XI 1ST TERM EXAM PG 8

Raina, let alone..... feelings that are beyond all expression

(a) : Who had left Raina alone ? Why ? (1)
        Raina had been left alone in her room by her mother and Louka who had followed Catherine after she had shown Raina how to keep the windows opened if she wanted to. Catherine had left Raina's room after she had hear from Louka that there may be firing in the streets of their town. Catherine's housekeeping instincts being aroused she went down to see that the house was secured. Louka as a servant had followed Catherine to help her.

(b) : What description have we been given of Raina's fur coat ? (2)
        We have been told that Raina's fur coat is a long mantle of furs, worth, on a moderate estimate, about three times the furniture of the room. The description of the fur coat tells us that Raina's parents spend a lot of money on her - she is very special to them.

(c) : From which country is an "ottoman"  a typical piece of furniture ? What comment had the dramatist made, in the introduction to Act 1, about the native and foreign articles in Raina's room ? (2)
        An "ottoman" is a typical piece of Turkish furniture.
        The dramatist had noted that there were a combination of Bulgarian and foreign articles in the room. He notes that "It is half rich Bulgarian, half cheap Viennese" and that "all the ornamental textile fabrics ...are oriental and gorgeous; the paper on the walls is occidental and paltry".

(d) : What are we told in the introduction to Act 1, covers the chest of drawers and what articles lie on top of it ? (2)
        In the introduction to Act 1, we are told that is covered by a "variegated native cloth" that is a typical Bulgarian multi-coloured cloth .
        On the chest of drawers there is a pile of paper backed novels, a box of chocolate creams, a miniature easel with a large photograph. There is also a lit candle on the chest of drawers.

(e) : Whose portrait does Raina adore ? Why ? (1)
        Raina adores the portrait of Sergius.
        Raina adores Sergius portrait in awe of the man who is soon to be her husband, now that all her doubts about him being a suitable husband for her have been removed. She also adores the portrait in "worship" of the hero who led her nation to victory in the Battle of Slivnitza where he showed remarkable patriotism, courage and daring.

(f) : What description of the portrait have we been given in the introduction to Act 1 ? (2)
       In the introduction to Act 1, we have been told that the portrait is "large", and that is of "an extremely handsome officer, whose lofty bearing and magnetic glance" has been well depicted. 

XII 1ST TERM EXAM PG 7

Sergius (stiffening indignantly) I'll say so....Petkoff : They'll be far more frightened of you than of me

(a) : What had Sergius been asked to do just before this given quotation ? (2)
        Major Paul Petkoff and Sergius had been delighted that Bluntschli had come to the Petkoff home and had persuaded him to help them with deciding on how to send three cavalry regiments to Philippopolis as they could not find a route which would provide the horses with sufficient fodder. Bluntschli had practically done all the work of deciding on the route the regiments would take and in drawing up the required orders to ensure their progress. The orders had been signed by Sergius and when all the paper work had been completed,
       Bluntschli had asked Sergius to see that the couriers (whichever soldiers were to deliver the letters containing the orders) take the letters and start off at once. Sergius was to show the couriers the time by which they were to have the respective letters handed in. The couriers were to be warned not to delay.

(b) : Why did Sergius think that they would think that he would be "insulting" them ? (1)
        Sergius thought that as he would convey the message, Bluntschli had told him to, to the soldiers in such a threatening manner ("if they're five minutes late, they'll have the skin taken off their backs"), that the couriers (the soldiers who were going to deliver the letters with the orders) may be offended (spit in his face) by the tone in which they were given their instructions and in the threats to them.

(c) : What opinion does Bluntschli seem to have of Sergius, from your reading of this passage ? (1)
        From my reading of this passage, and particularly from the part where Bluntschli requests Petkoff to go after Sergius and ensure that Sergius talks to the soldiers "properly", that he does not have much faith in Sergius' ability to convey the seriousness and urgency of the orders to the soldiers. I think Bluntschli was afraid that Sergius would take his words literally and offend the soldiers rather than convey the haste and responsibility of their mission.

(d) : Why does Petkoff speak "officiously" and "go to the door importantly" ? (1)
        Petkoff had been sitting, relaxing and having no role to play in getting the orders written and signed for sending the three cavalry regiments to Philippopolis. He had interrupted the work frequently expressing his desire to have something useful to do, to no avail. He is ectreemly pleased and feels useful to have at last something to do in an assignment which was after all, his responsibility. He thus puts on the air of someone who has something very important to do (officiously) and walks in the manner of someone of some status.

(e) : What does Petkoff's hesitation and his calling on Catherine tell you about his personality ? (1.5)
        Petkoff might be the highest ranking Bulgarian officer in the Bulgarian army, but he seems to be dominated by Catherine's presence when he is in close proximity with her. Petkoff seems to have a firm faith in Catherine's ability to command and see a difficult situation through and Catherine has got used to taking charge and even speaking on behalf of her husband. Petkoff does seem at all put off by Catherine's dominance, but feels quite content to let her take charge.

(f) : What does Petkoff's calling on Catherine tell you about her ? (1.5)
       Petkoff's calling on Catherine to convey to the soldiers the true spirit in which they should carry out their orders on the basis that they would be more scared of her than her husband, tells us that Catherine has a dominating personality. We also saw that when the pursuing soldiers and the clamouring crowd came to the house, they ignored Nicola but fell quiet when Catherine addressed them.

(g) : What comment had Bluntschli to make immediately after this passage in response to the behaviour noted here ? (2)
        In response to Petkoff calling on his wife to convey the urgency of their work to the soldiers, Bluntschli exclaimed in critical disbelief at the unfortunate state of the Bulgarian army which makes cannons out of cherry trees (referring to the poor quality of their cannons, which do not last in battle) and the officers "send for their wives to keep discipline" ! - a comment which criticizes the ability of the Bulgarian army officers.
       

XI 1ST TERM EXAM PG 7

Catherine (businesslike, her housekeeping instincts aroused)...Raina : ...not so cruel.

(a) : What description of Catherine's character have we been given by the dramatist at the beginning of the play ? Is the present description of her in keeping with her character ? How ? (2 + 1)
        In the introduction of the play, George Bernard Shaw, gives us the following description of Catherine's character "a woman over forty, imperiously energetic......who might be a very splendid specimen of the wife of a mountain farmer, but is determined to be a Viennese lady". In this description the dramatist highlights pro-active, quite dominating nature and her keenness to enhance her social status - to prove to thew world that she is a genteel person of high social standing.
       The above description is in keeping with the present description of Catherine especially with the word "businesslike" - on hearing that there may be fugitives running through the town she immediately takes matters into her own hands rather than just giving orders to her servants. In the comment "her housekeeping instincts aroused" our description of her character increases and we know that she is a responsible and caring mother and homemaker.

(b) : Explain "housekeeping instincts" (1)
        "Housekeeping instincts" refer to the natural (instincts) tendency to care for the home and that all that goes in creating a safe, comfortable and wholesome residence for a family (household). These "instincts" have traditionally been expeccted of good housewives and mothers.

(c) : "safe" - what threat did Catherine and Raina expect to their safety ? (3)
        Catherine and Raina had been informed by Louka who had rushed up to Raina's room in a panic, that the house needed to be secured against possible shooting in the streets of their town as the Serbs who had been defeated had been chased through the Dragoman pass and could come through the town. It was expected that the Bulgarian cavalry and the towns people would be after the fleeing Serbian soldiers in an attempt to capture or kill them.
        Catherine was thus going to the ground floor of the house to secure the windows and doors aganist any possible entry of the enemy into that area of the house, in the same way as Raina had closed the door / window leading out to Raina's balcony.

(d) : Who is Raina referring to when she mentions "our people" ? (2)
        When Raina mentions "our people" she is referring to their towns people who, now that the defeated Serbian soldiers are fleeing through their town and are being chased by the Bulgarian cavalry, will see it as their duty to join their soldiers in capturing or killing the enemy soldiers.

(e) : In what way were the "people" being "cruel" ? (1)
        Raina considers that it is cruel to kill enemy soldiers (Serbs) who had already been defeated and who were running through their enemies territory and being confronted by hostile and violent people who were filled with hatred for them and were as keen as the Bulgarian soldiers to kill them. Those fugitives had no chance against the Bulgarian army and population. Thus is would not be fair and thus cruel to kill people who were practically defenseless.
         

XII 1ST TERM EXAM PG 6

Catherine : That's what I would have done..........Petkoff : The whole Austrian Empire first

(a) : What are Catherine and Petkoff discussing ? (1)

        Catherine and her husband Major Paul Petkoff are discussing the The Treaty which the Bulgarians have made with the Serbs at Bucharest. Catherine had been outraged when she had hear that the treat declared peace with their enemies. Major Paul Petkoff who is very pleased to be back home is trying to convince her that the arrangement was the most beneficial that could be made.

(b) : What would Catherine have done ? (2)

        Catherine says that rather than making a peace treaty with the Serbs and the Austrians, she would have annexed Serbia to Bulgaria and made Prince Alexander , Emperor of the Balkans. 

(c) : What other reason did Petkoff give for not having taken the course that Catherine had suggested ? (2)

      Besides stating that if he had to do what Catherine had suggested he would have to overcome the whole Austrian empire in addition to defeating the Serbs, Petkoff also said that that full action would have kept him away from Catherine for far too long and that he had missed Catherine showing that he wanted to come back home to her at the earliest. Petkoff says this as he knows his wife and knows how to bring an end to the present disagreement. Petkoff had also mentioned earlier that those who had brokered the agreement hadn't ask for his opinion on the matter !

(d) : What effect had that reasoning on Catherine ? (1)

        When Catherine heard that Petkoff had missed her and wanted to come back home to her, Catherine relented and stretched her hand affectionately across the table to squeeze Petkoff's hand. It also stopped Catherine continuing with the argument.

(e) : What does this short interaction tell you about the personality of Petkoff ? (2)

        This interaction tells us that Petkoff is a very practical and down to earth person. He realises that in the scheme of things, though his family may think that he "holds the highest command of any Bulgarian" in the Bulgarian army, he knows that the Russian officers make all the significant decisions. 

        Secondly, the episode tells us that Petkoff knows his wife well and knows how susceptible she is to his charming - thus he uses that charm by telling her how much he missed her and asking about he health. This reveals how clever Petkoff can be.

(f) : What does this short interaction tell you about Catherine ? (2)

       This short interaction firstly tells us is that Catherine is very hawkish in her patriotism. She is aggressive and resentful when it comes to the Serbs and Austrians - the enemies of her country. She is also fiercely patriotic and seeks the dominance of her country and King over the others.

        It also reveals that to us that Catherine is susceptible to flattery and charm. She immediately drops her outrage at the peace treaty with the Serbs when Paul tells her how much he missed her.

XI 1ST TERM EXAM PG 6

Catherine : Oh, if you only have a drop of Bulgarian blood.........I am so happy ! So proud !

(a) : Who are Raina and Catherine talking about ? (1)
        Catherine and Raina are talking about Sergius, the hero of the battle at Slivnitza who was also Raina's fiance and in whom Raina had had doubts regarding his suitability as a husband as a a soldier before she had heard of how he had proved himself at Slivnitza.

(b) : What does Catherine mean when she says "if you have a drop of Bulgarian blood in your veins" ?  (1)
        Catherine is admonishing Raina for not being a patriotic Bulgarian when she says "if you had a drop of Bulgarian blood in your veins".

(c) : Where will "he" be coming back to ? Why ? (2)
        Sergius will be coming back to meet Raina as he is betrothed to her and it was only the war which had delayed their marriage.

(d) : Exclaim the word "acclamations". Why were the "whole army" acclaiming him ? (1 + 2)
        "acclamations" mean loud praise. The whole Bulgarian army were praising Sergius for leading their country to victory over the Serbs in the battle at Slivnitza. Sergius had shown exceptional daring, courage and patriotism (though other would say he behaved suicidal) in personally leading his cavalry regiment in a charge against the Serbian artillery, when the Russian commanders seemed hesitant to do so.

(e) : Why is the whole army described as "heroes" ? (1)
       The whole army is described as "heroes" because Catherine is very pleased with the Bulgarian army for gaining victory over the Serbs. She is particularly referring to the cavalry regiment led by Sergius, who followed their daring and patriotic leader and attacked the Serbian artillery regiment as courageously as their leader. Catherine had described those soldiers having "flashing eyes, "thundering down like and avalanche and scattering" their enemy.

(f) : Why does Raina consider that her worship will be poor compared to the worship of others ? (1)
       Raina considers that her "worship" or praise of Sergius will be poor compared with the worship of others as she feels guilty that she had doubted the abilities of Sergius as a soldier and of a husband who would be true to himself, whereas others had trusted him and had put their lives on the line and followed him and thus their praise of Sergius would ring more true than hers.

(g) : Why is Raina proud and happy ? (1)
        Raina is proud and happy as with the news of how heroic Sergius had been and that he had proved that he was an outstanding soldier and that he had proved that he was just as good as he looked to be, all her doubts about him had been put to rest. She was proud of the victory he had won for this country and she was happy that she was to be married to one who would be true to her. Later, for the same reasons she will say that "this is the happiest night of my life".

XII 1ST TERM EXAM PG 5

Nicola : I know things about Raina..........Well, take my advice....."
(a) : What things did Nicola know about Raina that would break off her match with Sergius ? (2)
       The things which Nicola knew that could cause Sergius to break off the match with Raina were the facts that Raina had did an enemy soldier in her room; a soldier from the very regiment that Sergius had attacked and defeated. Raina had protected the enemy soldier from the pursuing Bulgarian soldiers and their Russian officer who had come to check her room. Raina and her mother had allowed the enemy soldier to rest in Raina;'s bed and had ensured that he would not be caught, by disguising him the Paul Petkoff's old coat when he went off the following morning.

(b) : Explain, in the context, "turning on him". (1)
        The phrase "turning on him" does not only mean to literally turn towards the other person, but to speak to the other person in an agressive or angry manner. Thus, Louka, thinking that only she knew what had happened the night the enemy soldier was given refuge in Raina's room, speaks to Nicola in surprise and shock as she had thought that she alone knew about this matter.

(c) : What advice did Nicola give Louka ? (2)
        Nicla advised Louka to "mend" her :"manners" and always be respectful in her speech to their master and mistresses. He further told her that as servants in the household it was expected that family confidences were always to be kept and that their employers should have no doubt whatsoever their family confidences would be safe with their servants. Thus she was told to "hold your tongue and serve the family faithfully".

(d) : Why, according to Nicola, was his advice practicable ? (2)
        According to Nicola the "secret of success in service" and making the "most out of" the people they serve was to be respectful and to be faithful to their masters. Thus Nicola was faithful and hoped that when he had enough money and opened a shop in Sofia, his present master and mistresses would not only patronise the establishment but would also encourage their wealthy friends to also do so, making him successful.

(e) : Did Louka agree with Nicola ? Why ? (2)
        No, Louka did not agree with Nicola because as later, even Nicola acknowledges that Louka has "a soul above her station" - that is, she believes that her work does not make her inferior to those she serves. Louka is thus, "defiant" and "almost insolent" to Raina and even with Catherine "goes as far as her dares". Louka has been bold enough to compete with Raina for the hand of Sergius in marriage. Louka is a strong character and struggles against the odds to achieve her dreams.

(f) : What does this interaction tell you about the relationship between Nicola and Louka ? (1)
       The interaction in this opening scene in Act 2, tells us that Louka and Nicola are hardly a compatible couple. Louka scorns Nicola accusing him of having the "soul of a servant". Louka on the other hand by determining to continue with her disrespectful behaviour "I do defy her. I will defy her" would probably ruin Nicola's plans. 

XI 1ST TERM PG 5

Catherine (entering hastily......Heaven's child !
(a) ; Who is Catherine ? (2)
        Catherine is Raina's mother and the wife of Major Paul Petkoff. They are a Bulgarian family. Paul is off at the war the Bulgarians are fighting against the Serbs.
        Catherine, we are told by George Bernard Shaw, is a "woman over forty", whose most outstanding trait is that she is "imperiously energetic". She is also very concerned her social status and does all she can to pass off as a Viennese lady "and to that end she wears a fashionable tea gown on all occasions".

(b) : Give a detailed account of the news that Catherine has brought. (4)
        Catherine has come to Raina's room and is excited to give Raina the news she has received from her husband. She informs Raina that the Bulgarians have fought a battle with the Serbs at Slivnitza and won. She is proud to note that it was Sergius, the fiance she had chosen for her daughter, Raina, who had led the Bulgarians to victory and that Sergius is the "hero of the hour and the idol" of his regiment. Her husband, Raina's father, is safe.
         Catherine gives Raina a vivid account of the battle at Slivnitza. She notes how the Russian commanders of the Bulgarian army when the realised that their cavalry faced Serbian artillery were cautious. Sergius, however, showing courage and Bulgarian patriotism and daring took matters into his own hands and personally led his own regiment in an attack on the Serbs. Probably catching the Serbs by surprise, the Bulgarians led by Sergius were soon over the enemy lines "scattering the wretched Serbs and their dandified Austrian officers like chaff". Sergius and his regiment thus secured victory for their country.

(c) : Who is Raina ? (2)
        Raina is the only daughter of Catherine and Paul Petkoff. The dramatist in the introduction to Act 1 speaks of her as a "young lady", who is "intensively conscious of her own youth and beauty". Her long mantle of furs which "on a moderate estimate" are worth "about three times the furniture of the room" tells us of how she is doted upon by her parents. Raina is betrothed in marriage Sergius Saranoff.
        Raina seems to be a dreamy romantic person on one hand and a very realistic person on the other who knows that real life is seldom like the fairy tales of romance literature.

(d) : Catherine calls Raina a "child". What does this tell you about the way she relates to Raina ? Can you note another incident when Catherine relates to Raina in this manner ? (2)
        When Catherine calls Raina a "child", she indicates to us that though her daughter is of marriageable age, Catherine still thinks of and treats her daughter as a child - i.e. as someone who has always to be cared for and looked after.
        In choosing a husband for her daughter and scolding her for not trusting in her choice, Catherine shows that she does not relate to raina as an adult who can make significant decisions for her own life.

XII 1ST TERM EXAM PG 4

4.Raina (greatly encouraged) Ah, it is natural that you should forget it....... he comes to think nothing of them"
   (a) : What is "it" that Raina is accusing Bluntschli of forgetting ? (1)
           Raina is accusing Bluntschli of forgetting that she dishonoured herself for his sake by telling a lie to the Russian officer in order to save Bluntschli's life.

   (b) : Why does Raina think that it is "natural" for Bluntschli to forget ? (1)
           Raina often assumes the air of some superior person. She does so now. She thus considers herself superior to Bluntschli whom she considers as a lesser mortal who is ungrateful and forgetful of the good done to him.

   (c) : What does Raina want to emphasise when she says "it cost me a lie" ? (1)
           When Raina says "it cost me a lie" she wishes to emphasise that she told the lie for Bluntschli's sake at great cost to her nature and her conscience. She wants Bluntschli to feel that his forgetting her sacrifice for his sake is even more disgraceful that merely forgetting something someone had done for another. By assuming this behaviour, Raina is hoping to draw Bluntschli's emotion for her.

   (d) : What, to Bluntchli, are the "two things that happen to a soldier so often that he comes to think nothing of them" ? (2)
           According to Bluntschli the two things that happen to a soldier so often that he comes to think nothing of them are firstly - hearing people tell lies. The second thing that happens so frequently to a soldier that he forgets them is getting his life saved saved in all sorts of ways by all sorts of people.

   (e) : How may lies does Raina say she has ever spoken in her life ? What  were they ? (2)
           Raina has said that she had only told a lie twice in her life.
           She said that the second time that Raina had told a lie was when she had made up the story of having made a beautiful ornament that morning for an ice pudding, which Nicola had spoilt by putting a pile of plates on it. She said that she told the lie so that Sergius would not have found out that Bluntschli had been in her room or he would have killed him.
           She said that the first lie she had told had been to the Russian officer who had come to search her room in response to the the people having seen a Serb climbing up a water pipe into the balcony of Raina's room. Raina had told the Russian officer that no one had entered the room when all the while Raina was hiding the fugitive behind the curtain in her room.

   (f) : What does Bluntschli think of Raina's count of lies ? (1)
          Bluntschli does not believe that Raina has told only two lies in her entire life. He says that two is a "short allowance" even for a straightforward person.

   (g) : What is the result of this exchange between Bluntschli and Raina ? (2)
           This is a very important exchange between Bluntschli and Raina. By not falling for her assumed air of a faultless damsel in distress Bluntschli unmasks Raina. Raina must admit to Bluntschli that he has found her out. Raina admits that she had always "gone on like that" since she was a child. It had been the manner she had used with her nurse, parents and Sergius and all of them believed her. It was only Bluntschli - the first man to have taken her truly seriously - who had not allowed her to go on with her pretense. 

XI 1ST TERM EXAM PG 4

4.Raina : Good Night......Catherine : Do not think of them (She goes out).
   (a) : Why does Raina feel that this is the "happiest night of her life" ? (3)
           Raina feels that this is the happiest night of her life as, firstly, the Bulgarians had defeated their enemies the Serbians in the Battle at Slivnitza. As a patriotic Bulgarian she was happy for her country's victory.
          Secondly, she was happy and proud that it was her fiance - Sergius - who had led the the cavalry regiment that had defeated the Serbian army.
         Thirdly, Sergius courageous and daring action in leading his regiment to attack the Serbs and defeating them had put to rest all her doubts which she had had about him. She had been plagued by premarital doubts as to whether Sergius would prove himself when it came to a real battle. She had doubted whether he would be a match for the Russian commanders of the Bulgarian army. She had wondered whether their romantic relationship was real. She was thus completely sure that Sergius was the right person for her to get married to and thus it was the happiest night of her life.

   (b) : Who is Raina referring to as "fugitives" ? Why were there fugitives ? (2)
           Raina is referring to soldiers of the Serbian artillery regiment who, having been scattered like chaff when they were defeated by Sergius' cavalry, were fleeing from the pursuing Bulgarian army. They were the fugitives.
           Those soldiers were fugitives as they were not only being hunted down by the Bulgarian army as they went through the Dragoman pass and came to the town in which Catherine and Raina lived. The Bulgarian population were also out to seize or kill these enemy troops. Thus, there were fugitives running to save their lives.

   (c) : Who was there in Raina's room, beside Catherine and Raina ? Why was that person there ? (2)
           Louka, the maid in the Petkoff home, was also in the room with Catherine and Raina. Louka was there as it was she who had rushed in to warn the mother and daughter that they should shut all the windows as there was going to be firing in the streets as the Serbian fugitives were fleeing through the town being pursued by the Bulgarian soldiers and other Bulgarian civilians.

  (d) : The line "this is the happiest night of my life - if only there were no fugitives" is an example of dramatic irony. What is dramatic irony ? Explain the dramatic irony in the line. (1 + 2)
          Dramatic irony is when the words or actions of the characters have a different meaning for the reader than they do for the characters when they are spoken or done. Thus, the readers or the audience have a greater knowledge than the characters themselves.
          Raina believes that the night was the happiest night of her life because her country is victorious, her finance is a hero and all doubts of the suitability of her fiance have been removed. She wishes that the scare of fugitives being chased through the town did not spoil the perfection of the night. However, it is a fugitive who comes into her room, who will really make not only her night by her life happy as it is that fugitive whom she will marry. But for the entry of that fugitive she may have never met her true match.