Podcast
Questions and Answers
Why is Raina impressed with Major Sergius Saranoff at the beginning of the play?
Why is Raina impressed with Major Sergius Saranoff at the beginning of the play?
- For writing a famous novel
- For being a skilled marksman
- For leading a successful cavalry charge (correct)
- For negotiating peace treaties
What news does Louka bring to Raina and Catherine?
What news does Louka bring to Raina and Catherine?
- The Bulgarians have lost the war
- The Serbs are chasing the Bulgarians through the streets (correct)
- Major Paul Petkoff has been injured
- Raina's wedding has been postponed
Why does Raina decide to hide the enemy soldier when the soldiers come to search the house?
Why does Raina decide to hide the enemy soldier when the soldiers come to search the house?
- To protect the soldier from being captured (correct)
- To seek revenge on the Bulgarian soldiers
- Out of fear for her own safety
- To seek help in negotiating peace
What is the setting of the play at the beginning?
What is the setting of the play at the beginning?
Who threatens to kill Raina if she makes a sound?
Who threatens to kill Raina if she makes a sound?
What reason does Raina give for being unable to live up to Major Sergius Saranoff's nobility?
What reason does Raina give for being unable to live up to Major Sergius Saranoff's nobility?
How does Raina describe Major Sergius Saranoff's actions in the cavalry charge?
How does Raina describe Major Sergius Saranoff's actions in the cavalry charge?
What does Louka inform Raina about the soldiers outside her house?
What does Louka inform Raina about the soldiers outside her house?
What does the soldier carry into battle instead of bullets?
What does the soldier carry into battle instead of bullets?
Where does Act II begin in the play?
Where does Act II begin in the play?
Who is lecturing Louka on the importance of respect for the upper class?
Who is lecturing Louka on the importance of respect for the upper class?
What shocking event do the women learn about from Major Petkoff and Major Saranoff?
What shocking event do the women learn about from Major Petkoff and Major Saranoff?
Why does Major Petkoff insist that Captain Bluntschli must be their houseguest?
Why does Major Petkoff insist that Captain Bluntschli must be their houseguest?
What task is Captain Bluntschli efficiently attending to in the library?
What task is Captain Bluntschli efficiently attending to in the library?
What does Catherine astound Major Petkoff by retrieving with the new library bell?
What does Catherine astound Major Petkoff by retrieving with the new library bell?
Why does Raina declare that she is tired of Sergius' stiff propriety?
Why does Raina declare that she is tired of Sergius' stiff propriety?
How did Raina and Sergius describe their love for each other?
How did Raina and Sergius describe their love for each other?
What item does Louka claim Miss Raina had while Sergius was away?
What item does Louka claim Miss Raina had while Sergius was away?
What item did Raina place in the pocket of the old coat she lent Bluntschli?
What item did Raina place in the pocket of the old coat she lent Bluntschli?
Why does Sergius challenge Bluntschli to a duel?
Why does Sergius challenge Bluntschli to a duel?
What does Sergius retract his challenge to Bluntschli for?
What does Sergius retract his challenge to Bluntschli for?
Why does Raina give a loving smile to Bluntschli at the end?
Why does Raina give a loving smile to Bluntschli at the end?
What is the significance of the inscription 'To my Chocolate Cream Soldier'?
What is the significance of the inscription 'To my Chocolate Cream Soldier'?
Why does Sergius apologize to Louka and kiss her hand?
Why does Sergius apologize to Louka and kiss her hand?
What motivates Louka to inform Sergius about Bluntschli's intentions with Raina?
What motivates Louka to inform Sergius about Bluntschli's intentions with Raina?
What makes Raina realize that Bluntschli sees through her pretensions?
What makes Raina realize that Bluntschli sees through her pretensions?
What leads to the engagement between Sergius and Louka?
What leads to the engagement between Sergius and Louka?
What prompts Raina to grant permission for Bluntschli to marry her?
What prompts Raina to grant permission for Bluntschli to marry her?
What delayed the performance of Mrs. Warren's Profession until 1902?
What delayed the performance of Mrs. Warren's Profession until 1902?
What type of subject does Mrs. Warren's Profession deal with?
What type of subject does Mrs. Warren's Profession deal with?
Which term best describes the treatment of the subject in Mrs. Warren's Profession?
Which term best describes the treatment of the subject in Mrs. Warren's Profession?
Why did Shaw call some of his early plays 'unpleasant'?
Why did Shaw call some of his early plays 'unpleasant'?
In Candida, what significant choice does the heroine have to make?
In Candida, what significant choice does the heroine have to make?
What encouraged the formation of a successful theater partnership in English theatrical history?
What encouraged the formation of a successful theater partnership in English theatrical history?
'You Never Can Tell' lightly touches on what kind of speculative issues?
'You Never Can Tell' lightly touches on what kind of speculative issues?
How does Shaw describe the strain while writing his plays in the midst of his other work?
How does Shaw describe the strain while writing his plays in the midst of his other work?
'Arms and the Man' makes fun of romantic falsifications related to what themes?
'Arms and the Man' makes fun of romantic falsifications related to what themes?
'Candida' presents a conflict between man as a spiritual creator and woman as guardian of what?
'Candida' presents a conflict between man as a spiritual creator and woman as guardian of what?
What prompted George Bernard Shaw to refurbish his comedy Widowers’ Houses into a play with an 'Ibsenite' tone?
What prompted George Bernard Shaw to refurbish his comedy Widowers’ Houses into a play with an 'Ibsenite' tone?
What type of situation does Shaw seem determined to avoid in his play?
What type of situation does Shaw seem determined to avoid in his play?
What aspect of the play 'Widowers' Houses' does Shaw primarily focus on?
What aspect of the play 'Widowers' Houses' does Shaw primarily focus on?
In 'Widowers' Houses', what is the main reason for focusing more on social evil than on romantic situations?
In 'Widowers' Houses', what is the main reason for focusing more on social evil than on romantic situations?
What key tone does Shaw incorporate into 'Widowers' Houses' to break away from romantic conventions?
What key tone does Shaw incorporate into 'Widowers' Houses' to break away from romantic conventions?
What motivated Shaw to refurbish 'Widowers' Houses' into a play with an 'Ibsenite' tone?
What motivated Shaw to refurbish 'Widowers' Houses' into a play with an 'Ibsenite' tone?
'Widowers’ Houses' by Shaw was distinct from other plays of its time due to its focus on:
'Widowers’ Houses' by Shaw was distinct from other plays of its time due to its focus on:
'Widowers’ Houses', unlike traditional plays, directs the audience's attention towards:
'Widowers’ Houses', unlike traditional plays, directs the audience's attention towards:
'Widowers’ Houses' illustrates Shaw's preference for which tone in his dramatic works?
'Widowers’ Houses' illustrates Shaw's preference for which tone in his dramatic works?
'Widowers’ Houses' criticizes conventional character types by focusing on:
'Widowers’ Houses' criticizes conventional character types by focusing on:
In George Bernard Shaw's play 'Caesar and Cleopatra', how does Shaw portray Cleopatra compared to Shakespeare's depiction?
In George Bernard Shaw's play 'Caesar and Cleopatra', how does Shaw portray Cleopatra compared to Shakespeare's depiction?
What distinguishes Shaw's portrayal of Caesar in 'Caesar and Cleopatra' from traditional hero depictions?
What distinguishes Shaw's portrayal of Caesar in 'Caesar and Cleopatra' from traditional hero depictions?
What theme is central to Shaw's play 'Caesar and Cleopatra'?
What theme is central to Shaw's play 'Caesar and Cleopatra'?
What distinguishes the character of Caesar in Shaw's play 'Caesar and Cleopatra'?
What distinguishes the character of Caesar in Shaw's play 'Caesar and Cleopatra'?
What aspect of Caesar does Shaw emphasize in his play 'Caesar and Cleopatra'?
What aspect of Caesar does Shaw emphasize in his play 'Caesar and Cleopatra'?
What differentiates Shaw's portrayal of Cleopatra in 'Caesar and Cleopatra' from the traditional image of her?
What differentiates Shaw's portrayal of Cleopatra in 'Caesar and Cleopatra' from the traditional image of her?
'The Devil’s Disciple' by Shaw is set during which historical period?
'The Devil’s Disciple' by Shaw is set during which historical period?
'Captain Brassbound’s Conversion' by Shaw serves as a sermon against what?
'Captain Brassbound’s Conversion' by Shaw serves as a sermon against what?
'Three Plays for Puritans' by Shaw is known for featuring what type of preface?
'Three Plays for Puritans' by Shaw is known for featuring what type of preface?
'Captain Brassbound’s Conversion' differs from other plays by Shaw primarily in its focus on what?
'Captain Brassbound’s Conversion' differs from other plays by Shaw primarily in its focus on what?
Flashcards
Raina's initial impression of Sergius
Raina's initial impression of Sergius
Raina is impressed with Sergius Saranoff because he led a successful cavalry charge, showcasing nobility and heroism.
Louka's news to Raina and Catherine
Louka's news to Raina and Catherine
Louka informs Raina and Catherine that the Serbs are chasing the Bulgarians through the streets.
Raina's reason for hiding a soldier
Raina's reason for hiding a soldier
Raina hides a soldier to protect him from capture.
Play's setting
Play's setting
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Threat to Raina
Threat to Raina
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Raina's inability to match Sergius
Raina's inability to match Sergius
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Sergiuss's actions description
Sergiuss's actions description
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Louka's soldier info
Louka's soldier info
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Soldier's battle item
Soldier's battle item
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Act II setting
Act II setting
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Nicola's lecture
Nicola's lecture
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Shocking event for women
Shocking event for women
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Petkoff's insistence
Petkoff's insistence
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Bluntschli's library task
Bluntschli's library task
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Catherine's surprising retrieval
Catherine's surprising retrieval
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Raina's complaint about Sergius
Raina's complaint about Sergius
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Raina and Sergius's love
Raina and Sergius's love
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Louka's claim about Raina
Louka's claim about Raina
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Item in the old coat
Item in the old coat
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Sergius's duel challenge
Sergius's duel challenge
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Sergius's challenge retraction
Sergius's challenge retraction
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Raina's smile to Bluntschli
Raina's smile to Bluntschli
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'Chocolate Cream Soldier' inscription
'Chocolate Cream Soldier' inscription
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Study Notes
Arms and the Man
- The play is set in a Bulgarian town in 1885 during the Serbo-Bulgarian War
- It begins in the bedroom of Raina Petkoff, where she and her mother Catherine discuss the victorious cavalry charge led by Raina's fiancé, Major Sergius Saranoff
- A Serbian soldier, Captain Bluntschli, enters the room, and Raina hides him from the Bulgarian soldiers
- Bluntschli is a Swiss professional soldier hired by Serbia, and he carries chocolates into battle instead of cartridges
- Raina and Bluntschli develop a connection, and he eventually returns to the house as a guest
Act II
- The scene shifts to the garden of Major Petkoff's house, where Nicola lectures Louka on respect for the upper class
- Louka has independent plans and aspirations
- Major Petkoff returns home from the war, and Catherine greets him with news of the war's end and the installation of an electric bell in the library
- Sergius and Major Petkoff recount the story of the Swiss soldier who escaped by climbing up a balcony
Act III
- Captain Bluntschli is attending to paperwork in the library, and Sergius and Major Petkoff observe
- Raina and Bluntschli are left alone, and she compliments him on his appearance
- Bluntschli receives a telegram announcing his father's death and his inheritance of six hotels
- Louka and Sergius reconcile, and Bluntschli asks for permission to marry Raina
George Bernard Shaw
- Shaw began writing for the English stage, where Sir A.W.Pinero and H.A.Jones were prominent dramatists
- Shaw's early plays, such as Widowers' Houses, followed the tone of Ibsen's plays
- Shaw's play Arms and the Man was performed in 1894 and made lighthearted fun of romantic falsifications of love and warfare
- Shaw's other plays, such as Candida and You Never Can Tell, explored themes of love, morality, and the human condition
- Shaw married Charlotte Payne-Townshend in 1898, and the marriage lasted all their lives
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