THE PRISONER OF ZENDA
(NOVEL)
THE PLOT (SUMMARY)
When Michael has Rudolf abducted and imprisoned in the castle in the small town of Zenda, Rassendyll must impersonate the future King at the coronation. There are complications, plots, and counter-plots, among them the schemes of Michael's mistress Antoinette de Mauban, and those of his villainous henchman Rupert of Hentzau, and Rassendyll falling in love with Princess Flavia, the King's betrothed. In the end, the King is restored to his throne -- but the lovers must part.
Chapter # 1
THE RASSENDYLLS – WITH A WORD ON THE ELPHBERGS
Rudolf Rassendyll’s sister-in-law, Rose, urges him to do something useful with his life. Lord Burlesdon, Rassendyll’s brother, tells Rassendyll that he has found him a job as an attaché to Sir Jacob Borrodaile. As the job will only start in six months, Rassendyll decides to attend the Coronation of King Rudolf the Fifth, which is to take place in Strelsau, Ruritania.
Rassendyll’s sister-in-law comments on his doing nothing:
"I wonder when in the world you’re going to do anything."
She mentions his age:
"You are nine-and-twenty ... and you have done nothing but [knock about]"
Robert mentions two Elphberg features in Rassendyll:
[Red hair] “generally crops out once in a generation. So does the [long] nose. Rudolf has got them both.”
Rassendyll says to Rose:
"When I do a thing I don’t do it by halves."
Unlike his usual practice, he tells his relatives the itinerary:
“I was going for a ramble in the Tyrol” and “I intended to study the political and social problems of the interesting community which dwells in that neighborhood.”
Rassendyll’s reply to writing a book on her insistence
"No, I won’t promise; but if I find enough material I will."
Chapter # 2
CONCERNING THE COLOUR OF MEN’S HAIR
Rudolf Rassendyll, who shares a common ancestor with the king of Ruritania (an imaginary country in Central Europe), visits Ruritania for the first time, with the intention of seeing the new king’s coronation. He meets his friend George in Paris. George tells him about Antoinette de Mauban who is also traveling to Ruritania on the same train. He has let his acquaintances in London and Paris know only that he is to visit Dresden and the Tyrol. At the frontier, he learns that the coronation is to take place unexpectedly soon, in two days’ time. Because it appears that accommodation will be difficult to secure at Strelsau, the capital city, he decides to stay at Zenda, a small town ten miles from the frontier and fifty from the capital. On his first evening at the hotel in Zenda, he learns that king is resting at a nearby shooting-lodge on the estate of Michael, Duke of Strelsau, the king’s half-brother, to whom belongs the great castle of Zenda. He also learns that the duke is far more popular than the new king, who has spent most of his life abroad. The king and the duke are both said to wish to marry Princess Flavia, the king’s cousin.
Rassendyll quotes his Uncle William:
"No man should pass through Paris without spending four-and-twenty hours there."
In Paris, Rassendyll and George meet Bertram Bertrand, who was:
"a versifier of some repute and Paris correspondent to The Critic."
"No man should pass through Paris without spending four-and-twenty hours there."
In Paris, Rassendyll and George meet Bertram Bertrand, who was:
"a versifier of some repute and Paris correspondent to The Critic."
George tells Bertrand about Madame de Mauban that:
"She flies higher than the paper trade, my boy!"
Through George, Rassendyll learns the following facts about de Mauban and Michael:
About Madame de Mauban:
"She was a widow, rich, handsome, and, according to repute, ambitious."
About Duke Michael:
"The duke was the son of the late King of Ruritania by a second and morganatic marriage, and half-brother to the new king."
"He had been his father’s favorite …he had been created a duke, with a title derived from no less a city than the capital itself."
George hints at Rassendyll's ancestry:
"Royal attentions are hard to resist -- you know that, don't you, Rudolf?"
Rassendyll sees Madame at the booking office:
"She was perhaps a year or two over thirty, tall, dark, and of rather a full figure."
George's prediction that Rassendyll might have to help Antoinette come true later in the novel:
"Never mind, old fellow, perhaps there'll be a smash and you'll have a chance of rescuing her and cutting out the Duke of Strelsau."
"Never mind, old fellow, perhaps there'll be a smash and you'll have a chance of rescuing her and cutting out the Duke of Strelsau."
The old officer at the custom house looks at Rassendyll with astonishment:
"I felt surer than before of my Elphberg physiognomy."
"I felt surer than before of my Elphberg physiognomy."
Rassendyll describes the landlady and her daughters in the following terms:
"They were good, quiet people, and seemed very little interested in the great doings at Strelsau."
"They were good, quiet people, and seemed very little interested in the great doings at Strelsau."
The old lady at the inn talks about Michael and Rudolf V: About Michael:
"We know Duke Michael. He has always lived among us; every Ruritania knows Duke Michael."
About Rudolf V:
"But the king is almost a stranger; he has been so much abroad not one in ten knows him even by sight."
While talking to Rassendyll, the old lady expresses her wishes:
"I wish he would stay at his shooting…and suffer our duke to be crowned on Wednesday."
"I wish he would stay at his shooting…and suffer our duke to be crowned on Wednesday."
She expresses her opinion openly because she believes:
"There’s many to think as I do!"
"There’s many to think as I do!"
Rassendyll also learns the reason why the King is at Zenda:
"The duke invited him, sir, to rest here till Wednesday. The duke is at Strelsau, preparing the king’s reception."
"The duke invited him, sir, to rest here till Wednesday. The duke is at Strelsau, preparing the king’s reception."
One of the two daughters of the old lady comments on the nature of the relation between the king and the duke:
"Aye, they love one another as men do who want the same place and the same wife."
She also hints at the duke’s intensity of purpose:
"Black Michael would give his soul to marry his cousin, the Princess Flavia."
"Aye, they love one another as men do who want the same place and the same wife."
She also hints at the duke’s intensity of purpose:
"Black Michael would give his soul to marry his cousin, the Princess Flavia."
Chapter # 3
A MERRY EVENING WITH A DISTANT RELATIVE
Colonel Sapt, Fritz von Tarlenheim, and King Rudolf meet Rassendyll by chance the next day in the forest near Zenda. They are astonished at his resemblance to the king. The king discovers the blood relationship that has produced this amazing resemblance, is amused and takes Rassendyll back to the lodge for an informal supper. At the supper, the king drinks a bottle of rare old wine, a present from Michael.
Johann arranges accommodation for Rassendyll in Strelsau:
“[Johann’s sister] had invited him to occupy a room in her house… but now [he] found that his duties would not permit of his absence. He begged, therefore, that if such humble lodging would satisfy [Rassendyll and he] would take his place.”
Rassendyll agrees and plans to walk through the forest:
“I decided to send my luggage direct to the address which Johann have given, take my walk, and follow to Strelsau
myself.”
Rassendyll describes the castle in Zenda:
“The old and the new portions were connected by a drawbridge, and this indirect mode of access formed the only passage between the old building and outer world, but leading to the modern chateau there was a broad and handsome avenue.”
Rassendyll falls asleep in the forest and has a dream:
“I had fallen dreaming that I was married to the Princess Flavia and dwelt in the castle of Zenda.”
Sapt comments on the resemblance between Rassendyll and the king:
Why the devil’s in it! Shave him and he’d be the king!
At this stage we learn about Rassendyll’s facial hair and height:
Rassendyll had “heavy moustache and carefully pointed imperial” and “six feet two inches of stature.”
Rassendyll describes Colonel Sapt:
“[Sapt] was rather short and very stoutly built, with a big bottle-shaped head, a bristly grey moustache, and small pale-blue eyes, a trifle bloodshot.”
“[Johann’s sister] had invited him to occupy a room in her house… but now [he] found that his duties would not permit of his absence. He begged, therefore, that if such humble lodging would satisfy [Rassendyll and he] would take his place.”
Rassendyll agrees and plans to walk through the forest:
“I decided to send my luggage direct to the address which Johann have given, take my walk, and follow to Strelsau
myself.”
Rassendyll describes the castle in Zenda:
“The old and the new portions were connected by a drawbridge, and this indirect mode of access formed the only passage between the old building and outer world, but leading to the modern chateau there was a broad and handsome avenue.”
Rassendyll falls asleep in the forest and has a dream:
“I had fallen dreaming that I was married to the Princess Flavia and dwelt in the castle of Zenda.”
Sapt comments on the resemblance between Rassendyll and the king:
Why the devil’s in it! Shave him and he’d be the king!
At this stage we learn about Rassendyll’s facial hair and height:
Rassendyll had “heavy moustache and carefully pointed imperial” and “six feet two inches of stature.”
Rassendyll describes Colonel Sapt:
“[Sapt] was rather short and very stoutly built, with a big bottle-shaped head, a bristly grey moustache, and small pale-blue eyes, a trifle bloodshot.”
“[Fritz] was a slender young fellow, of middle height, dark in complexion, and bearing himself with grace and
distinction.”
Rassendyll is surprised at the likeness of Rudolf V:
“[The] King of Ruritania might have been Rudolf Rassendyll, and I Rudolf the King.”
Rudolf V is extremely happy to meet his distance relative:
“[Rudolf V] burst into the merriest fit of irrepressible laughter, which rang through the woods and proclaimed him a jovial soul.”
Despite astonishing likeness, Rassendyll points out some difference:
“The king’s face was slightly more fleshy than mine…and his mouth lacking something of the firmness which was to be gathered from my close-shutting lips.”
After supper, they all them talk differently when they got drunk:“The king began talking of what he would do in the future, old Sapt of what he had done in the past, Fritz of some beautiful girl or other, and I of the wonderful merits of the Elphberg dynasty.”Rassendyll describes the bottle of drugged wine brought by Josef:
“[Josef] set before the king a marvelous old wicker-covered flagon. It had lain so long in some darken cellar that it seemed to blink in the candlelight.”
Rudolf V refuses to share this wine with anyone:"[Everything] is yours to the half of Ruritania. But ask me not for a single drop of this divine bottle.”
Chapter # 4
THE KING KEEPS HIS APPOINTMENT
The king is insensible the next morning, the day of the coronation because the wine was drugged. Sapt and Fritz are certain that Michael will spread the story that the king was too drunk to attend his own coronation and will seize the throne for himself. They persuade Rassendyll to save the throne for the king by impersonating him and going through the coronation in his place. He is made clean-shaven like the kind and dressed in the cellar of the lodge. Josef, a trusty servant, is left there. The only other servant – mother of Johann, the duke’s gamekeeper – is plainly untrustworthy and has to be bound and gagged. The plan is for Rassendyll to return secretly with Sapt that night. Sapt will take the king back to Strelsau and Rassendyll will get across the frontier. Rassendyll, now impersonating the king, goes by train to Strelsau with Sapt and Fritz.
Uncertain whether the last bottle was drugged, Sapt says the king drank too much:
“He drank three times what either of you did.”
“He drank three times what either of you did.”
Sapt comments on the seriousness of the situation:
“The whole nation’s there to meet him; half the army—aye, and Black Michael at the head. Shall we send word that king’s drunk?”
People know that the king is fond of drinking:
“They know his illnesses too well. He’s been ‘ill’ before!”
Sapt hints at Michael’s popularity:“Has Strelsau no other candidate?”
“The whole nation’s there to meet him; half the army—aye, and Black Michael at the head. Shall we send word that king’s drunk?”
People know that the king is fond of drinking:
“They know his illnesses too well. He’s been ‘ill’ before!”
Sapt hints at Michael’s popularity:“Has Strelsau no other candidate?”
Sapt comments on the seriousness of the situation:
"As God’s alive, man, the throne’s lost if the king shows himself not in Strelsau today."
The only reason of Sapt’s support is his loyalty to the kingdom:
“The drunken dog! But he’s an Elphberg and the son of his father, and may I rot in hell before Black Michael sits in his place."
Sapt considers Rassendyll’s arrival as a Divine help:
“As a man grows old he believes in fate. Fate sent you here. Fate sends you now to Strelsau.”
Sapt convinces Rassendyll to impersonate the king:
“if you don’t go I swear to you Black Michael will sit tonight on the throne, and the king lie in prison or his grave.”
Sapt does everything for the sake of his duty and disregards any offence that he may cause to the king:
"Are we women? Who cares for his forgiveness?"
“if you don’t go I swear to you Black Michael will sit tonight on the throne, and the king lie in prison or his grave.”
Sapt does everything for the sake of his duty and disregards any offence that he may cause to the king:
"Are we women? Who cares for his forgiveness?"
Sapt is determined to save the throne for the king:
"If we’re detected, I’ll send Black Michael down before I go myself, so help me, Heaven!"
Rassendyll gets ready:
“I dressed myself in the uniform of a colonel of the Guard.”
Sapt instructs Rassendyll in the history of the king:
"[Sapt]instruct[ed] me most minutely in the history of my past life, of my family, of my tastes, pursuits, weaknesses, friends, companions, and servants. He [also] told me the etiquette of the Ruritanian court."
The Ruritanian king was a Catholic, but not Rassendyll:
Sapt gives him “a rudimentary lesson in the practices and observances of the Romish faith.”
Sapt comments on Rassendyll’s craving for food:
"You’re an Elphberg, every inch of you."
Sapt warns Rassendyll of another danger:
"You must be as civil as butter to the cardinal. We hope to win him over, because he and Michael have a standing quarrel about their precedence.”
Chapter # 5
THE ADVENTURES OF AN UNDERSTUDY
The people of the New Town give the King a rousing welcome. There is hardly any trouble in the Old Town. Rassendyll rides bravely down the streets and wins the hearts of the townspeople. The procession stops at the Cathedral for the Coronation. Rassendyll is crowned King. Rassendyll’s impersonation of the king at the coronation, the public processions, and the post-coronation banquet, appears to be completely successful. Not even Princess Flavia, who is with him throughout the day, has any suspicions, though she does compliment the “king” on appearing much more resolute and dignified than he has ever seemed before. Rassendyll becomes aware that there is a strong popular demand for the king to marry Princess Flavia as soon as possible after the coronation.
Rassendyll was ready to face any situation:
“The last thing I did was to feel if my revolver were handy and my sword loses in the scabbard.”
Rassendyll praises Marshal Strakencz:“The last thing I did was to feel if my revolver were handy and my sword loses in the scabbard.”
“I knew that I was in the presence of the most famous veteran of the Ruritanian army.”
Rassendyll become confident after a while:
“No one betrayed the least suspicion, and I felt my nerve returning and the agitated beating of my heart subsiding.”
The process begins:
“I started to ride through the streets with the marshal on my right and Sapt on my left.”
The description of the capital city, Strelsau:
“In the outer circles the upper classes live; in the inner, the shops are situated; and behind their prosperous fronts lie
hidden populous but wretched lanes and alley, filled with a poverty-stricken, turbulent, and (in a large measure) criminal class.”
Relative popularity of the duke and the king:
“The New Town was for the king; but to the Old Town Michael of Strelsau was a hope, a hero, and darling.”
Rassendyll is thrilled at the marvelous reception:
“But the truth is that I was drunk with excitement. At that moment I believed – I almost believed – that I was in very
truth the king.”
Rassendyll becomes nervous when Antoinette de Mauban closely looks at him:
"I, collecting myself, met her eyes full and square, while again I felt my revolver. Suppose she had cried loud, “That’s not the king!”
Rassendyll has now accepted this responsibility and wants to do it in the best way possible:
“But if fate made me a king the least I could do was to play the part handsomely.”
Rassendyll goes unguarded through the streets of Michael’s quarter to increase the king’s popularity.
“Let those in a front ride on till they are fifty yards ahead… And see that no one is nearer me. I will have my people see
that their king trusts them.”
Rassendyll begins to assert himself:
“Sapt laid his hand on my arm. I shook him off. The marshal hesitates.”
In Old Town, people show their love for Michael:
“The mass of people received me in silence and with sullen looks, and my dear brother’s portrait ornamented most of the windows – which was an ironical sort of greeting to the king."
Rassendyll speculates Rudolf’s reaction at Michael’s portraits:
“I was quite glad that he had been spared the unpleasant sight. He was a man of quick temper, and perhaps he would not have taken it so placidly as I did.”
For Rassendyll, everything was in a mist, but he could clearly see two faces [Flavia and Michael]:
“the face of a girl, pale and lovely, surmounted by a crown of the glorious Elphberg hair.” and, “the face of a man whose full-blooded red cheeks, black hair, and dark, deep eyes told me that at last, I was in the presence of my
brother, Black Michael.”
Rassendyll describes the expression of Michael at the arrival of the king when he least expected it:
“when he saw me his red cheeks went pale all in a moment, and his helmet fell with a clatter on the floor.”
The coronation ceremony is quite unusual:
“I rose to my feet, and stretched out my hand and took from [the cardinal] the crown of Ruritania and set it on my head, and I swore the old oath of the king.”
Rassendyll took advantage of the situation:
“And for an instant, I thought what I had best do. Then I drew [Princess Flavia] to me and kissed her twice on the cheek, and she blushed red.”
Michael looked bewildered when he came to greet Rassendyll:
“His face was patched with red and white, and his hand shook so that it jumped under mine, and I felt his lips dry and parched."
Rassendyll feels tense because Sapt has not told him about the deep of relation with Rudolf and Flavia:
“Now I felt in difficulty, because I had forgotten to ask Sapt the state of my affections, or how far matters had gone
between the princess and myself.”
Rassendyll voices his romantic wish:
“Frankly, had I been the king the further [matters] had gone the better should I have been pleased.”
Princess Flavia notices the difference in “the king”:
“You look more sober, more sedate; you’re almost careworn, and I declare you’re thinner.”
She also says the following in the same breath:
“Surely it’s not possible that you’ve begun to take anything seriously?”
Rassendyll mentions how low opinion his sister-in-law and Flavia hold:
“The princess seemed to hold of the king much the same opinion that Lady Burlesdon held of me.”
Flavia warns Rassendyll of danger from Michael:
“Do be careful. You don’t – indeed you don’t – keep enough watch on him.”
(SHORT QUESTION – ANSWER)
Q1 What Rose, the sister-in-law insist Rassendyll do and what he replied?
Ans: Rassendyll is a person who lived with his brother Robert and the sister-in-law Rose. He is of twenty-nine and doing nothing. Rose always insists him to do something but he always takes it normal and doesn’t care even a fig of it. He refuses it by saying that he belongs to the noble family so he doesn't need to do anything.
Q2 What Rose requested to Rassendyll to do? And what did Rassendyll do?
Ans: Rose requested Rassendyll to accept the offer of Sir Jacob Borrodaile because that job was equal to his personality. She requested him to accept the offer to make her happy.
Rassendyll agreed on the request of Rose that if in Sixth month's time no unforeseen obstacle had risen and that Sir Jacob invited him he would accept the offer for the sake of his sister.
Q3 Where did Rassendyll think that he would go after his appointment and why he selected that place?
Q4 Rassendyll deserve to be the king of Ruritania Why?
Ans: In his role as a king Rudolf Rassendyll is far more impressive than the real King Rudolf Elphberg. He comes out his duties majestically and tactfully without revealing his true identity. People love him and none care him to found out whether he makes his place in their heart. On considering his qualities Colonel Sapt liked him and praised him. He also wanted that he should work as a king but he was also loyal to his state. Due to good management and of his best qualities Rassendyll deserved to be the King of Ruritania.
Q5 Madam Mauban Played a magnificent role in the novel "The Prisoner of Zenda." comments.
Q6 Briefly describe the tea-table incident.
OR
What is the Summer House meeting?
Ans: Rudolf Rassendyll is a courageous and brave man. When he is invited by the lady Mauban in a Special place called Summer House. He goes there with Colonel Sept and meets Mauban, She informs him about the dangerous plan of Black Michael. During their discussion, Michael man arrives there. They asked Rassendyll to come out but he knows the result of it. He advised Mauban to take aside to save herself and he himself takes up an iron table which is used as a tea-table. He used it as his shield from the bullets. They opened the door but Rassendyll throws the table on them and all four of them tumble down the stairs thus he uses tea-table intelligently to save himself in the Summer House.
Q7 Who is the most devilish Rupert of Hentzue or Black Michael? Give reasons.
Ans: Both the characters are devilish because they are evil schemers but Black Michael is far more devilish than Rupert. Rupert is leading member of Black Michael's ruffians but he holds a unique position between the good and evil. He wants to kill his boss due to his devilish nature. He also wants to keep Rassendyll because he knows about his qualities.
Black Michael is a conspirator and he even doesn’t care a fig of his brother and traps him. He only wanted to be crowned and marry princes Flavia. He deceived Mauban who truly loved him and sacrifices him. He even offers a bribe to Rassendyll to leave Ruritania because he was the only person who had stopped his way to becoming a king.
Q8 What was the attitude of Black Michael toward Rassendyll in the Coronation Ceremony?
Q9 Who persuaded Rassendyll to impersonate and why?
Ans: When Rassendyll meets Sapt and Fritz in the castle of Zenda they struck by the appearance of Rassendyll who had the close resemblance to Rudolf. They took him to the King and all them drunk together. Due to the intoxicating wine, the king becomes unconscious and was unable to attend his coronation. Colonel Sept persuaded Rassendyll to shave off his beard appears in the coronation in place of Rudolf Elphberg.
Q10 Describe how Sept and Fritz frustrated Michael in his conspiracies against the King?
Ans: Sept and Fritz played a very significant role in the novel "The Prisoner of Zenda". Both were loyal and faithful to the King. They kept Michael aloof from the throne. When the king was unconscious they persuaded Rassendyll to impersonate and play the role of King. They also guarded Rassendyll against the Knaves of Michael who wanted to kill him. They also saved the imprisoned King and thus saved the throne of Ruritania from a devilish person.
Q11 Madam de Mauban betrayed Black Michael rightly. Discuss with the reference of the novel "The Prisoner of Zenda."
Ans: Mauban is a rich widow and ambitions. She is an educated woman and highly influential. She loved Michael with her heart and soul and wanted to marry him. Michael only wanted to be the king and marry Flavia. He deceived her and used her for his evil purposes. She was loyal to him but when it dawned on her that he has no interest in her she started to help the opponent part. She wrote letters to Rassendyll and Flavia and informed them about the evil intentions of Black Michael. As she knew that Michael was not the legal king so she did not help him in his evil plans.
Q12 What do you know about the six and what role do they play in the novel "The Prisoner of Zenda?"
Ans: Six are the ruffians and the villain of the Duke. He used them against his enemy Rassendyll. They are also known as "The Hired Guns," Rupert of Hentzue is the leading member of this gang. Among these six three are foreigners and three have belonged to Ruritania. One the Frenchman one Belgian and one belonged to England. They are always ready to cut their throat if Michael orders them. They play a role in fighting with Rassendyll and try to complete the devilish plot of Michael.
Q13 "Say, I am Christian or say I am jealous. May God shall I see him marry her." Discuss the above statement with the reference of the novel "The Prisoner of Zenda."
Ans: This is the statement of Madam de Mauban. When she invites Rassendyll in Summer House she gives some important secrets to him. Rassendyll becomes doubtful about her but she clarified that she not only wants to help him because she is sincere but she loves Michael so much that she couldn't bear any other person in his life. She also explains that she couldn't see Michael to marry Princes Flavia and reject her.
Q14 "Before God, you are finest Elphberg of them all but I have been eaten the King's bread and I am the King's servant." Discuss.
Ans: On the Occasion when Rassendyll impressed by the beauty of Princess Flavia and he is near to disclose his identity Colonel Sapt interrupted him. He becomes angry at him and reminds him that who he was. Rassendyll is very much confused and couldn't want to prolong his impersonation so he requests Sapt to go to Zenda and bring the real King back Colonel Sapt admits before him that Rassendyll is a wise and intelligent, and more than that he is a good and sincere friend. He can be the suitable person for the poet of King but he cannot deceive the king because he was eaten his bread and butter.
Q15 Briefly describe that the wisdom and loyalty of Colonel Sapt saved the throne of Ruritania.
Ans: The king Rudolf Elphberg seems not a responsible person. He drinks intoxicated wine before the one day of his coronation. He is unaware of the evil plans of his brother and trusts him. It is colonel Sapt who requested Rassendyll to impersonate and save the throne. He also guided him how to deal with the different people. He stopped Rassendyll by disclosing his identity before Flavia. He also gets the King free from the confinement of Michael.
Q16 What role Princess Flavia plays in the novel "The Prisoner of Zenda?"
Ans: Princess Flavia is the cousin and fiancée of the king Rudolf Elphberg. She is a graceful lady with pace face and blue eyes. She is popular among the people of Ruritania and she takes a keen interest in the political affairs of Ruritania. She advised Rassendyll to be conscious of Michael because she knows the evil nature of him. She frankly makes the confession of love and meets Rassendyll when it dawned on her that Rassendyll" is not the real king although; she loved him but sacrifices for the sake of her country and people. She is a sacrificing responsible and ideal lady in the novel "The Prisoner of Zenda".
Q17 Why could Black Michael not expose the real identity of the imposter?
Ans: It is fact that Black Michael knew the person who had been impersonated and play crowned but he could not expose the identity of Rudolf Rassendyll. If he did so, he would have to admit that he had made the real King prisoner. It means that without disclosing his evil he couldn't expose Rassendyll.
Q18 Describe the scene of coronation ceremony that how it took place?
Ans: Coronation ceremony is the most important and striking scene that took place in the novel "The Prisoner of Zenda". When the real King became unconscious Rassendyll impersonated and played the role of King Rassendyll, Sapt and Fritz were welcomed by the Ruritanians and nobody could suspect that the King was not real. The procession rode to the church through cheers, blessings and waving handkerchiefs all around. The King knell before the priest in the church and he was crowned, Princess Flavia and the high officials including Michael kissed the hands of Rassendyll.
Q19 Describe briefly that how Flavia sacrifice her love for the sake of her country?
She agreed to scarify her love for the sake of her people and country.
Q20 How Rassendyll saved the life of the king and crown for Ruritania?
Ans: Rassendyll is the hero of the novel "The Prisoner of Zenda" He is young, handsome tall and very brave person. He agrees to impersonate and in this way, he takes the risk of his own life only for the sake of king and Crown. He also takes risks at Summer House, Jacob's ladder and then in Zenda. It is his bravery and courage that he saves King from Duke's prison.
Q21 Describe the double standard role of Madam de Mauban and also explain that why does she do so?
Ans: Madam de Mauban plays a very strange role in the novel "The Prisoner of Zenda". She loved Black Michael but he only used her for his evil plans when she comes to know that he wants to marry Flavia only to get the throne. She becomes jealous and helps Rassendyll to gets the king free so that Michael couldn't fulfill his evil plans. She also informs Flavia to avoid her meetings with Michael. She knew that her success only in the failure of Michael. She wanted to make Michael’s opponents successful to win Black Michael.
Q22 How can you describe the love circle in the Novel "The Prisoner of Zenda"?
Ans: In the Novels "The Prisoner of Zenda: also presents the romantic picture and the love circle between the characters. There are two major female characters one is Princess Flavia and the other is Mauban. Flavia loved Rassendyll who is not the real King while Mauban loved Michael. Michael has no interest in Mauban and loves Flavia but Flavia rejects her. Rupert loves Mauban but she ignores him. There is no love understanding between the lovers nor can they win each other.
Q23 How the last meeting of Rassendyll and Flavia is striking? Discuss.
Ans: Flavia doesn't know that Rassendyll is not the real King. She also falls in love with him. On the other side, Rassendyll impressed so much by the beauty of Flavia that he gives his soul and heart to her. When the real King is got free Rassendyll has to leave for his country. Both the lovers meet in Zenda when Rassendyll is wounded and Flavia is near to him. Neither she could say him goodbye nor to marry him. But they agree that they would remember each other in their whole life.
Q24 Even the Strongest man sometimes, bows before his passions and commits a mistake, Discuss with the reference of the character of Rassendyll.
Ans: It is fact that Rassendyll is a strong and brave person. He is an adventurous person but at the point when he meets Flavia he impressed so much by the touching beauty of Flavia that he is near to expose himself before the lady if Sapt would not have come on the nick of time. It shows that sometimes a strong person becomes weak against the evil forces.
Q25 Black Michael always uses other for his evil purposes and never fights himself. Discuss.
Q26 How and why Black Michael kidnapped the king?
Ans: Black Michael kidnapped the king Rudolf because he was jealous and he wanted to be the King of Ruritania. He was the step-brother of the King and didn't deserve for that post according to the rule of the country so he tried to get it by using the illegal ways, He sent drugged wine to his brother and made him unconscious. He also sent guards to kidnap the king and kept him in his prison. He knew that if the King couldn't reach in coronation he would be the King of Ruritania and also marry Princess Flavia.
Q27 Why the play “The Prisoner of Zenda" is called an adventurous play?
Ans: The play "The Prisoner of Zenda is called an adventurous play because the whole of the novel is full of adventures. Every Character of the novel is connected with the different adventurous acts. The hero of the novel Rudolf Rassendyll life totally circles around the different characters. The King of Ruritania also acts like an adventurous person and even the female characters face many tragedies and extraordinary situations. So the play is right to be called the adventurous story.
Q28 Who is the hero of the novel “The Prisoner of Zenda??”
Q29 Who do you think is the Villain of the play and why?
Ans: Villain is that person who plays obnoxious things. In this regard, we can say that all the negative and cheap roles are connected with the personality of Black Michael so he is duly called to be the villain of the play. In the whole of the novel, Black Michael remains selfish conspirator and evil does. He is rightly called to be the villain of the play.
Q30 Who is the heroine of the play “The Prisoner of Zenda"?
Ans: In this novel, two ladies play a very significant role. One is Madame de-Mauban and other is princes Flavia. Both of the ladies cannot be ignored but Princes Flavia plays more significant and important part. Due to his sacrifices for his country and of her noble nature she deserves to be called the heroine of the play "The Prisoner of Zenda".
Q31 What is the role of Colonel Sapt in the play "The Prisoner of Zenda"? Explain.
Ans: Colonel Sapt is in the service of King Rudolf. He is a loyal brave and courageous soldier. He devotes her life for the King and in spite of King's irresponsibility’s he is not ready to disfavor him. He is the person who persuaded Rassendyll to impersonate and save Ruritania. He is always in front of every critical situation. He is not only brave but intelligent and active. He also stops Rassendyll to disclose his reality in the presence of Princess Flavia. One can call him as the second hero of the play "The Prisoner of Zenda".
Q32 What do you know about the lady Madam de Mauban? What role does she play in the novel "The Prisoner of Zenda"?
Ans: Madame Antoinette de Mauban is handsome and rich widow aged about thirty. She is also a foreigner and visits to Ruritania to enjoy the coronation ceremony of the King of Ruritania. She is one of the great ladies who always favor Black Michael and applause him. She plays a double role in the novel that on one side she wants to help Rassendyll and on the other hand she is compelled to save Black Michael. She proves herself to be the loyal and faithful of Black Michael but due to his oblique nature, she couldn't save him.
Q33 What is your view about the King of Ruritania? Do you favor him to be the King of Ruritania?
Ans: King Rudolf is newly ascended to the throne and all the people around Ruritania come to take part in the great ceremony called the coronation ceremony. The people of Ruritania want to see him as King but also due to his irresponsible nature he drinks wine and became unconscious right before the one day of coronation. If is Rassendyll and Sapt who save throne for him. He even became disappointed and sham to Endeavor for his from. He remains confined and waits for his death, although he is liked by the people of Ruritania no sensible person can favor him to hold the post of king due to his drunken and irresponsible nature.
Q34 Who are Six and what is there duty?
All these six guard the Duke and keep him informed of any danger.
Q35 Who is far most daring and the dangerous of six?
Ans: Although the six considered being the most dangerous guards of the Duke the far most daring and dangerous is Rupert and he is the only one to remain alive at the end of the story. He also fell in love with the lady Madam de Mauban and cheats his boss. Black Michael doesn't believe him. He even intends to kill the Duke and the king and wants Rassendyll to be the King. At last, he kills Black Michael wounds Rassendyll and runs away.
Q36 Describe that how the King was released?
Ans: Rudolf Elphberg, The King of Ruritania was released by his brave soldiers with the help of Rassendyll. Many attempts were made to kill Rassendyll in Summer House, outside the Castle but in vain. Brines was offered but he couldn't be bought. He attacked Castle one night and saved the King. Michael was killed by Rupert and Rassendyll was wounded.
Q37 Give an account of the ball given for Princess Flavia at the conclusion for which Rassendyll decided to rescue the King?
Ans: The people of Ruritania loved Princess Flavia but she was completely ignored by the king. Sapt and Rassendyll suggested Rassendyll give a ball party and where Princess Flavia. Rassendyll opened it by dancing with Flavia and put a garland around her neck. When they were in isolation he submitted his love for Flavia and Flavia also did the same. He was at the peak of his passions and was near to expose himself when Sapt interrupted him.
Q38 Describe the meeting between Rassendyll and Rupert of Hentzue in the street of Zenda.
Ans: One night when Rassendyll was roaming with his party in the Castle of Zenda they had a fight between Michael and four of Rassendyll's side deed. Rupert suggested Rassendyll kill the King, Black Michael, marry Flavia and secure throne himself. This suggestion struck Rassendyll and refused the offer of Rupert.
Q39 Describe Rassendyll's last attempt to release the King, How did Rassendyll and his men get the Castle of Zenda? Or
Describe the last affray in Zenda. Or
How Black Michael was killed and gets the King free?
Ans: First Rassendyll party got full information about Black Michael and then planned to enter into the Castle by the help of Johann, They planned that Mauban would cry and they would arrest Michael when he will come out to help the lady. Sapt will fight with Rupert and kill him. They acted upon this plan but Michael was killed by Rupert. Rassendyll got the keys from De Gautet by killing him. They at once reached the prison and took the King under their custody.
Q40 Describe Rupert escape from Zenda and his last encounter with Rassendyll in the forest of Zenda.
Ans: When Rupert killed Black Michael he runs away by draw-bridge. Rassendyll followed him and challenged him to fight. There was a fight between Rassendyll and Rupert. Rupert wounded Rassendyll and he was about to kill him but Fritz came there in the nick of time and Rupert run away by snatching a horse from a farm girl.
(DETAILED QUESTION – ANSWER)
Q.1 Who is more devilish —Black Michael or Rupert of Hentzau?
Ans. Black Michael, as well as Rupert of Hentzau, are hateful villains. Both are scoundrels and detestable by nature. Black Michael, because of his evil and vindictive nature, is definitely more devilish of the two. He is mean and heartless. He is fully aware that King Rudolf Elphberg is engaged to Princess Flavia, yet he desires to marry her.
He hatches a plot to murder King Rudolf Elphberg and that is why, he gets him kidnapped and imprisons him, in the castle of Zenda. Rupert is just as mean as Michael, but he is bold and courageous He has the touch of the devil about him He is all for money and fame. That is why he assists Michael. He is fond of Lady Mauban and desires to marry her. He is a reckless character and sincere to none. But of the two, Michael is more devilish. Being a coward, he is mean and crafty and uses Rupert for his own benefit. Rupert kills him over Lady Mauban. How rightly it is said,
“A villain is an engineer of his own catastrophe”
Q.2 Compare the two Rudolf’s briefly or Who deserves to be the King of Ruritania?
Ans. As regards legality is concerned, Rudolf Rassendyll does not deserve to be the King. He is an Englishman, a foreigner. Thus he does not classify, to be the King of Ruritania. However, he does possess inborn qualities of leadership which weigh heavily in his favor. While Rudolf Elphberg, being the heir to the throne of Ruritania has the right to be King, though he lacks the qualities of a King.
As Sapt points out,
“You are the finest Elphberg, of them all”
This is a great feather in the cap of Rudolf Rassendyll. Indeed, compared to Rudolf Rassendyll, King Rudolf Elphberg is very passive throughout the novel. He doesn’t make any effort to escape from the prison. Towards the end of the novel, with tears in his eyes, he thanks Rudolf Rassendyll for coming to his rescue. His conduct is most unbecoming for a king. In my view, he does not deserve to be King.
Q.3 Which of the two female characters, in The Prisoner of Zenda, do you like most and why?
Ans. Princess Flavia is presented as a paragon of beauty and virtue. She is extremely charming and impresses everyone with her charm and grace. She carries herself with a lot of dignity and elegance. Lady Mauban is also an extremely beautiful and a charming French widow. She is so lovely, and charming that she is desired by all the aristocratic men in Paris But she is no match for Princess Flavia, as far as dignity, grace, and sincerity are concerned.
Lady Mauban is an opportunist. She takes advantage of her beauty and gets emotionally involved with Duke Michael. This she does, so that she would rub shoulders with the royalty, by marrying Duke Michael. In order to fulfill her ambition, she gets involved in intrigues. She is jealous and very ambitious. She starts hating Princess Flavia, when she learns that Duke Michael, intends to marry her, on becoming King. Thus, she betrays Duke Michael and starts helping Rudolf Rassendyll. This is conduct most unbecoming for a lady. Whereas, one cannot associate such low and cheap measures with Princess Flavia, who is every inch a Princess because of her chaste character. She sacrifices her love, for the sack of her country and love for her people. This is why I like the character of Princess Flavia.
Q.4 How does Princess Flavia react when she comes to know the truth of the fake King?
Ans. She reacts most naturally. When she learns about the identity of the fake king (Rudolf Rassendyll), she is in a state of shock. The shock is unbearable for her. Her nerves go out of control and she falls unconscious.
This is the climax of the novel when Princess Flavia comes to know that, there is a gentleman, who is identical in appearance to the King.
She says, “Can’t I recognize my love? Rudolf, my love!”
Colonel Sapt could hardly speak, uttered,
“He is your love, but not the King.”
“Why young Rupert’s sword had spared him (King Rudolf) for that sharper pang?”
Q.5 Who are ‘The Six” What part do they play in the novel?
Ans. The Six, is the gang of ruffians, hired by Black Michael, in order to get rid of Rudolf Rassendyll, the fake king and help Black Michael to become King of the six, three are Ruritanians, (Lauengram, Krafstein, and Rupert of Hentzau) and the other three are De Gautel, Bersonin, and Detchard. They are all ruthless killers, but Rupert is by far the most daring and dangerous of the six. He is the leader of the gang and the only one, who survives, until the very end of the novel. The Six are described in the novel as,
Multinational cutthroats, who could kill anyone without batting an eyelid. Black Michael hires their services, to ascend to the throne of Ruritania, by fair means or foul.
Multinational cutthroats, who could kill anyone without batting an eyelid. Black Michael hires their services, to ascend to the throne of Ruritania, by fair means or foul.
In fact, Rupert makes a couple of attempts on Rudolf Rassendyll’s life, but luck saves him. At the Summer House too, Rupert makes an unsuccessful attempt on his life, but he manages to escape So, the main job of the six is, to kill Rudolf Ressendyll.
Q.6 Why is Black Michael not regarded as a suitable person to be the king of Ruritania?
Ans. Black Michael is the younger brother of King Rudolf Elphberg. He is the late King’s younger son, a result of a morganatic marriage. Since he is not from the royal family, he could not become King of Ruritania.
This reason apart, he is not regarded as a suitable person to become king because he is a villain and evil by nature. Hence, such a person is most unsuitable, to be King. Also, because he comes from a low family background, this also rules him out, to become King.
This reason apart, he is not regarded as a suitable person to become king because he is a villain and evil by nature. Hence, such a person is most unsuitable, to be King. Also, because he comes from a low family background, this also rules him out, to become King.
Most importantly, because of his evil nature, Sapt regards him as most unsuitable, to be King. He felt, if Black Michael becomes King, the country would be ruined. Besides, if Black Michael becomes king, he would murder King Rudolf Elphberg and also get married to Princess Flavia Black Michael’s friendship with the ruffians and criminals also makes him unsuitable for the job. To be King, one should be morally upright and noble, qualities which were foreign to Michael’s nature.
Q.7 What plan did Duke Michael make to prevent King Rudolf Elphberg, from attending the coronation?
Ans. Black Michael is determined to ascend to the throne of Ruritania, by fair means or foul, for which he is ineligible. So, he hatches a plan, to prevent King Rudolf Elphberg, from attending the coronation ceremony.
Duke Michael knows that King Rudolf Elphberg is a careless and a happy go lucky, sort of fellow, who loves alcohol and attending hunting expeditions etc.
Duke Michael knows that King Rudolf Elphberg is a careless and a happy go lucky, sort of fellow, who loves alcohol and attending hunting expeditions etc.
So, he invites him, to his state (Zenda), for a dinner at the Lodge. King Rudolf Elphberg and all the royal family attend the dinner at 9 P.M. While the dinner is in full swing Duke Michael, knowing his brother’s weakness for wine, sends him a rare bottle of wine, which is drugged. The King consumes this drugged wine and becomes unconscious. This is Duke Michael’s plan to prevent King Rudolf Elphberg from attending the coronation ceremony. The drugged wine is meant to make him unconscious, for a long period of time. This is Duke Michael’s plan to become King. But his plan could not succeed as Col. Sapt persuades Rudolf Rassendyll, the King’s look alike, to become king.
Q.8 If love were all, I could follow you in rags. Elaborate.
Ans. These words are uttered by Princess Flavia, in the last meeting with Rudolf Rassendyll. This is the most tragic episode of the novel. She comes to know the true identity of her lover, Rudolf Rassendyll. The war for the crown shatters her dreams. All in despair and disappointment, she decides to feel contented with Rudolf Elphberg.
It is then she says,
“If love had been the only thing, you would have let the King die in his cell.”
She has a great love for her country and her people. By getting married to Rudolf Rassendyll, she would have disappointed her countrymen and at the same time, going against the wishes of the royal house of Elphberg. This she does not want to do.
She tells Rudolf Rassendyll,
“Honour binds a woman too Rudolf My honor lies in being true to my country’ and my house (the royal house of Elphberg)”.
Q.9 “I have been bitten by a (mongrel) dog,” Rassendyll says to Black Michael.
What does he mean by this sarcastic remark?
Ans. One of Michael’s Six had wounded Rudolf Rassendyll in a fight. The six are assigned to kill Rassendyll by Duke Michael.
Duke Michael meets Rassendyll and inquires about his injury.
The phrase mongrel dog means, a dog of mixed breed. This remark is a reference to Duke Michael’s family background, whose mother was a commoner. Although his father was king, he doesn’t have blue blood. He does not belong to the royal family. This is a sarcastic remark by Rudolf Rassendyll, which hurts Duke Michael. He replies, looking at him,
“The dog is very dangerous Sir, it does not spare anyone in the second bite”
Q.10 Why did Lady Mauban betray Black Michael?
Ans. Lady Mauban betrays Michael, for her own personal interest. She was in love with him and wanted to marry him. But when she learns that Michael was not sincere to her and wanted to marry Princess Flavia, she betrays him, only to keep him for herself.
She is externally ambitious and jealous by nature. She was dreaming that by marrying Michael she would become Queen of Ruritania. But when she comes to know that Michael was simply using her as a tool, to carry out his own evil designs, she betrays him. Michael was using lady Mauban, as he hoped to bring Rassendyll under his control, with her help.
So, lady Mauban simply changes her attitude towards Michael. She does this to frustrate Michael’s designs. She knew that if Michael succeeded in becoming King of Ruritania that would have been the end of her dream. She is clever and therefore helps Rassendyll so that she may topple Michael’s applecart. Which she does. So, she betrays him only to keep Michael to herself.
Q.11 Why could Black Michael not expose the true identity of the imposter?
Ans. The reason why Black Michael could not expose Rudolf Rassendyll (Rassendyll), the imposter because he would have himself got into trouble. Col Sapt and Fritz would have exposed his foul-play, in order to prevent him from attending the coronation.
Earlier, Rassendyll, who was in Zenda to attend the coronation, met Col Sapt in the woods of Zenda. Rassendyll who was leaning against the tree-trunk and sound asleep, attracts the attention of Col Sapt and Fritz by his identical resemblance, that he bore to Prince Rudolf Elphberg.
Col Sapt persuades Rassendyll to impersonate the Prince, in order to save the country, from the evil designs of Black Michael. Rassendyll after some hesitation finally decides to impersonate the King and thus frustrates Michael’s plans.
Because of Rassendyll, Michael’s plans are shattered. Although Michael knows who the imposter is, yet he could not expose him, for the fear of getting into trouble himself.
Q.12 “Heaven does not always make the right men king!” said Fritz. Do you think Rassendyll deserved to be the king of Ruritania? If so, why?
Ans. I entirely agree with Fritz’s statement that, “Heaven does not always make the right men king!” This is a great compliment for Rassendyll. It means, although he is not king, yet God had blessed him with the qualities of kingship. He has the qualities of leadership which Prince Rudolf does not possess.
King Rassendyll has all the necessary qualities which a king should have. He has a very inspiring personality, very dignified and full of confidence. Even Princess Flavia compliments him by saying, “You have become very serious and devoted after becoming king”. This shows that Rassendyll has wisdom, intelligence, authority and a very dignified personality.
Everyone is impressed by his dashing personality and Col. Sapt is impressed also with his courage and sincerity with which he performs his, duty. There is no doubt that without Rassendyll’s courage and planning, the real king could not have been saved.
Towards the end of the novel, when the real king is restored as king of Ruritania, and Rasendy1l prepares to leave for London, it is then that Fritz says, “Heaven does not always make the right men king!”. Indeed, there is no doubt that Rassendyll possesses qualities of leadership, authority and courage which are very necessary to be a successful king.
Q.13 “Heaven does not always make the right men king.” Whose statement is this and what does it mean?
Life — what a life? Upon a moorland bare
To see love coming and see love depart.
Q.14 Compare and contrast the characters of Rudolf Elphberg and Black Michael.
Ans. The two characters are totally opposite to each other. Rudolf Elphberg has blue blood in his veins. He is totally a classical dissolute prince of the fairy tales. Charming, smart, generous but loose in character. He is fond of wine and women and takes his heredity for granted. He remains passive throughout the story.
Elphberg’s half-brother Black Michael is rather a self-made man. Although he was awarded the governorship of Zenda by the late king he has proven his worth as an administrator. Most of the people in Ruritania like to see him as the king instead of Elphberg. He is a villain but has a capability to run the affairs of government as well.
Q.15 Why does Rassendyll disguise himself as Elphberg?
Ans. Rudolf Rassendyll goes to Ruritania in the hope to attend coronation ceremony of
the new king, Rudolf Elphberg. Elphberg meets Rassendyll in the forest near the castle of Zenda. They both dine and drink together with Sapt and Fritz. The wine sent by Black Michael makes the king unconscious. In that situation, Sapt persuades Rassendyll to go in place of the king and attend the ceremony as Rassendyll is a true copy of Elphberg. In order to persuade Rassendyll, Sapt also discloses the conspiracy hatched by Black Michael to seize the throne of Ruritania for himself. Rassendyll quite hesitatingly agrees to Sapt’s plan.
the new king, Rudolf Elphberg. Elphberg meets Rassendyll in the forest near the castle of Zenda. They both dine and drink together with Sapt and Fritz. The wine sent by Black Michael makes the king unconscious. In that situation, Sapt persuades Rassendyll to go in place of the king and attend the ceremony as Rassendyll is a true copy of Elphberg. In order to persuade Rassendyll, Sapt also discloses the conspiracy hatched by Black Michael to seize the throne of Ruritania for himself. Rassendyll quite hesitatingly agrees to Sapt’s plan.
Q.16 Why does Black Michael not kill the king?
Ans. Sapt proves to be quite intelligent in persuading Rassendyll to play the part of the king. Rassendyll’s personification plays the major role to save the life of the captive king. If Black Michael kills Elphberg, it will be very difficult for Michael to prove Rassendyll as an imposter. How can he prove Rassendyll in imposter without revealing his own guilt and crime? Therefore, it is necessary for Michael to kill Rassendyll before Elphberg. That is why he puts his all efforts to kill Rassendyll first.
Q.17 Describe Duke Michael’s plot to deprive King Elphberg of his throne.
Q 18 What do you mean by Cloak and Dagger story?
Ans. Cloak and dagger story is marked by melodramatic intrigues and often by espionage. Anthony Hope has tried to create such atmosphere in his novel “The Prisoner of Zenda”. The story begins with Rassendyll’s idea of adventure to visit Ruritania and witness the coronation ceremony of the king Rudolf Elpherg V. As the story proceeds, king Elphberg and Rassendyll become prey to such conspiracies. The king is imprisoned, Rassendyll is attacked at the summer house, after great struggle, bloodshed, and killing of the villain along with his supporters, the real king is restored to the throne. Afterward, Rassendyll who was impersonating the king returns to England.
Q.19 What is meant by a Morganatic Marriage? Explain with reference to the novel The Prisoner of Zenda.
Ans. In the context of European royalty, a morganatic marriage is between people of unequal social rank, which prevents the passage of the husband’s titles and privileges to the wife and any children born of the marriage. It is also possible for a woman to marry a man of lower rank morganatically. Duke Black Michael was the issue of morganatic marriage, that is, from the second wife of the late king Rudolf IV, Therefore, it was illegal for Michael to become the king of Ruritania in any ease whatsoever.
Q.20 In what way Rudolf Rassendyll and King Rudolf Elphberg differ from each other in character and behavior?
Q.21 Who is the hero in the novel "The Prisoner of Zenda"? Describe some of his chief qualities.
Ans. Rudolf Rassendyll is the hero and central character of the novel. The integral character of Rassendyll holds the attention of the readers throughout the exciting events of the novel. Rassendyll possesses a prime personality and is linked with the main incidents of the novel in one way or the other. Rassendyll is fond of adventures and loves to roam about instead of sticking to a job. He is also a good mastermind who handles difficult situations seeming effortless. The desire to participate in sensational events is always there in his heart. This desire was fulfilled by his play-acting of King Elphberg. Rassendyll is a sincere man. He does not want to keep the throne to himself. He carries out all his responsibilities with firmness and confidence.
Rudolf Rassendyll proves himself to be a man of outstanding attributes and full of wisdom. He plays the role of the king very intelligently. The romantic aspect of Rassendyll’s personality shows that his heart throbs for Princess Flavia but the sense of duty and devotion to the throne is far stronger in him. He sacrificed his love at the altar of duty and left Ruritania with tears of regret in the eyes of Princess Flavia, words of gratitude on the lips of the king, applause and appreciation from all the countrymen and feeling of satisfaction on his own part.
Q.22 Why does Mauban write a letter to Rassendyll, impersonating the real king and what is the importance of this letter in the novel?
Ans. Madam de Mauban writes a letter to Rassendyll, who is impersonating the real king, marked “A” on the instructions of Black Michael. Michael plans to kill Rassendyll in the Summer House through his three hired men, then murder king Elphberg, who is made captive in the old castle of Zenda and afterward become king himself. The letter has much importance because it seems clear that Mauban shifts her sympathies from Michael to the kidnapped king for two reasons.
Firstly, she wishes that Michael should in no way marry Princess Flavia in order to become the king. Secondly, she wants to inform Rassendyll about the whereabouts of the kidnapped king.
Q.23 What is meant by the ball? Who proposes to arrange it and why?
Ans. The ball is a dance party. After the coronation of the king, there was observed increasing restlessness among the masses due to the delayed betrothal of the King and the Princess. This was stated in the intelligence report by the Prefect of Police, Strelsau, narrated by Sapt to Rassendyll. The people were resented because of King’s nonchalance towards Princess Flavia. They wanted to see the King and the Princess married as soon as possible. In order to avert the offended feelings of the masses, Sapt arranges a ball for the Princess Flavia and the King. The King and the Princess is the first pair to dance in the ball. The ball proved a great success to please the masses.
Q.24 “The devil has his share in most things.” Who is the speaker of these words?
What does he mean to say and to whom does this dialogue refer?
Ans. The speaker of these words is Sapt. Fritz at the station to bid farewell to Rassendyll, with deep emotions, said, “Heaven does not always choose right men as kings” Sapt answered with these words and referred to an ongoing clash of right and wrong throughout the life. Sapt acknowledges Rassendyll as a sincere man who does not want to keep the throne to himself and carries out all his responsibilities with firmness and confidence. In the eyes of Sapt and Frits, Rassendyll proves himself to be a man of outstanding attributes and full of wisdom and plays the role of the king very intelligently. Sapt’s line refers to Rudolf Elphberg V because the actual king has nothing better than the imposter Rassendyll.
Q.25 Describe the tea table incident in detail.
Black Michael desire’s for the throne of Ruritania, made him adopt unfair means of getting the throne. Firstly he drugged his brother who was going to be crowned the next day. However, he couldn’t do so because of Rassendyll who visited the kingdom on those days. It was not his nature to sit peacefully he rather made a successful plan to prolong the duration of Rassendyll rule as imposter over Ruritania by kidnapping the king. This made him work on another plan. He infused his beloved Antoinette De Mauban to write an anonymous letter to Rassendyll and call him to the “Summer House”. The Rassendyll described the place as follows:
“The summer house was a bare little room, furnished only with a couple of chairs and a small iron table, such as one sees in a tea garden or an open-air café.”
“Sapt we must play high, we must force the game.”
He, therefore, went there, and found Lady Mauban inside the “Summer House”. She disclosed that it was all an intrigue to trap him. She then explained the entire plan of Black Michael, according to which, he was to be murdered that night and with the news of his death the king was also to be splayed. His body was to be found at the low quarter of the town, providing Michael a handsome opportunity to proclaim the state of siege in Strelsau and arrest Col Sapt and Fritz were to be arrested in charge of assassinating the king. Further Black Michael intended to marry Princess Flavia anyhow and becoming the ruler of the kingdom. She never wanted that. Therefore she provided him a safe route to safety, but due to the sudden early arrival of the Duke’s rogues made her plan inactive. However, Rassendyll’s activeness made him save his life. He gave an impact to the men who were outside that he is interested in their offer, which was:
“…A safe conduct to the frontier, and the fifty thousand pounds English.”
“…I’ve got the finest tea table story that you have ever heard.”
Q.26 Heaven doesn’t always make the right men king!” said Sapt. Who deserved to be the king of Ruritania Rassendyll – or Elphberg? Discuss.
Ans. “Blind fortune still bestows her gifts on such as cannot use them.”
Rassendyll deserved more than Elphberg to be the king of Ruritania. There are many reasons behind the statement. Rudolf Elphberg was the royal blood and the real inheritor to the throne, but, he was not a mature and responsible guy that he could uphold this responsibility. He was also a character as well. He was fond of drinking to a great extent. Sapt also confirmed it by saying:
“They know his illnesses too well. He’s been ‘ill’ before!”
Moreover, he was also unpopular among the general public of Ruritania and was supported by the upper class and aristocracy only. However, when Rassendyll was impersonating as the king, every act of his expressed the kingly grace. He when entered Strelsau, the Ruritania capital, he goes unguarded through the streets of Michael’s quarter to increase the king’s popularity. I describe this act of his as this:
“I will have my people see that their king trusts them.”
Rassendyll proved to be a man of dignity and caliber. His actions not only made him close to Princess Flavia but also more famous among the royal servants. Marshal Straken also comments on him that:
“I have seen many Elphbergs…you have borne yourself as a wise king and a brave man; aye, and you have proved as courteous a gentleman and as gallant a lover as any that have been of the House.”
He was an honest guy and down to heart. He never intended to cheat Princess Flavia always kept his conscience alive even during weak moments. This was noticed not only by the Sapt and Fritz but Rupert of Hentzau also noticed it well. While talking to Michael, he seems to admire Rassendyll for this:
“The devil sends the princess a finer man than Heaven had marked out for her.”
Rassendyll was also more loyal towards the kingdom. Even after leaving the kingdom, he doesn’t disclose the confidential information of the kingdom to others. This shows his dedication towards the state. Moreover this, he also gave a great sacrifice of love in the favor of Ruritania interests. He never tried to know again what became of his love, Princess Flavia leads a painful life. The king rightly said:
“No man but you could have done it.”
124
“You have shown me how to play the king.”
Q.27 “If love were all” Elaborate these words of Princess Flavia with the reference of the novel.
Ans. The novel The Prisoner of Zenda is also a story of the supreme sacrifice of love. When Rassendyll started impersonating the king Elphberg he was not known to the fragrance of love but Princess Flavia heavenly beauty made him to fell in love with her. On the other side, Flavia was also touched by the magnetic personality of Rassendyll. This resulted in the lightening of fire of love on both sides. With the passage of time, this bond got stronger and stronger. Fritz also disclosed that:
“Princess had become most attached to the king. Since the coronation, her feelings have undergone a marked development.”
Princess also confessed her feelings at the ball to Rassendyll. She said:
“Oh! If you were not the king! Then I show you how I love you! How is that I love you now Rudolf.”
She further added that:
“If you were a convict I the prison of Strelsau you would be my king.”
At the end of the novel, when the curtain of Rassendyll’s true identity falls, it came as a severe shock to Princess Flavia. But she managed to get out of this shock. In her last meeting with the Rassendyll, before his departure from Ruritania, she talked with him in a sensible and rational tone. Although it was not easy for her to deal with the situation but shelter her emotions down and sacrificed her love. She said:
“If love were the only thing I could follow you – in rags if need to the world’s end; for you hold my heart in the hollow of your hand! But is love the only thing?”
She was well aware of her repute in the general Ruritania public. It was not her dignity, in fact, she was worried about, it was the dignity of the Royal family. She was also known to the public’s feelings about her getting married to the Ruritanian king. If now she would have refused to marry the king and went with Rassendyll, this could have resulted in the public’s fury. She therefore said:
“Honor binds a woman too, Rudolf. My honor lies in being true to my country and my house.”
“All my life will be empty and my heart dead.”
She also added while speaking to Rassendyll that:
“Your ring will always be on my finger your heart in my heart. But you must go and I must stay.”
This attitude of Princess Flavia sets an example for a woman that whatever comes in life the national. It is rightly said:
“A man can do as he will, but not will as he will.”
Schopenhauer Rassendyll later wrote in his memoirs while remembering Flavia’s sacrifice:
‘‘I can thank God that I loved the noblest lady in the world, the most gracious and beautiful, and that there was nothing in my love that made her fall short in her high duty.’’
Q.28 Princess Flavia is an ideal woman. Discuss.
Ans. Princess Flavia is the leading female character in the novel “The Prisoner of Zenda”. She is the first cousin and fiancée of Rudolf Elphberg and the immediate inheritor to the throne. She is bearing the bewitching personality and fascinates the readers by the elegant attitude. She is extremely popular with the general public due to her dignity and elegance and they want her to be the queen of Ruritania. Her appearance can be perceived by Rudolf Rassendyll’s saying:
“A girl pale and lovely, surmounted by a crown of glorious Elphberg hair.”
Princess Flavia is a young, captivating and decent lady. She possesses a character full of virtues and therefore commands great respect and admiration among the people. She is a noble and kind-hearted woman.
“Trust men, and they will be true to you; treat them greatly, and they will show themselves great.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Princess Flavia is a wise woman. She is known to Michael’s treacherous and hypocrite nature and advises Rassendyll to be cautious of his intrigues.
“Do be careful! You don’t – indeed you don’t- keep enough watch on him.”
She is a lady with elements of love in her heart. Rassendyll makes her fall in love with him and she starts loving him from the core of heart. She admitted it at the ball:
“Oh! If you were not the king! Then I show you how I love you! How is that I love you now Rudolf.”
“If you were a convict I the prison of Strelsau you would be my king.”
She is an also lady of high character. She upholds the prestige of her homeland and sacrifices her love for Rassendyll. She is well known for her position in Ruritania and with a rational approach, she refused to go with Rassendyll. She said:
“Honor binds a woman too. My honor lies in being true to my country and my house.”
She understands the maze of life and hence made a wise selection at the right moment. Although her decision broke her from inside she proved to be an ideal woman. She, while bidding farewell to Rassendyll said:
“Your ring will always be on my finger, your heart in my heart. But you must go and I must stay.”
Princess Flavia proves to be not only the leading female character of the novel but also the most lively and integral personality. She holds the attention of the readers because of her charm, duty and incredible virtues. She respected the wishes of the people and the country and gave up her love for the sake of her country. She is a complete symbol of love, beauty, and sacrifice, which makes her an admirable character?
“To love one person with a private love is poor and miserable, to love all is glorious.”
Q.29 Describe the Coronation Ceremony.
Ans. The novel ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ is mainly about adventure and romance. It is about a young Englishman who goes to Ruritania for a holiday. Unexpectedly, he had no choice but to impersonate the king to save him and his throne.
The Coronation procession passes along the main road of the New Town. It is a splendid sight. Everywhere, bells are ringing merrily and bands are playing joyfully. Flags are flying high and the crowd cheering wildly. Every window and every balcony is crowded with spectators. Roses are showered on the King by beautifully-dressed women.
Among this joyous celebration, there is a suspense situation happens in the Old Town. As the procession approaches the Old Town, Marshal Strakencz gives an order for the guards to tighten security and the crowd is pushed back. The Marshal is expecting troubles. He is afraid that the King’s life is in danger as the people in the Old Town are against the King.
Rassendyll insists on riding alone for fifty yards to show people that their King is ‘no coward’. At first, there is neither cheering nor welcome. Nearly all the windows have pictures of Duke Michael instead of King Rudolf and it is the Duke’s flag that is flying high over many buildings. Rassendyll can see the hatred in many faces. Yet, he rides on bravely. He knows he looks handsome and splendid in his white uniform riding on the beautiful white horse. Soon, he wins over the people and they start cheering.
The procession carries on smoothly and stops at the Cathedral where the ceremony is to take place.
At the cathedral, Rassendyll is greeted by Princess Flavia as well as the Duke. After the coronation, Princess Flavia rides along the “King” in the royal carriage.
Q.30 Rassendyll’s meeting with. Lady Mauban at the Summer House.
OR
Rassendyll’s use of the iron-topped table to save himself.
Ans. Madam-de-Mauban writes a letter, signed “A”, to Rudolf Rassendyll. In it, she asks him to come and meet her at the Summer House, at midnight. She explicitly asks him to come alone.
After some deliberations, Rassendyll and Sapt, both decide to go to the Summer House. Sapt remains outside while Rassendyll goes in with a revolver in his hand as he senses danger because of the darkness both inside and outside the Summer House.
Rassendyll very cautiously enters the Summer House, where he is greeted by Lady Mauban’s voice, warning him to be on his toe’s as Michael’s hounds were out to get him. Soon Michael’s men arrive. They, offer Rassendyll, fifty thousand pounds to leave the country, which of course he declines.
While Michael’s men are in the process of opening the front door, Rassendyll had already picked up the iron-top of the table and placed it before his breast, as a shield.
As Michael’s men open the door, he rushes towards them. They are taken aback and open fire at Rassendyll But all their shots miss Rassendyll, as the bullets hit the iron-top, which Rassendyll uses as a shield. Rassendyll fires in self-defense and then as the men fall off the stairs, he throws the iron-top on them and runs for dear life.
Rassendyll wounds one, of the three and runs towards the ladder about which Lady Mauban had informed him. He climbs the ladder and jumps off the wall and makes good his escape. Thus, because of Lady Mauban’s warning and because of the iron-top, he saves his life.
great work
ReplyDeleteexcellent work
ReplyDeleteIt is my first visit to your blog, and I am very impressed with the articles that you serve. Give adequate knowledge for me. Thank you for sharing useful material. I will be back for the more great post. exercise books
ReplyDeleteThankyou for this post, it's very helpful for me, i'm new here will surely visit here again.
ReplyDeleteBest housing societies near Islamabad Airport