2. Raina : I had an uneasy feeling.......Catherine : Shame on you
(a) : Who is Raina speaking about when she uses the word "he" ? (2)
When she uses the word "he" Raina is speaking about Sergius Saranoff, an officer in the Bulgarian army and leader of a cavalry regiment, to whom she is betrothed to. We have just heard a report of his having led the Bulgarians to victory against the Serbs in the battle at Slivnitza.
(b) : Raina had noted two occasions when she had felt this "uneasy feeling" regarding the person referred to. Which were those two occasions ? (4)
The first occasion narrated by Raina of the time when she doubted Sergius was when she "buckled on Sergius' sword". Whether she was helping him dress in his uniform or whether she swooned when she saw him - "he looked so noble" we don't know. But at that moment when he looked so right as a soldier she thought of "disillusion or humiliation or failure". She doubted whether "heroic ideals" or "patriotism" were "anything but dreams".
The second occasion was when he was holding her in his arms and looking into her eyes. At that moment when she should have been totally overcome by love for him - she doubted doubted whether all Sergius' qualities and soldiership may stand up when he went into a real battle. She had an u"uneasy fear" that "he might cut a poor figure" when compared with the Russian officers.
(c) : Explain : "cut a poor figure" (1)
"cut a poor figure" means to be disgraced; to be less in comparison with others. In the context Raina says that she felt that when compared to the Rusian officers, Sergius may not seem such a good soldier.
(d) : Who is the Tsar ? Which officers is Raina referring to ? From the part of the drama you have studied thus far, what opinion do you have of "those officers" ? Why ? (3)
The Tsar is the title which was given to the Russian emperor.
Raina is referring to the Russian officers who, as the allies to the Bulgarians, seem to have been their senior partners and held the top commanders posts even in the Bulgarian army.
From Catherine's description of the battle at Slivnitza, I have a very poor opinion of the Russian officers when I compare them with the courage and decisiveness shown by Sergius. The Russian officers were the more practical - knowing that a cavalry regiment would be annihilated by enemy cannon, and probably had decided not to engage with the enemy. However, since thus far in the play, we have not been given more information regarding that battle, Sergius action seemed to have taken the enemy totally by surprise and his action won the battle. I would expect that Sergius would have known the danger he was leading himself and his men into and had decided to do the daring deed as a patriotic Bulgarian.
(a) : Who is Raina speaking about when she uses the word "he" ? (2)
When she uses the word "he" Raina is speaking about Sergius Saranoff, an officer in the Bulgarian army and leader of a cavalry regiment, to whom she is betrothed to. We have just heard a report of his having led the Bulgarians to victory against the Serbs in the battle at Slivnitza.
(b) : Raina had noted two occasions when she had felt this "uneasy feeling" regarding the person referred to. Which were those two occasions ? (4)
The first occasion narrated by Raina of the time when she doubted Sergius was when she "buckled on Sergius' sword". Whether she was helping him dress in his uniform or whether she swooned when she saw him - "he looked so noble" we don't know. But at that moment when he looked so right as a soldier she thought of "disillusion or humiliation or failure". She doubted whether "heroic ideals" or "patriotism" were "anything but dreams".
The second occasion was when he was holding her in his arms and looking into her eyes. At that moment when she should have been totally overcome by love for him - she doubted doubted whether all Sergius' qualities and soldiership may stand up when he went into a real battle. She had an u"uneasy fear" that "he might cut a poor figure" when compared with the Russian officers.
(c) : Explain : "cut a poor figure" (1)
"cut a poor figure" means to be disgraced; to be less in comparison with others. In the context Raina says that she felt that when compared to the Rusian officers, Sergius may not seem such a good soldier.
(d) : Who is the Tsar ? Which officers is Raina referring to ? From the part of the drama you have studied thus far, what opinion do you have of "those officers" ? Why ? (3)
The Tsar is the title which was given to the Russian emperor.
Raina is referring to the Russian officers who, as the allies to the Bulgarians, seem to have been their senior partners and held the top commanders posts even in the Bulgarian army.
From Catherine's description of the battle at Slivnitza, I have a very poor opinion of the Russian officers when I compare them with the courage and decisiveness shown by Sergius. The Russian officers were the more practical - knowing that a cavalry regiment would be annihilated by enemy cannon, and probably had decided not to engage with the enemy. However, since thus far in the play, we have not been given more information regarding that battle, Sergius action seemed to have taken the enemy totally by surprise and his action won the battle. I would expect that Sergius would have known the danger he was leading himself and his men into and had decided to do the daring deed as a patriotic Bulgarian.
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