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We are glad you are here. This document provides a summary of the play "Arms and the Man" by George Bernard Shaw. It discusses the main themes of the play, including satirizing romantic notions of war, love, and class discrimination. It also introduces the main characters and provides an overview of the plot, which follows a Serbian soldier who takes refuge in the home of a wealthy Bulgarian family during the Serbo-Bulgarian War. The document aims to concisely summarize the key elements and message of Shaw's anti-romantic comedy play.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
292 views31 pagesArms and The Man - pdf2
We are glad you are here. This document provides a summary of the play "Arms and the Man" by George Bernard Shaw. It discusses the main themes of the play, including satirizing romantic notions of war, love, and class discrimination. It also introduces the main characters and provides an overview of the plot, which follows a Serbian soldier who takes refuge in the home of a wealthy Bulgarian family during the Serbo-Bulgarian War. The document aims to concisely summarize the key elements and message of Shaw's anti-romantic comedy play.
Uploaded by
Hussain K .NeamaCopyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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/ 31
Were so glad
1 Youre here!
2
We are...
3
Presented To Presented By
Topic: Arms and the Man D. M Salauddin
(14116003)
Course Teacher: Mr. Takad
Ahmed Chowdhury
Course Title : Introduction to
Drama
Course Code: ENG: 108
Overview
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Introduction.
Authors biography.
Themes.
Characters.
Plot Overview.
Authors Motive.
Conclusion.
Introduction
5
Arms and the Man is a play by
George Bernard Shaw
published in 1894.
Its title comes from Virgils
Aeneid in latin.
The play was first produced in
1898.
It is an Anti-romantic comedy
and humorous play.
Introduction
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The play was one of Shaws first
commercial successes.
He was called onto stag after
the curtain , where he received
enthusiastic applause.
Deals with Anti-romantic
view of life.
Authors biography
7
Considered one of the greatest English speaking dramatists after
Shakespeare.
He was born July 26 ,1856 in Dublin ,
Ireland and he was the only son
and youngest of three children of their
parents.
Became the music critic for a
newspaper in 1888 and took a position
of the drama critic at the Saturday
Review.
Own an academy Award for best
screen play in 1938 for Pygmalion
movie.
Authors biography
8
A vegetarian , teetotaller and fervent
socialist , he championed the causes of
women and the poor.
Was an active member in the
Favian society and wrote many
pamphlets.
Shaw criticised to the World War 1
and got Novel Prize for Literature.
Many famous plays are Arms and the
Man ,Saint Joan , Man and
SupermanMajor Barbara,
Candida, Pygmalion etc .
Themes
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Themes
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Romanticism of War .
Romanticism of Love . Themes
Class Discrimination .
Idealism versus Realism .
Romanticism of War
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Shaw satirizes the romantic
notions about war.
From Shaws opinion , Real
soldiers need not be patriot
to fight for country.
Shaw wants to put realistic
view about war to the
audience and readers.
Romanticism of Love
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Shaw satirizes the romantic
notions about love.
In this play , Love is based
on outward appearances,
not to their true person.
Shaw wants to put realistic
view about love and
marriage to the audience
and readers.
Class Discrimination
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Shaw believed in the equality
of all people and he
abhorred class discrimination.
In this play, Shaw uses class
and breaks class .
Shaw also tells us that any
rank is not important than
humans ability.
Idealism versus Realism
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This play also deals with the
conflict between idealism and
realism.
Shaw didnt give much
importance to the war.
At last, the characters
understand the reality about
their activities .
CHARACTERS:
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Characters
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Captain Bluntschli .
Raina Petkoff .
Sergius Saranoff .
Major Petkoff .
Catherin Petkoff.
Nicola .
Louka .
Captain Bluntschli
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A professional soldier from
Switzerland who is serving in
the Serbian army.
He is thirty-four years old and
he is totally realistic about the
war.
He is known as Chocolate
Cream soldier in this play.
Raina Petkoff
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She is romantic idealist of
twenty-three.
She is presented as being a
romantically idealist person in
love with the noble ideal of
war and love.
She idealizes the heroes of
war.
Sergius Saranoff
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Major Sergius is a dashingly
handsome romantic hero filled
with bravado and idealistic
morals.
He has gained his military rank
in the Bulgarian army through
charm and family position
rather than through common
sense or training.
Engaged to Raina but flirts
with Louka.
Catherin Petkoff
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She is a middle-aged affected
woman who is Rainas mother.
She is imperiously
energetic, good looking and
wishes to impress everyone
with her social standing.
She tries to pass herself off
as a Viennese lady.
Major Petkoff
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Major Paul Petkoff has acquired
his rank in the Bulgarian army
more because of his familys
wealth than his ability as a
military leader.
He is good natured , gullible
and blustery.
Nicola
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He is an old servant of the
family who is discreet and
servile.
He is fond of Louka , but
disapproves of her bold
attitude.
Louka
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She is a servant girl in the
Petkoff household who is
proud and looks down on
servility.
She is ambitious and wishes
to rise in life.
Nicola wishes to marry her
but she has other plans.
Plot
Overview
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Plot Overview Act-1
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It is Nov 1885, during the Serbo-Bulgarian War.
A Serbian officer enters into
Raina Petkoffs room by climbing
the water pipe to her balcony.
Raina saves the officer and the
Russian officer leaves .
Raina amuses that the officer
keeps chocolate instead of
ammunition.
Raina and her mother help him
to stay that night in their home.
Plot Overview-Act 2
26
Catherin is upset that the Serbians
have agreed to peace treaty.
Sergius Saranoff joins with Major
petkoffs conversion
Then, Raina and Saranoff passes
some times alone.
Saranoff flirts with louka during
the absence of Raina.
Captain Bluntschli arrives to
return the court and the
women try but fail to hurry
him away.
Plot Overview-Act 3
27
Raina puts her photograph with
inscription behind the back of
the coat but Bluntschli failed
to see.
Nicola realizes that it might be
more good to let Louka marry
Sergius and he denies to marry
her .
At the last of the play, Bluntschli
reveals his love to Raina.
Authors Motive
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In the play , the writer has succeeded in making his
piont quite clear.
Satirizes the romantic notions about love, marriage and
war.
The writer criticises the attitude of rich people who
glorify themselves.
Reveals his attitude about the class discrimination.
Conclusion.
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The play is interesting and entertaining.
It gives us a lesson , not to glorify the war and not
to create class discrimination.
The condition of todays world is still very similar to
the scenario of the play.
References
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1. MR Takad Ahmed Chowdhury, Class Lecture (Not Published).
2. http://www.artsalive.ca/pdf/eth/activities/arms_guide.pdf
3. http://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-arms-and-the-
man/#gsc.tab=0
4. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0862646/.
5. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/theatre-and-
performance/theatre-reviews/arms-and-the-man-a-play-of-ideas-
with-surreal-tendencies/article186.
6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arms_and_the_Man
7. http://www.enotes.com/topics arm and the man
8. http://www.novelguide.com/arms-and-the-man/novel-summary.
9. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arms_and_the_Man.
For paying attention
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