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.
(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.
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