CLASS 12 AATM WKBK PGS 166 TO 168

27 (i) : Sergius is welcoming Captain Bluntschli, a Swiss mercenary who had fought on the Serbian side in the recent war the Bulgarians had fought with the Serbians. Captain Bluntschli had been in the very cannon regiment Sergius cavalry regiment had attacked and defeated. Thereafter, Sergius and Paul Petkoff had met Bluntschli at Pirot after the peace-treaty had been signed between the Bulgarians and the Serbs where they had to negotiate the terms for the exchange of fifty Serbs taken prisoner of war.It was there that though Sergius had fought Bluntschli as an enemy, they had become friends and Bluntschli had told them the story of how he was protected and saved by two Bulgarian women.

(ii) : Pretkoff hopes that the man had come as a friend as Bluntschli had proved to be a cunning opponent and had tricked them into a very uneven exchange at Pirot. Thus Petkoff would like Bluntschli to be on his side and be an advantage to him rather than be someone who would leave him the poorer.
        Earlier, that is, at Pirot, when Bluntschli was working for the Serbians, he had got Sergius and Paul to agree to the exchange of fifty Serbian prisoners "able-bodied men", for two hundred "worn out chargers" who were "not even eatable" and who caused them additional problems as they had to take care getting fodder for them seeing to their movement.movement. Sergius and Paul had realised that they had been "two children in the hands of that consummate soldier".

(iii) : Catherine does not really want Captain Bluntschli to stay for lunch. Just before Sergius and Paul Petkoff had rushed into the garden to meet him, Catherine she had told him that he had to leave the house "at once". Her reason for wanting Bluntschli out of the house at the earliest was that she feared that if Paul (her husband) found out "the secret" - the secret shared by Catherine, Raina and Bluntschli - that Catherine and Raina were the two ladies who had given Bluntschli refuge from their won army when Bluntschli was still the enemy, her husband would never forgive her and Raina's life would "hardly be safe"

(iv) : Sergius and Paul Petkoff needed to find a way to send three regiments back to Philippopolis by another route as there was no forage for them on the Sofia route. They were at their wits end as to how to do so. They were, thus, delighted to have Bluntschli to help them.
          This, their delight to see Bluntschli and their thinking that he is able to help them, and his immediate understanding of the problem - that the "forage was the problem" tells us that he is a knowledgeable and efficient person when it comes to such matters.

(v) : Through the play we have been brought to understand that ability has nothing to do with class or rank. Louka definitely thinks so and has shown by her attitude and discussion with Nicola that she believes  that just because she is a servant that does not make her any less of a person. Sergius has seen that even in the army his leading his country to victory did not bring promotion to him. On the other hand two Cossack generals who had their regiments routed on the most correct principles of scientific warfare were promoted as major-generals - he had thus resigned from the army. Now, Bluntschli is only a captain and Sergius and Paul are of a higher rank than he is but he is far ore efficient than they are in matters of war !.

CLASS XI : AATM WKBK PGS 55 TO 56

5 (i) : When Raina calls herself "a prosaic little coward" she means that she nondescript (insignificant - unimportant) person, who was afraid of faces the challenges of life. She says this about herself because she regrets having not believed in Sergius' heroic nature. She had wondered whether he would really prove he was glorious as he looked when he actually had to prove himself in battle. She had doubted him even when he held her in his arms. She doubted him because she thought that real life was seldom perfect and that people always seemed to fall short of one's expectations.
          Raina is very critical of herself in this statement. Her mother had chided her for her doubting Sergius. Circumstances seem to have proved her so convincingly wrong about Sergius, that she begins to be unduly self-critical. However, this manner does not persist.  It tells us that she is still to gain inner strength to trust her opinions and is till easily swayed.

(ii) : "all true" refers to Sergius and all the promise he seemed to hold. Raina's mother, Catherine, had selected Sergius for marriage to her daughter and had been disappointed that her daughter had not believed how wonderful Sergius was and had made him wait for a year before being betrothed to him. Raina had doubted Sergius even when she had "Buckled on his sword" - meaning when she swooned on seeing him look so smart in his soldier's uniform. She had doubted him even when he had held her in his arms - wondering whether she would be disillusioned or whether Sergius would be a failure. She wondered if he would "cut a poor figure" before the Russians, even though he looked so handsome !
         It became "all true" when Sergius proved that he was really as glorious as he seemed to be. He proved that when he daringly and courageously led his cavalry regiment in an attack on the enemy Serb cannon positions when the Russian officers had decided not to challenge the Serbs because of their superior position. Sergius' surprise charge succeeded. The enemy cannon did not fire and the Serb regiment was routed and the Bulgarians won the battle at Slivnitza. Sergius was the "hero of the hour" and "idol of his regiment".

(iii) : In this extract, Raina says that she feels that Sergius "is just as splendid as he looks !"
         Earlier in the play she had said that even when she had "buckled on Sergius' sword he looked so noble" she thought of "disillusion", "humiliation" and "failure". Even when he was holding her in his arms and looking into her eyes she doubted him - thinking that Life is never as perfect as the romantic poets and operas make it out to be. She doubted whether in a real battle he would disappoint. She wondered if he might "cut a poor figure" compared to the Russian officers.

(iv) : Raina says that the world is a glorious place for women who can see the worlds "glory" and "men who can act its romance". By this she means that the life really becomes perfect if women imagine the ideal and heroic nature of life. When their dream is matched with the chivalry and courage of the men who dare to live up to the romantic ideals - the world truly becomes an ideal place to live in.
         This suggests that Raina and Sergius have committed themselves to the romantic and idealistic notions of life and they have committed to living by those ideals in their lives - in love and war. It reveals that both of them are idealists.

(v) : Raina is feeling so happy because life seems really perfect to her at this moment. The person to whom she is engaged to be married has proved himself to be the very kind of man he portrayed himself to be. She was absolute convened at this moment that she had met the perfect person and all that was left was for her to get married to Sergius and they would live happily forever.
         The "unspeakable fulfillment" Raina speaks of is the feeling which accompany complete satisfaction in life. This satisfaction and joy comes from being totally convinced that the man she is betrothed has proved to her that he is truly the best life partner for her. She is going to enter into a life of total bliss with him.

CLASS XIII AATM WKBK PGS 165 TO 166

26 (i) : Catherine asks Bluntschli to leave her house immediately as she does not want her husband Paul Petkoff, and Sergius to meet him and thus realise that that the two women who had given him refuge were Catherine and Raina and that the house was the one in which he had sought refuge as a fugitive. She also did not want to be found to be an unpatriotic Bulgarian who hid the country's enemies from their soldiers. She also did not want them to know that raina and herself had been so easily swayed by "persuasive traveller's manners."

(ii) : The secret which is not known to Catherine's husband and future son-in-law is that Raina and catherine are the lady and her mother who had given refuge to Captain Bluntschli when he sought refuge in their house after the defeat of the Serbs at the battle at Slvnitza.
         While Catherine tells Bluntschli that there will be terrible consequences for herself and her daughter and their lives would not be safe if her husband found out the secret. However, Catherine feels that they will be found out to be unpatriotic Bulgarians and Sergius would realise that Raina was not faithful to him and their engagement could be in jeopardy.

(iii) : Catherine calls Bluntschli a foreigner because he is a foreigner - he is a Swiss national.
         Catherine is talking about the national animosity between the Bulgarians and the Serbians. She had expressed this earlier in the play when she was disgusted that 'peace' had been declared with the Serbs. She had wanted Serbia to be annexed to Bulgaria and Prince Alexander made Emperor of the Balkans.

(iv) : Catherine says that "they" - meaning the members of her family, especially her husband and her future son-in-law. She is really creating an excuse for her to get rid of Bluntschli from her home. She does not realise how well her husband and Sergius have got to know Bluntschli and thus attempts to portray them as being still very angry with the Serbs and with aggressive feelings against them, and those, like Bluntschli, who had been part of the Serbian war effort.

(v) : Catherine is talking about the peace treaty which had been signed between the Bulgarians and Serbs about three days previously at Bucharest - the peace-treaty Paul and told her of.
        According to Catherine the effect of the peace-treaty on her husband was that it had left him frustrated - "like a lion baulked of his prey" ! She meant to say that her husband was still very incensed against the Serbs and a small excuse would be sufficient for him to pick a quarrel or fight with one of them.

CLASS XII AATM WKBK PGS 159 TO 161

23 (i) : Sergius had just prior to this quotation, said some very hurtful things to Louka. He had called her "an abominable clod of common clay, with the soul of a servant". This remark had deeply offended Louka. Sergius had also gripped Louka tightly above her elbows with both his hands after she had told him that Raina would marry the enemy soldier whom she had given refuge if he ever came back. She had also told him that he knew that the love Sergius and Raina expressed to each other was false.He had coninued holdaing her tightly and hurting her in spite of her struggling to be set free.

(ii) : Louka means to say that a sophisticated lady might accept a show of gentlemanly behaviour such as Sergius has just acted - removing his shako in respect to her, and with "profound humility" in his voice expressing his regret at his ungentlemanly behaviour and requesting her forgiveness.
        Louka is cleverly using the same taunt that Sergius had used to her when he stressed her position as a servant in the conversation which preceded this extract to try and draw from him a more tangible expression of sorrow than mere words. She would need a demonstration in action of his true repentance.

(iii) : By offering Louka money Sergius shows that he is so engrossed in himself that he is still quite blind to Louka's genuine love and affection for him. His giving money also shows that he doesn't really understand that he no money can be a sufficient price for physically abusing a woman.

(iv) : Louka refuses the money because she was offended that anyone, much less Sergius, whom she loves, would think that money be a token of regret for ungentlemanly behaviour. Louka also wished that Sergius show her a token of his affection and that she meant more to him as a person - which would be more valuable to her than money.
         In not accepting the money Louka shows a certain nobility in her character - that she cannot be cheaply bribed. It shows that she has true sense of self worth and dignity.

(v) : Later in the play, Sergius notices that Louka has rolled up her left sleeve to her shoulder and fixed it with a broach and a bracelet covers the part of the arm which had been bruised by Sergius. Segius turns up the bracelet and sees the bruise and asks if he could "cure it" and tries to take he in his arms, but Louka proudly refuses him.
        However, towards the end of the play, Sergius does, on bended knee, ask Louka to forgive him. Louka does accept his forgiveness and she offers him her hand which he kisses.

CLASS 12 AATM WKBK PGS 163 TO 165

25 (i) : Catherine had asked Raina a question concerning 'The Man' - the Swiss mercenary in the Serbian army who had sought and been given refuge in Raina's room and whose presence in their home had not been revealed to the Bulgarian soldiers or their Russian officers - and whom we now know to be Captain Bluntschli. She had wanted to know when exactly 'The Man' had climbed up to Raina's room. She questioned Raina as to whether 'The Man' had climbed up after the soldiers had gone or whether he was there even when the Russian soldier had searched Raina's room.
            Raina was hesitant in giving a definite answer. She conveyed that she was not so sure of the exact time. She said that she though that the "he must have been there then" - a very vague answer. Raina had probably initially lied to her mother telling he that the man had entered her room on;y after the Russian soldier had left.

(ii) : According to Catherine "it will all be over" between Raina and Sergius if Sergius was to come to know that Raina had given refuge to an enemy soldier and had not revealed his presence to the Bulgarian soldier and Russian officer even when Serbia was at war with Bulgaria. She means to say that Sergius would call off the engagement with Raina if he found out that Raina was so unpatriotic  to her country.

(iii) : Raina calls Sergius her mother's pet as Catherine really does seem very taken up with Sergius. It was she who had chosen him as a future partner for her daughter. She it was who had admonished Raina for keeping Sergius waiting for a whole year before she agreed to be betrothed to him. Catherine seemed so thrilled when Sergius returned from the war - she called him "My dear Sergius" and welcomed him with open arms. It was Catherine who seemed very keen that Sergius and Raina spend time with each other and strengthen their relationship. It really seemed that Catheine was very keen to have Sergius as her son-in-law.

(iv) : Raina says that her mother should marry Sergius rather than she as she was very annoyed with Catherine for pushing her relationship with Sergius so strongly especially at the time when she was confused and undecided about her realtionships - to Sergius and to Bluntschli.

(v) : According to Raina, her mother would "pet" Sergius and "spoil him, and mother him to perfection". Raina means that Catherine could not help herself pleasing Sergius and her adoration of him would only have the effect of encouraging Sergius to try to meet Catherine's expectations and reach the "heroic ideas" Raina and Catherine had spoken of in Act 1.

(vi) : Raina says that she doesn't "care" if Sergius finds out about the chocolate cream soldier or not and that she "half hopes" that he finds out about him because she is gradually coming to the realisation that she is truly in love with him in a more real way than she is with Sergius. Sergius finding out about her relationship with Bluntschli would help resolve her dilemma regarding her love.
         Raina says that she always feels a longing to do or say something dreadful to Sergius - to shock his propriety - to scandalise the five senses out of Sergius ! What she means to say that she finds that Sergius is so perfect that his perfection is getting to her and that she would like to know the real and true, human Sergius.

CLASS XI AATM WKBK PGS 53 TO 54

4 (i) : Raina is speaking these lines to Catherine, her mother, one night in November 1885 in the bedroom of their home located in a small town near the Draogman pass in Bulgaria, after her mother had informed her of the news of the "great battle" and victory at Slivnitza.
           'we" refers to Catherine and Raina, who hold to the romantic ideals - "heroic ideas" as Raina calls them.

(ii) : Byron (George Gordon, Lord Byron) was the English Romantic poet and Pushkin (Alexandr) is the Russian romantic poet.
        Since both were romantic poets, through reading them, Raina believes that they had been imbued with the romantic notions - the "heroic ideas" expounded by the romantic creed. These ideas glorify ideal behaviour in love and war. Thus, Sergius daring cavalry charge on a regiment of cannon was seen by them as heroic while others (realists and pragmatists) saw it as an act of sheer madness.

(iii) : We do not know the name of the particular 'opera' (musical theatrical performance) which Catherine and Raina had gone to see in Bucharest. However, later, Raina refers to the opera of Ernani which also extols such heroic ideas as such having the responsibility of giving safety even to one's enemies who seeks refuge with him.
         In the opera Ernani fleeing from his enemies, takes refuge in the castle of "his bitterest enemy" and old Castilian noble. The nobleman protects him from those he is fleeing from. to that Castilian nobleman "His guest is sacred to him." Thus, later in the play, Raina and Catherine give refuge to a fleeing soldier of the Serbian army to sought refuge in Raina's room, did not disclose that soldier's presence to their own Bulgarian soldiers (and the Russian officer who accompanied them) when they came in search of him and disguised him and sent him away.

(iv) : (a) : "real life is so seldom like that" - means that what is in poetry and opera are works of dream and imagination - created to help us renew our faith in human nature and life - and the reality of life is far removed (very different) from those ideals.
         (b) : "cut a poor figure there" - means present oneself in a very disrespectful manner. What Raina is referring to is that she doubted that Sergius would really be so noble and heroic in battle and that he would be despised by the others in the army for his inabilities.

(v) : Raina's fears that Sergius heroism and soldiership - referring to the time when she "buckled on Sergius' sword" - meaning she swooned when she dressed in all his soldierly uniform and looked so smart and handsome. She wondered whether he would really be so glorious when he fought in battle.
        She has these fears particularly about Sergius, but she believes that reality is far removed from such heroism and soldiership.

CLASS XII AATM WKBK PGS 161 TO 163

24 (i) : 'That Swiss' whom Catherine is referring to in the extract is the Swiss referred to by Sergius and Paul when they were comparing service in the army to a trade. Sergius asked Paul to remember that "bagman of a captain that settled the exchange of prisoners with us at Pirot". Paul remembers him as that "Swiss fellow" who "over-reached us about the horses". They go further to tell Catherine and Raina that that Swiss was a mercenary in the Serbian army; the only Swiss they had come across in the war; a man who had been given refuge from the Bulgarian soldiers by two Bulgarian women in whose home he had taken refuge. Both the women had been "taken in" by his "commercial traveller's manners" and had disguised him and sent him away in the coat of the master of the house.

(ii) : Catherine is talking about the story of the Swiss person told by Sergius to the Catherine and Raina who had proved that he was a "commercial traveller in uniform" by "overreaching Paul and himself in the deal following the peace treaty at Pirot. That Swiss had told them of how he was in the very regiment that Sergius had routed that he had run away like the others in that Serb regiment. To escape the pursuing Bulgarian soldiers he had climbed a water pipe of a house and got into the bedroom of a young Bulgarian lady. The lady was "enchanted" with him and had been "entertained" by him for an hour or so. She had then informed her mother who was "equally fascinated" by the Swiss. He was disguised in the coat of the "master of the house" who was at the war.
          Catherine had heard the story from Sergius.

(iii) : Raina's father had asked for his "old coat" in which he used to feel very much "at home" - the same coat which the two ladies in Sergius' story had had their Swiss fugitive disguised in.
          The "Swiss" fugitive - the mercenary to the Serbian army, who had sought and been given refuge from Raina - 'The Man', 'the chocolate cream soldier', 'the poor darling' had been sent away in that coat.

(iv) : 'the little beast' that Raina is talking about is the very same "Swiss' who had been given refuge by Raina, whom Raina had given her last chocolate creams to and whom she had saved.
          Raina calls him 'the little beast' as she is annoyed with him at having broadcast the story of his escape from Bulgarian soldiers after his defeat at Slivnitza. The phrase expresses some annoyance but also some affection.

(v) : Raina says that she will fill the beast's mouth with chocolate creams - referring to the chocolate creams he had ravenously stuffed his mouth with because he was so famished when he had sought refuge in Raina's room. Those were the last of Raina's chocolate creams at that time. At this moment of time she wishes she had more of those chocolate creams so that he would fill his moth with them rather than betraying her care for him and revealing their secret of his refuge to everyone.
        It reveals that though Raina may be a bit upset with the man because the story of his seeking refuge in her room had been shared with precisely the persons she least wanted to hear it, she has affection for him - almost the affection one would have for a naughty child.

(vi) : 'The man' - the Swiss mercenary fighting with the Serbian army - in the very same regiment that Sergius had defeated, had sought refuge in Raina's room from the pursuing Bulgarian soldiers who wanted his life. According to Sergius account of the event he had stayed for an hour or so. Raina had told her mother about it after 'The man' had told her that it would be better to inform her mother of his presence as it would be very awkward if he were found in her room. Sergius' account agrees with what we saw and heard in Act 1.
         Yes, she did tell her mother about it. However, in the passage following this quotation we realise that Raina probably told her mother that the man had climbed into her room after the Russian officer had searched her room. Actually, the man had hidden in her room behind the curtain and rain had protected him from discovery.

CLASS XII AATM WKBK PGS 157 TO 159

22 (i) : Louka has stained Sergius' honour, according to Sergius himself, by making him "party to" Louka's "eavesdropping". Louka has just told Sergius that though she did not see 'The Man' - the enemy soldier who was given refuge by Raina in her room, she had heard his voice. She also "knows" either from the conversation she heard through the door or from noticing how that enemy soldier was treated by Raina and Catherine that if he cam back again "Miss Raina will marry him, whether he likes it or not." Sergius is deeply hurt when he hears of this and tries to blame Louka though she is only the person informing him of the situation.

(ii) : By calling Louka "an abominable clod of common clay" Sergius is trying to hurt Louka as deeply as he can by referring to the background from which she comes - she has a simple peasant's background and Sergius shows his disrespect and disgust at the lower classes of people by calling them "abominable" meaning a group which repulses him - whom he finds offensive; by "clod" he means an unintelligent lump of earth - referring to his prejudiced belief that such people have no thinking ability; he continues to emphasise these sentiments by the words "common clay" referring to the ordinary and mundane quality character of people from Louka's background.

(iii) : Sergius says that Louka has the soul of a servant to emphasise his disgust for her. But using this phrase "soul of a servant" Sergius means to emphasise that Louka does not have the personality, intelligence, class or abilities to rise above her status and her true and only role role in life will be that of a servant.
          Louka had told Nicola, earlier in the play - at the commencement of Act 2 that he had the soul of a servant - referring to Nicola's obsequious attitude to the Petkoff's compared to her defiant attitude.

(iv) : Sergius has hurt Louka with his tongue by calling her "an abominable clod of common clay, with the soul of a servant" in thus saying so, Sergius had really hurt Louka where her feelings would be hurt at their very deepest as she has been seen aspiring to raise her status - to relate to the Petkoff's as her equals - and she als aspires to marry Sergius if that could possibly occur. Sergius has snubbed her, it seems.
         Sergius had hurt Louka with his hands when he had gripped her above the elbows with both his hands, holding her tightly in spite of her efforts to writhe free and thus hurting her.

(v) : Louka means to tell Sergius that knowing that he is a flirt and dishonest to his lady-love and that Sergius himself has admitted that he is a "humbug", "buffoon", "blackguard" and a "coward", and that he has shown that he cannot respect a lady by physically hurting her - that he does not really belong to a nobler group of people that he seems by family, wealth and social status to have been born into. If Sergius thinks that she is "an abominable clod of common clay", she thinks the same of him.

(vi) : Louka calls Raina a liar and a cheat for claiming that she loves Sergius and pretending to show him the "higher love", when in reality her affections have been transferred to the enemy soldier who had been given refuge in her room.
        When Louka says that she is worth six of Raina, Louka expresses her sense of her self worth - from the beginning of the play she has shown a "disdain" to the Petkoff's who put on airs just because they have wealth and status in society. Louka feels that true worth comes from the qualities one has and one's personality and thus she will not let her job as a servant lower her sense of self-worth as a human being. She feels that she is better than Raina who in her eyes is a pampered daughter of two very privileged people.

CLASS XI AATM WKBK PGS 51 TO 53

3 (i) : When Raina speaks about "our ideas" she is referring to the romantic notions (ideals) that she and her mother, Catherine Petkoff, the ideal person she should get married to - Sergius Saranoff -  and how that person should behave in love and war. She specifies that 'patriotism" - love for one's country and "heroic ideals" - bravery, daring, chivalry - are some of those ideas.
           Raina has those ideas about Sergius Saranoff - the man she is betrothed to be married to. She believes, probably on the suggestion of her mother, that any man who would consider to be married to her should match those ideas.

(ii) : Rains refers to the romantic ideas she and her mother had for any man who would be considered an eligible match for her in marriage - at this time these ideas refer specifically to Sergius Saranoff - the person she is betrothed to.
        Raina has doubts about them because something within her tells her that such ideas are too perfect - like "dreams" - that in reality people fall short of those ideals and fail to meet those expectations. She tells her mother that she wondered whether their (her mother's and her) minds were so full of those romantic ideas because they were continually reading the works of the romantic poets Byron and Pushkin and because they were watching patriotic Bulgarian operas at Bucharest.

(iii) : Raina says that girls are "faithless little creatures" because like her, at this age they doubt whether the persons who seem so perfect, whom they have fallen in love with and to whom they wish to be married to, will really be the ideal persons they seem to be and wther they will be let down after they have committed themselves.
        Yes, she is referring to herself and all other girls of marriageable age like her.
        This reveals that while she seems to be a romantic and idealistic person, there is an inner voice which tells her that in true life people are fallible and do not live up to romantic ideals - thus she is a very practical person at heart.

(iv) : Sergius appears so noble to Raina when he poses for a portrait or is dressed in all his military regalia (uniform and decorations). Thus she "buckled on Sergius sword" - she got weak-knead and swooned when Sergius had dressed up formally as a military officer. He also seems so noble when he is holding her in his arms, in love.
         Sergius appears so noble at such a time as the military uniform is meant to make the soldier look brilliant and heroic. In addition, when a girl is held lovingly by the man she loves, he also seems so noble.

(v) : Raina considers it treasonous (treachery - disloyalty - betrayal) for her to have doubted the heroic nature of Sergius, to doubt that he would not live up to ideals his outward appearance portrayed him.
       After hearing how he led his country to victory and how he became the "Hero of the horu and the idol of the regiment" she felt ashamed that she had doubted him.

CLASS 12 AATM WKBK PGS 155 TO 157

21 (i) : Sergius wants to know who is rival is for Raina's affections and possibly for marriage to her. Louka had told him shortly before that as he was "making love to me behind Miss Raina's back", "she (Raina) doing the same behind yours". Louka does not satisfy Sergius's curiosity so soon and replies that she will not give him the answer "for love or money". Sergius also wants to know why Louka will keep that information away from him.
            Sergius wants to know who his rival for Raina is because he had been thinking thus far that his betrothal to Raina was absolutely secure. Her acting out of "higher love" to him seemed to assure him that she was totally in love with him. His hearing that someone else had been given her favours, makes him jealous.

(ii) : Louka would lose her job at the Petkoff household as she was a maid i the house. Nicola had told her at the beginning of Act 2 that if she betrayed family confidences she would be "discharge(ed) for untruthfulness. He had told her that in order to be kept in service she needed to be depended upon "to hold your tongue", i.e. to keep family secrets and thus to be faithful to the family. Telling Sergius about the "midnight adventure" which took place in Raina's room would be betraying confidences and would be punsihed with dismissal.

(iii) : Louka tells Sergius not to press her to tell him why she would not reveal who his rival for Raina's love is. However, she does give two reasons why she would not tell him. The reasons are firstly, because Sergius would reveal what she told him. If Sergius would reveal that information it might jeopardise Raina's and thus the Petkoff family's happiness - something she did not want to happen. Secondly she tells him that not only would the Petkoff family suffer, they would make her pay for revealing the secrets of family and she would be dismissed from service - "lose my place" among the Petkoff's servants.

(iv) : Louka knows the man though she has not seen him because firstly she had noticed the revolver lying on the ottoman when the Russian officer had come to check Raina's room for the fugitive Serb soldier who had been seen climbing up to Raina's room. Knowing the persons in whose home she was serving she could understand while Raina had stood before the curtain which hid the person Raina was hiding - it would have seemed that Raina was placing herself between the fugitive and the Russian officer. She could guess that if Raina was willing to be unpatriotic and save a fugitive enemy Serb from the soldiers of her own country and their country's allies, the person would have meant a lot to her. Louka would have also known that Catherine and Raina had disguised 'The man' in Paul Petkoff's coat. She would have known this because she was also an eavesdropper (listening in to others conversation) and she was in the habit of spying on the others in the house.
         Thus, the characteristic trait of Louka revealed in this is that Louka is very inquisitive. From her conversation with Nicola we understand that she has made it a [point to now more than is her business as she would like to get her own advantage out of working for the Petkoff family. Nicola has noticed an unacceptable attitude in her service and had been talking to her about it.

(v) : Louka tells Sergius that though she did not see him, she heard his voice. She had also mentioned that "if the gentleman ever comes here again, Miss Raina will marry him, whether he likes it or not." She seemingly cannot tell him much. She does know more than what she tells him at this moment of time.

CLASS XI AATM WKBK PGS 50 TO 51

 Please follow the instructions given on my previous post, instructing you how to answer 'Reference to context' questions.

Please also make sur e that you have read through the text which has been covered with you in class.

2 (i) : 'He' refers to Sergius Saranoff who was a Major in the Bulgarian army. He is betrothed to Raina. He is presently fighting in a war against the Serbians and their allies the Austrians.
          Sergius defies the Russian commanders because of many reasons : maybe, full og Bulgarian patriotism, he considered that he, as a Bulgarian, didn't need to take orders from foreigners in their war - maybe he resented the foreign Russians holding the top officer positions in the Bulgariand army; he probably also felt that the Russian officers were too cautious and would thus never give the okay for such a daring attack on the Serbian positions; and maybe too, in a rush of passion, Sergius didn't even care to think of asking for permission from the Russian officers - he saw an oppotunity - and decided impulsively to forge into battle.
         Later in the play we hear that Sergius resigns from the army as hsi action was not appreciated and he wasn't given the promotions he had hoped would come his way in acknowledgement of his heroism that brought victory to the Bulgarians.

(ii) : Seeing the Serbian cannon regiment before him, Sergius, without seeking the permission of the Russian officers led his cavalry regiment in attack against that cannon defense of the enemy. Segius led the charge himself, he was the first to cross the enemy lines and he defeated the Serbs in the battle at Slivnitza.
        The result of the attack was that the defeated Serbs and their officers were either killed or fled. The Bulgarians won the battle at Slivnitza. However, Sergius was criticised rather than acclaimed for his action as it was perceived as a suicidal mission.

(iii) : (a) : thundering down like and avalanche - the Bulgarian cavalry attack led by Sergius on the Serbians is compared to an avalanche, rushing noisily down and destroying and crushing the enemy as would an avalanche (a large land or snow slide) down a hill and clear and destroy all which came into in its path
          (b) : dandified Austrian officers like chaff : the Serb allies - the Austrians - who held positions on leadership in the Serbian army are described as "dandified" - as persons who place exaggerated importance on their appearance - probably referring to how the Austrians dressed themselves.
                  the manner in which the Serbs and their officers were scattered is compared to chaff (husks of grain) which being so light (as the enemy Serbs were no serious opponents of the Bulgarians) were driven away as chaff would be blown away by the wind.

CLASS XII AATM WKBK PGS 153 TO 155

20 (i) : The question which is tormenting Sergius is who is true self really is. Sergius has been living a false life projecting the romantic image of who he thinks he should be - "the hero of Slivnitza" and the "apostle of higher love". But he also finds himself acting in manners which makes him ashamed of himself - thus he says that sometimes he acts like "a buffoon....humbug......blackguard......coward". The question expresses a yearning within him to be his true, authentic self.

(ii) : Sergius feels that he has six facets as he finds himself behaving in such different ways. At Slivnitza, he followed the ideal of what he thought would be the actions of a patriotic and courageous Bulgarian soldier and led his cavalry charge against Serbian cannon and remarkably came out victorious and the "hero" of the nation. He acts out the ideal of "higher love" abd raina seems swept off her feet in love with him and calls him her "Lord" and "King" and feels that he is the "apostle" of higher love. In this manner, he seems to be behave in as many different ways as  the occasion present itself to him.

(iii) : Sergius was the "hero" of the nation when he acted with courage and daring, risking his life for his nation be leading his cavalry regiment against the Serbian cannon. His daring action won the Bulgarians the battle and he was the "hero of the hour". On the other hand, behind his "lady-love's" back he is dishonest in love to her and flirts with Louka - this dishonesty proves that he is a "humbug" - he is a hypocrite - he is insincere.

(iv) : Sergius is jealous that Raina was in love with someone else. Louka has told him that "you making love to me behind Miss Raina's back; and she doing the same behind yours". He is so jealous that immediately after this passage Sergius demands from Louka "Who is my rival ?" Sergius is thus jealous of the competitor he has for Raina's hand in marriage.

(v) : This extract tells me that Sergius is firstly very honest about who he is. He faces himself squarely and is honest with the "seamy side" of who he is - "the humbug.....buffoon......blackguard.......coward". However, he could also be considered as a very dishonest person who cannot be trusted to live according to his ideals and who succumbs to less honourable ways of behaviour whenever the situation desires it - thus Louka tells him that she would not trust him and would keep a good watch on him and his behaviour - even eavesdropping on him. Sergius seems a person given to extremes of behaviour - swinging from the apostle" and "hero" to the "buffoon", "coward", humbug" and blackguard".

(vi) : Sergius puts himself to such a process of self examination as he is drawn to face up to who he is. Louka is the main agent at this time in the play who pushes him to this stage of self-realisation - challenging his behaviour - "have you no common sense", "its so hard to know what a gentleman considers right. I thought from your trying to kiss me that you had given up being so particular". In addition, if Raina is "making love" to someone else, he is probably asking himself why she is not as enamoured, as she makes out to be, with him.

Class XI AATM WKBK pgs 48 - 49

The Reference to Context questions are a compulsory part of the ISC Literature paper. You will need to answer 2 reference to context questions out of 3 in Question 1 of the Literature paper.

How do you proceed to answer a Reference to context question ?

1. read the quotation carefully and in your mind lace the quotation in its context in the text. Ask yourself where it is located in the play; what goes before and after; why is the quotation of significance in the play.
2. Read all the questions given before beginning to answer - your answers should place the whole quotation in its proper context in a very comprehensive manner.
3. Begin answering the questions - trying to give a full answer , while at the same time, answering to the point and being as brief as possible (without compromising on the quality of the answer).

1 (i) : A "reverie" is a daydream. Raina had been outside on the balcony admiring the "romantic beauty" of the night - "wonderfully white and beautiful in the starlit snow". The dramatist has also told us besides being "intensively conscious of the romantic beauty of the night", as has been described, Raina is also "intensively conscious ... of the fact that her own youth and beauty are part of it". Thus, Raina is dreaming as much of the "snowy Balkans" as of her own youth and beauty which seem to match the beauty she sees.

(ii) : Catherine Petkoff is Raina Petkoff's mother. Catherine is the wife of major Paul Petkoff is out fighting the Serbs. In this extract that we are told that Catherine is middle aged ("over forty"); she is "imperiously energetic" - overbearingly pushy; she has wonderful black hair and eyes. The dramatist gives her a back-handed compliment by saying that she could pass very well as the "wife of a mountain farmer", however, we are also told that Catherine is ambitious and wants to move up in the world and thus aspires to be very cultured and sophisticated "Viennese lady" and thus dresses appropriately (in a "fashionable tea gown") even when at home.

(iii): It is said that Catherine "might be a splendid specimen of the wife of a mountain farmer" as the dramatist wishes to show that though Catherine's background has been very rural and unsophisticated, she belongs to the upwardly mobile class and has aspirations to be seen to be more cultured and sophisticated.

(iv) : Catherine wears "a fashionable tea gown" on all occasions because she is very consciously making an effort to be taken for a cultured and sophisticated Viennese lady and thus does not wish her guard to drop at any moment and for others to see her for who she truly is.
          This suggests that Catherine is am ambitious lady with aspirations to enter in social circles which are higher than she probably presently enjoys. To that end we may also say that she is prejudiced against the lower classes in society or people from more simple backgrounds. She also may consider outward appearances to be more significant that who one truly is.

(v) : The battle at Slivnitza was fought between the Bulgarians and their allies, the Russians against the Serbians and their allies - the Austrians. Fighting in the war were also mercenaries from other countries like Switzerland.
        The Bulgarians and their allies won the battle at Slivnitza.
        Sergius took the leading role in the battle. He led the Bulgarians to victory and he led the attach which bought the Bulgarians to victory. In so leading the attack against the enemy, Sergius had taken matters into his own hands - had "acted without orders" and in so doing "defied" the Russian officers who led the Bulgarian army.

CLASS 12 AATM WKBK PGS 151 TO 153

19 (i) : The word "irony" in this context means that what is said is "incongruous" - i.e not agreeable. It is Sergius, himself who began speaking to Louka about the relationship he was having with Rain - speaking about "higher love". It is also surprising that Sergius should speak about what is "gentlemanly" as he is being acting, by flirting with Louka, inappropriately with his public declaration of being betrothed to her.

(ii) : Louka says That "it is hard to know what a gentleman considers right", because if Sergius is to be considered a 'gentleman', his behaviour with her - flirting with her behind the back of his "lad-love" is definitely not gentlemanly. Louka is straightforward with Sergius and tells him to his face "I thought from your trying to kiss me that you had given up being so particular."

(iii) : Louka thinks that Sergius had "given up being so particular" because if he had thought that being gentlemanly was so important and if he was so meticulous about behaving like a gentleman, he would not not have been dishonest in his relationship with Raina, his "lady-love" and would have not discussed his relationship with Raina with Louka, nor would he have been flirting with Louka - slipping his arm around her waist, trying to kiss her or asking her if she considered him handsome.

(iv) : Sergius calls Louka a devil as if accusing her of leading him into temptation (the work of the devil). In so doing, Sergius puts the entire blame for his dishonourable behaviour with Louka. On the other hand, I believe, that Sergius is as much accusing himself of being a "devil" - as he realises all the evil (dishonesty) within him.

(v) : By saying "six of you" Louka is referring to the description Sergius had given of himself, at first very arrogantly - calling himself the "hero of Slivnitza", "the apostle of higher love" and Sergius himself notes "the half dozen Sergiuses who keep popping in and out of this handsome figure of mine". Louka, however, is not so deceived about his personality as Sergius is. She is realistic. She refers to the more negative aspects of his personality - aspects which she leads Sergius to recognising in himself.

(vi) : Louka says that "one of the six of you is very like me". She does not specify which one of the characteristics of Sergius she is referring to. However, since Sergius has just called her a "Devil" she probably means to tell Sergius that the devilish characteristic he sees in her is very much in him - he has been leading her to be dishonest with his mistress (Raina) by flirting with him. In this exchange we realise that Louka is bold and absolutely honest. She does not deny that part of herself which is attracted to Sergius. However she is forthright and thus forces Sergius to see the truth of who he is.

CLASS 12 AATM WKBK PGS 149 TO 151

18 (i) : Just before this extract Louka had said that she might have been seen from the windows responding to Sergius flirtation. She had also added that "Miss Raina is sure to be spying about after you." Sergius at this time is caught between his infatuation of Raina and his being betrothed to her and by the time he likes spending with Louka, flirting with her. Sergius is offended that Louka has spoken poorly of Raina - saying that she is always spying on him - insinuating that Raina does not trust Sergius.

(ii) : Sergius has said that he has betrayed higher love by being disloyal to Raina and flirting with Louka - he has held her and asked her if she found him handsome. In so doing he has not been true to higher love where the partners are fiercely loyal and faithful to each other. In addition Sergius has also noted that higher love is a "very fatiguing thing to keep up for any length of time."

(iii) : Segius feels that Louka is insulting higher love by casting aspersions on Raina's love for Sergius- buy mentioning that Raina is surely spying on Sergius she is suggested that the love between Sergius and Raina is not the romantic ideal, That Raina doubts Sergius' faithfulness and that Raina needs to keep a watch on her betrothed.

(iv) : Louka knows how to draw the attention of the man she loves, even when he seems to be upset with her. Sergius has just spoken sternly to Louka about speaking disrespectfully about Raina. He warned her not to insult the "higher love" which Raina and himself exchanged. In response, Louka acts very submissively and "demurely" asks whether she may go on with her work - questioning whether he ended his flirting with her. This behaviour of Louka only attracts Sergius to her all the more. Thus Louka shows that she is quite an expert in the art of courtship.

(v) : Louka describes Sergius as man of six different personalities because Segius himself had previously remarked gloatingly that he is "surprised" at the versatile nature he has - he is the "hero of Slivnitza"; "the apostle of higher love" and "half dozen Sergiuses who keep popping in and out of this handsome figure of mine". However, later, when Louka draws his attention to the not so positive aspects of his personality he adds some other facets such as "buffoon", "humbug", "blackguard" and "coward".

(vi) : Louka helps Sergius to reveal his true nature by constantly challenging his false, put-on behaviour - challenging his behaviour with her honest and authenticity e.g. in this extract, she, in a very straightforward manner tells him that if she were in love with him she would definitely keep an eye on him and spy on him since he could not be trusted as in each circumstance he revealed a different part of his character. Thus she tells him very clearly that she would not trust him. Such actions like this force Sergius to introspect and come to terms with his true self.

CLASS XII AATM WK BK PGS 147 TO 149

17 (i) : Just before this extract Sergius had told Louka that he found the enactment of "higher love" a "very fatiguing thing to keep up for any length of time". He also mentioned that he felt the need "of some relief after it". By saying that Sergius was suggesting a a spell of flirtation with Louka. Louka does not seem averse to going on with Sergius' flirtatious advances.

(ii) : Sergius says that he is surprised at himself because he perceives that he is a combination of different personalities, behaving differently in different circumstances and he seems confused at his own behaviour.

(iii) : Sergius says that the "hero of Slivnitza" would be surprised at Sergius' flirtatious behaviour. He had acted very selflessly by putting his life on the line at Slivnitza and now he is acting in a dishonourable way be flirting with Louka behind the back of Raina, to whom he has professed love.

(iv) : Sergius calls himself the "apostle of higher love" because he considers himself the expert in its practice. His lady-love Raina, seems to worship him her "hero", :king" and "lord" for acting out this "higher love" - so he probably believes that he is an expert in its perfection, such an expert to be an advocate of the same, someone who should be imitated for the same and someone who should be associated with the perfection of the enactment of the same as would an 'apostle' in religious matters.

(v) : That Sergius has realised that within there are various levels of motives, reveals, firstly, that he is a fairly self-aware person. It also reveals that he is an introspective person as he seems to be in touch with the less complementary aspects of himself. On the other hand we can accuse Sergius of being a person who plays false - changing his behaviour whenever the situation changes - and thus not a man of character. However, I feel that the latter judgement would be too severe.

(vi) : While Bluntschli ('The Man') has shown himself, thus far, to be a very matter-of-fact and straightforward person with no intention of romanticizing life - rather he speaks of life as it is , for e.g. he speaks of older soldiers carrying chocolate to war rather tha ammunition; of being unwilling to risk their lives in battle for their country. In addition, he makes no pretenses about himself. He expresses his fear of climbing down a pipe and his sensitive nature if scolded. Sergius, on the other hand, tries to live up to the romantic ideals of this world. He has tried to do so in battle and he does so in love. However, we know that he is rudely disillusioned with the reeaction to his heroism in war and later in the play we will find that he loses his lady love Raina to Bluntschli - so much for his acting out of "higher love".

CLASS XII AATM WKBK PGS 145 TO 147

16. (i) : Earlier in the play Raina had doubted whether Sergius could, on the field of battle, actually live up to the wonderful image of a soldier he presented - as when she "buckled on Sergius' sword he looked so noble". She shares this doubt with her mother, Catherine. She wondered "whether all his qualities and soldiership might not prove mere imagination when he went into a real battle." She "had an uneasy fear that he might cut a poor figure" in comparison with the Russian officers who led the Bulgarian army.

(ii) : She now calls him her "hero" and "king" because he had indeed proved that he was as good if not better than the wonderful figure he presented. He had courageously taken matters into his own hands, throwing the caution of his Russian superiors to the wind, and made a daring charge with his cavalry regiment against enemy cannon positions and had made the impossible possible and had gained victory over the Serbs at the battle of Slivnitza. In so doing he had proved himself even better than all the Russian army commanders.

(iii) : Raina rather than comparing herself contrasts herself with Sergius in this extract. While Sergius has been "active", she has been "inactive", "dreaming", "useless" doing nothing". She means to say that Sergius had done deeds which proved himself, while she had nothing to prove to him what qualities she had. in envying him, she states that she would have hoped to have had an opportunity where here true nature could be proved to him.

(iv) : Sergius praises and admires Raina by giving her the credit for being his inspiration in doing what he had done (his valiant action in the battle at Slivnitza - leading the Bulgarians to victory over the Serbs). He states that he has done all that he did for her sake - to win her over - like a knight competing in a tournament with other contestants proving and winning over the admiration of his lady love. He says that she has always been in his mind as his inspiration. He says that she is not only his lady but she is his 'Saint' - the one passing on her blessings to him and ensuring his good fortune.

(v) : The irony in the statement is that Raina did forget her love and affection for Sergius or at least acted if he and his concerns did not affect her,  and that she was engaged to be married to him when she entertained and protected the very enemy Sergius risked his life to defeat.

(vi) : Shaw has satirised "higher love" in the plays being an artificial kind of love based on the romance stories of the middle ages - stories which romanticized love and whose behaviour became the codes for love acted out in courtship. Shortly after this scene, however, Sergius admits that the acting of this higher love is a "very fatiguing thing to keep up for any length of time' and he notes that after the stress of the pretense "one feels the need of some relief after it". Shaw, speaking through the down to earth Louka notes "I know the difference between the sort of manner you and she put on before one another ad the real manner."

CLASS XII AATM WKBK PGS 143 TO 145

15 (i) : Raina says that the camp life has made Sergius coarse, because Sergius has just told them of an incident of two Bulgarian ladies who unpatriotically hid an enemy soldier. Sergius had told them that the two ladies "were enchanted by his persuasive ... manners" and then had protected him by disguising him in the coat of the master of the house, thus saving him from being caught by their own soldiers. The two women had thus worked against their own nation in a time of war. Raina and Catherine pretend that they are highly offended to hear such a story of such unpatriotic behaviour. She goes on to presume that Sergius refined manners had deteriorated as a result of his sharing the military camp life with rough soldiers who did not care for the feelings of genteel women who are easily and very offended by such stories.

(ii) : Raina is talking about the story Sergius had just told them about  swiss mercenary who had been fighting for the Serbs who had been in the very regiment that Sergius had attacked and whose defeat had marked the victory of the Bulgarian in the battle at Slivnitza. The man had fled after the defeat and to escape the closely pursuing Bulgaria soldiers had climbed up a waterpipe and sought refuge in the room of a young Bulgarian lady. Rather than handing the soldier up, the lady had protected the man having been taken up by his "persuasive...manners". The lady's mother who was informed of the soldiers presence after about an hour had also been taken up the man and had colluded with her daughter in hiding him from their soldiers and had disguised him in the coat of the master of the house and set the man free.

(iii) : Catherine is referring to the women in Sergius' story who had had been unpatriotic and had committed treason be hiding and protecting an enemy soldier from their own forces during the time of war. Catherine says that they should "be spared knowledge of them" as she wishes to give the opinion that she is revolted by such weak, unpatriotic and treasonable behaviour.

(iv) : Raina and Catherine show their offence at the story told by Sergius because they do not want Sergius and Paul to suspect that they are the two women in the story. They want to change the topic of conversation as soon as possible.

(v) : According to Sergius that being in active service during the war he had glimpsed (seen briefly) the seamy side (the terrible sights which are part and parcel of a battle scene - such as badly wounded and dead soldiers and blood) had made him cynical (sceptical of the so called civilisation they pride themselves to belong to).
        The effect on Sergius is to see through the pretense of civilisation in society (made him cynical). However, he is apologetic for bringing that scepticism into a place where there are truly civilised and genteel persons like Raina and Catherine - his cynicism is out of place there.

(vi) : Raina and her mother, Catherine, showed the great ability to pretend to be offended. They have expertly deflected the attention on themselves. At the very worst they have proved that they can lie and bluff Paul and Sergius very well.

CLASS 12 AATM WKBK PGS 141 TO 142

14 (i) : Sergius describes his cavalry charge as "unprofessional" referring to the opinion of the military establishment of his daring cavalry charge against the Serbian cannon battery at the battle of Slivnitza. While to Sergius he was daring and patriotic, taking his life (and those of his troops) in his hands in order to secure the Bulgarian victory. His gamble brought victory to the Bulgarians. But the military establishment on all sides (Bulgarian, Serbian, Swiss and Russian at least) considered the attack as suicidal. They do not trust Sergius judgement and have refused to crown him with high rank in the army, preferring instead to promote the more conventional (though unsuccessful) commanders.

(ii) : "He" refers to the Swiss mercenary who had fought on the Serbian side during the war. Besides the other information we get of this man in this extract, we have been told that he was responsible for some part of the negotiations on behalf of the Serbian side with the Bulgarians following the peace treaty signed at Pirot. He was smart in working out a deal which was very favourable to the Serbian side and very unequal for the Bulgarian side - he had exploited Sergius and Paul Petkoff's naive sense of fairness. We will later find out that he was 'The Man' who took refuge in Raina's bedroom and that his name is Bluntschli.

(iii) : Sergius is being sarcastic hen he calls him "a thorough soldier". Sergius has been critical of the military establishment and Paul Petkoff has agreed with him partly noting that "soldiering has to be a trade like any other trade." The Swiss was a thorough soldier according to Sergius "a commercial traveller in uniform" - having exploited Sergius and Paul's naive sense that he would play fairly in negotiating the terms of an exchange of prisoners with them. In this passage he also notes that that the Swiss was "a thorough soldier" by running away like all the other professional soldiers - wishing to draw a contrast to himself who put his life on the line for his country.

(iv) : According to Sergius, the Swiss soldier had been in the regiment that Sergius attacked and on being defeated he had run away. While fleeing he came upon a house and climbed up the waterpipe to the room of a young Bulgarian lady to escape being killed by the Bulgarian soldiers who were following him closely. The Swiss mercenary was given refuge by the young lady who's room he entered - the young lady being charmed by his smooth manner. The young lady informed her mother of the soldiers presence in her room after about an hour. The lady's mother was equally taken up by the soldiers manners. Later they disguised the soldier in the coat of the master of the house who was away fighting the war.

(v) : We know that the lady and her mother are Raina and Catherine. However, it seems that Sergius and Paul Petkoff do not suspect this. Later, in act 3 they will find out the truth.

(vi) : Dramatic irony refers to a situation when a character says something the truth of which he / she is unaware of. Here, while Sergius does not seem to realise that the ladies referred to are Raina and Catherine who are there before and who are squirming while the story is being told. In guilt an wishing to deflect focus on themselves they first ask question to make sure that the Swiss soldier and 'The Man' whom they had given could be the same person. When they are left without any doubt of the true identity of the man, they claim to be greatly offended by the telling of such a "coarse" story.

CLASS XII AATM WKBK PGS 138 TO 141

13 (i) : 'the only Swiss' whom Paul Petkoff is referring to in the extract is a mercenary who fought for the Serbs and was in the cannon battery regiment of the Serbian army - the one which Sergius "so unprofessionally charged" (i.e. the Serbian cannon defense against whom Sergius led a cavalry charge at Slivnitza; the battery which did not have the right ammunition to counter the cavalry charge and were thus defeated and who took to their heels on being defeated). After the peace treaty had been signed between the Bulgarians and Serbians at Pirot, Sergius and Paul Petkoff on the Bulgarian side and The Swiss mercenary on the Serbian side had been given certain responsibilities, one of which was to negotiate the terms of prisoner exchange. This is the context of their reference to the person and the place where Pal Petkoff and Sergius met the man. Later we come to know that the person is 'The Man' who had sought and been given refuge in Raina's bedroom. We learn that his name is captain Bluntschli.

(ii) : Petkoff says that he will never trust a Swiss again as Sergius and himself had naively thought that the the Swiss would enter into a gentlemanly and equitable arrangement between the two armies regarding the exchange of prisoners. However, when the found out that the deal - fifty Serbian Pisoners of was for two hundred "worn out" horses which "were not even eatable" they found out that they were "simply two innocent little children" who had been "over-reached" (forced to pay to much for what they received) in the agreement.

(iii) : When he speaks of 'two innocent little children', Sergius is referring to himself and Major Paul Petkoff who were so trusting and easily bluffed into making an unequal agreement.

(iv) : The 'two' were like children in the hands of that soldier as they took part in the negotiations for the prisoner exchange after the peace treaty was signed at Pirot. They naively believed that a fellow soldier, even though he belonged to the former enemy camp, would negotiate an equitable deal. However, The "Swiss' was astute and exploited the naivety of Sergius and Paul petkoff and got a good deal for his side.

(v) : Sergius describes the soldier as a 'commercial traveller in uniform' as the soldier had proved to be a good "tradesman" in securing the most advantageous deal for himself while exploiting the  naivety of Sergius and Paul - the way a good tradesman would convince a customer that the price he was paying was fair when actually he was making a good profit on the deal. It was just in this case that the person making the deal was a soldier (wearing a uniform).

(vi) : 'Bourgeois' or bourgeoise was a word which gained a negative connotation from the French revolution referring negatively to the business class who were exploiting the poor and who were against the new order being sought by the revolution. In this context Sergius is describing the Swiss soldier who "humbugged" Paul Petkoff and himself into making a very disadvantageous deal - parting with fifty Serbian prisoners of war for two hundred useless horses. Sergius means that the Swiss soldier was completely - "to his boots" - a true tradesman and an expert in commercially exploiting people. 

CLASS XII AATN WKBK PGS 137 TO 138

12 (i) : Sergius is talking about a Swiss mercenary in the Serbian army who has served "in the very battery I so unprofessionally charged" and who later proved to be able to make an excellent deal when settling the exchange of prisoners with Paul Petkoff and Sergius at Pirot after the peace treaty has been drawn up between th Bulgarians and the Serbians. We also know that he was 'The Man' who has sought and was given refuge by Raina in her bedroom when he was being chased by the victorious Bulgarians after the Serbians were defeated in battle at Slivnitza. Wee will learn that his name is Bluntschli.

(ii) : By saying that "he over-reached us" Sergius means to say that he made them make an unequal agreement - giving up more than they gained.
        He overreached them by negotiating an exchange of fifty Serbian prisoners of war from the Bulgarians for two hundred worn out "chargers" (horses). Sergius considered the deal unequal as to him the prisoners were "able-bodied" while the horses were of no use to them - they were "worn out" and "weren't even eatable !".

(iii) : The irony in the statement "he was a soldier : every inch a soldier !" is that Sergius, while seeming to complement the man is actually praising not his expertise or courage as a soldier but his ability to  "hoodwink" his opponents in making an unequal deal - thereby proving himself to be a good tradesman. Sergius is extremely disillusioned  with the army and criticises soldiers for being at the very best good tradesmen.

(v) : The rank of a Field Marshall is the highest in the army. Sergius has not been given the promotion to either Colonel or Major-General as he had taken an unacceptable risk with the lives of the soldiers in his cavalry regiment by pitting them against a battery of cannon. He not says that he should not have taken that action and rather bought the two hundred worn out Serbian horses - that action would have won him the praise of his superiors in the army and the award of the highest promotion. He is using sarcasm here - criticising the warped sense of soldiership and justice in the army. 

CLASS XII AATM WKBK PG 135 TO 137

11 (i) : Sergius is no longer a soldier as he is offended that his courageous attack on the Serbian positions at Slivnitza which led the Bulgarians to victory was not acknowledged in military circles. Those in the military considered his cavalry attack on cannon to be madness and unprofessional He has thus been overlooked for promotion. He is even more offended as two Cossack colonels who had their regiments routed "on the most correct principles of scientific warfare" were promoted to major-generals in place of the major Generals who "got killed strictly according to military etiquette". Sergius has, thus, resigned from the army.

(ii) : Sergius says that the act of soldering is like bullying or at best opportunistic.. He says that the opposing armies wait for the best opportunity to strike at their opponents, i.e when they are in the strongest position and when their opponents are at their greatest disadvantage. It is thus a cowardly act as when an attack is taken they mercilessly cut down their weaker opponents. Armies never "on any account" engage in an equal fight.

(iii) : According to Sergius, the secret of successful fighting is to judge the most opportune moment - the moment when the opposing army is at its weakest or when they are at a particular disadvantage which ensures that there will not be a battle on equal terms and that it is sure to defeat one's opponents. When such an opportunity presents itself the army having the advantage should attack its opponents "mercilessly" - thus ensuring no come-back for them.

(iv) : It seems, from his comment that Paul Petkoff considers trading (business) as trying to maximise one's profits by all means. He probably has seen that traders raise their prices when good are in sort supply and their demand is high and that they extort the highest amount of money from their customers in such circumstances. Such commercial situations wold be very similar to the type of soldiering that Sergius has just described, i.e. taking advantage of one's strength and exploting an opposing army's weaknesses. Petkoff seems to agree with Sergius about what soldiering is unromantically like. He notes that that the Serbs "wouldn't let us make a fair stand-up fight of it."

(v) : "That bagman of a captain that settled the exchange of prisoners with us at Pirot" refers to a Swiss mercenary who was fighting with the Serbian army. Later we will learn that it is Captain Blunschli or 'The Man' who has sought refuge in Raina's room when fleeing from the Bulgarian army after the Serbian defeat at Slivnitza. At this moment Sergius and Petkoff merely refer to his expertise in getting a better deal from them.
         The "advice" Sergius refers to could either be "that bagman's" advice to him to quit the army, or it could have been his advice to accept the terms of exchange - fifty Serbian prisoners of war in exchange for two hundred "worn out chargers".

(vi) : Sergius seems to have gone into battle full of idealistic and romantic notions of war. His making a daring attack, risking his life and the lives of his regiment and throws his cavalry regiment against a battery of machine guns. Thus he shows that he believes that willingness to make daring challenges for the sake of his country is an essential part of warfare and soldiering. However, he finds that he receives no praise and gratitude as a result of winning the war for his country. Rather he is criticized, overlooked for promotion and considered a madman. He is thus disillusioned.