that the Act began with the entry of the two 'servants' Nicola and Louka. Then Major Paul Petkoff, the 'man of the house' entered. He had asked that his wife and daughter be told of his arrival.
• Certain words which you might want to find the meaning of : perfunctory, appeasing, relenting, annex, mobilize - you are urged to make sentences of your own with these words in order to facilitate them entering your vocabulary.
• Look up "Turkish slippers' on the internet - covered, embroidered slip on footwear generally for home use.
• "under all the circumstances" - what would those circumstances be ? Could it be that her 'toilet' had been interrupted and she had come out to meet her husband in haste and thus unable t get herself 'as she might want to - do you remember how we were told she dressed even at home - the introduction to her in the first Act - look it up again to remind yourself - you could be asked in a reference to context.
• Humour : Paul : "My dear they didn't consult me !"; "But....I missed you greatly."
• What does Catherine's interaction with Paul about the war tell you of her perspective of life ? Isn't this an example of the 'romantic' idea she has of war ? Remember this is an 'anti-romantic comedy' and it is such opinions of war that Shaw wishes to debunk.
• Write a few sentences of what you have learnt of Paul and Catherine from this interaction.