اسئلة مقالية و اجاباتها عن قصة سجين زنده

THE PRISONER OF ZENDA

                       Essay Questions and Answers


Question 1

Choose any of the novels that you have read. Do you like the story? Give reasons for your choice.

One novel that I like is The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope. It is about a man named Rudolf Rassendyll who saves a king’s life and his throne. I like this novel because it is a beautiful story about love and honour. In the story, Rassendyll, who looks like King Rudolf the Fifth, takes the King’s place when they King is unable to carry out his duties. King Rudolf is then kidnapped by his brother who wants to be king. Without thinking of his safety, Rudolf Rassendyll helps to save the King. Rassendyll is an honourable man and he carries out his responsibility well. He puts his own life in danger to save the King. He falls in love with Princess Flavia but in the end, he sacrifices his love for the sake of the King and the country. I like this story because it shows that honour, duty to one’s country and loyalty are important.

Question 2

From one of the novels that you have read, choose one character that you like. Write about the character that you have chosen and give reasons why you like the character.

In the novel The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope, I like the character Rudolf Rassendyll. Rudolf Rassendyll is a man of honour. When he is asked to pretend to be king, he agrees because he knows that it is the only way to save King Rudolf’s life and throne. Even though when he faces dangerous situations at several times, he does not turn away from his duty. There are times when he is almost killed by the King’s enemies. He even risks his life to go to Zenda Castle to save the King. Rassendyll is also an intelligent man as he comes up with good plans to save King Rudolf. His selflessness can be seen when he parts from the woman he loves because he knows that he has to put honour before love. I like Rassendyll because he has the qualities of a good human being.

Question 3

Write about a character you like in the novel ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’. Give reasons for your choice.

Rudolf Rassendyll is a character I like in the novel ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’. I like Rassendyll because he is a brave and honourable man. He is very brave as he dares to impersonate the King to save the King’s throne from the evil Duke Michael. He will be killed if the impersonation is found out. I also like Rassendyll because he does not take advantage of the situation to make himself the king. He could just let Duke Michael’s men kill King Rudolf V instead of risking his life to save the King. If he does that, he could continue to be the King of Ruritania.

Question 4

Write about a character you dislike in the novel ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’. Give reasons for your choice.

I dislike Duke Michael in the novel ‘The Prisoner of Zenda because he is a cruel and wicked man. He appears to be kind to his brother King Rudolf V. But he wants very desperately to take over his brother’s throne and become the King of Ruritania. In his attempt to sabotage his brother’s Coronation, Duke Michael drugs his brother with a bottle of drugged wine. Duke Michael also holds the King captive in the Castle of Zenda. He instructs his men to kill the King at once if the castle is attacked. I would never like Duke Michael as he harms his own brother.


Question 5

Discuss some of the moral values embedded in the novel ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’.

Loyalty to friends is evident in the novel. Although King Rudolf V is a new-found friend, Rudolf Rassendyll fights to the end to save the King. He is willing to risk his own life to save the King. Rudolf does not succumb to the temptations to accept the bribe offered by Duke Michael and to work against the King. Rudolf remains steadfast in his loyalty to his friend and King.

Honour is another moral value embedded in the novel. Rudolf placed honour before love. He does not steal Princess Flavia from the King, although he loves her dearly. He wants her to remain Queen to help her people. Rudolf impersonates the King to save his honour and to safeguard the King’s throne and reputation.

Moral courage is another important value in the story. Rudolf does the right thing despite all odds. He fights the evil-doers to uphold justice. Offers of bribes and even threats on his life do not sway Rudolf’s determination to do the right thing. He does not give in to temptations. Through this character and others like Princess Flavia, Colonel Sapt and Fritz, the writer brings out the moral values in the story.


Question 6

Based on the story ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’, write about some of the moral values that you have learnt. Give reasons why you feel these are valuable lessons.

There are several moral values highlighted in ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ by Anthony Hope. In the novel, we can find values related to one’s duty and responsibility to the country. This is shown through Rassendyll. Although Rassendyll is merely a visitor in Ruritania, he showed how much he cared for the country. He puts his life at risk many times in trying to save King Rudolf the Fifth who is imprisoned at Zenda Castle. He also sacrificed his love for Princess Flavia for the future of Ruritania.

Loyalty is also portrayed in the story. Colonel Sapt and Frizt are loyal and obedient followers of King Rudolf. They are the ones who convinced Rassendyll to pretend to be king so that the throne will not fall into the hands of Black Michael. They also advise him on the proper way to behave and act as king. They give him support throughout his impersonation. This shows that they are trustworthy and true friends.

Question 7

What message/ lesson is the author trying to convey in the novel? Give reasons why you think so.

The novel I have chosen is ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ by Anthony Hope. In this novel, the author is trying to convey the (message/ lesson) that is important to put honour and dedication before one’s own needs. A person should be prepared to lose even his life to protect the king and to serve the country. Loyalty to the king is very important, even if he is not a good king. You have to do what is right and what is good for the country, even if you are a visitor.

What I learnt from the novel is that honour is more important than love. Both Rudolf and Princess Flavia sacrifice their love for the sake of honour and duty.


Question 8

Write about an important place of location in the story ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’. Support your answer with information from the novel.

An important location in the story of ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ is the Castle of Zenda. The Castle of Zenda is situated on a hilltop, surrounded by forest. It consists of the Old Castle and the New Castle. The Old Castle is ancient but well-preserved. It is surrounded by a moat, with a drawbridge across it. On the other side of the drawbridge is the New Castle, which serves as a country house for Duke Michael. The New Castle is the place where Duke Michael is killed by Rupert of Hentzau following their quarrel over Antoinette de Mauban. The Old Castle is the place where Duke Michael holds King Rudolf V captive.


Question 9

Write about the setting of the novel ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’. Give information from the novel to support your answer.

The story of ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ is set in the nineteenth century. The story begins in the home of Lord Burlesdon, Rudolf Rassendyll’s elder brother. Then the place setting changes to follow Rudolf Rassendyll, the main character, as he travels to Ruritania for a holiday. Most of the actions in the story take place in Ruritania, an imaginary country in Europe. Important places and locations in the story include the hunting lodge in Zenda, where the King is held captive. Strelsau is the place where Rudolf Rassendyll is crowned the ‘King’ and first meets Princess Flavia and Duke Michael.


Question 10

Based on the novel ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’, write about an event that teaches you a valuable lesson. Give evidence from the novel to support your answer.

A valuable lesson is learnt from the novel, ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’. It is the lesson of honour and sacrifice. In today’s world where people do not keep their promises, Rudolf Rassendyll is an example of a man who has honour. In spite of him not having any necessary allegiance to the kingdom of Ruritania, he attempts to rescue the King to the extent of putting himself in danger. He knows things could become dangerous and even fatal but he still does it anyway. He even sacrifices his own feelings for Princess Flavia as it is the most honourable thing to do as she is after all, not his intended bride but the King’s. Rassendyll’s example is truly worth following and is a lesson to us all.


Question 11

Based on the novel ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’, write about the behaviour of a character that you do not like. Give reasons for your choice.

The character whose behaviour I do not like in the novel, ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ is Duke Michael. He is related to the King of Ruritania yet family ties do not hold him back from plotting against him kidnapping the King, locking him up and treating him ruthlessly. Such behaviour is intolerable as I believe family means something. Family symbolizes unity, loyalty, love and kindness which do not appear to be part of Duke Michael’s character. That is why I do not like his behaviour.


Question 12

Based on the novel ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’, write about a character who is loyal. Give reasons for your answers.

I think Colonel Sapt in ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ by Anthony Hope is very loyal. He is a close friend of the King and is trusted by the ruler. He is willing to die to save the King and Rassendyll. He is willing to go to great lengths t protect the King and to make sure that Rudolf Rassendyll is crowned the rightful King and not Duke Michael. His loyalty is shown in the fact that he does not betray the King even though he does not has much respect for him.


Question 13

Based on the novel ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’, decide on the character you wish to be. Give reasons to support your answer.

In the novel ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’, I would like to be Rudolf Rassendyll who possessed many admirable traits. He was a good and brave fighter. This could be seen when Rassendyll was ready to fight with the Famous Six at the castle to save the King. He was also a reliable person as Sapt and Fritz could rely on him to save the King. Rassendyll was also intelligent and honourable. He came up with good plans to save the King and sacrificed his love for Princess Flavia for the sake of the King and the country.


Question 14

Based on the novel ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’, write about a turning point in the story that changed the life of one of its characters.

I choose the novel ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ by Anthony Hope. The turning point in the story changed the life of the main character, Rudolf Rassendyll. In the beginning, he was jobless because he was lazy and did not have any sense of responsibility. When he impersonated King Rudolf, his character changed. He became a very responsible person. He took charge of Ruritania. He went all out to save the throne and the King although he was wounded. This showed a different Rassendyll. His impersonation of King Rudolf the Fifth marked a turning point for his life.


Question 15

Based on the novel ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’, write on the theme of friendships. Give reasons to support your answer.

In the novel ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ by Anthony Hope, the theme of friendship is well portrayed. This can be seen through the friendship formed between Rudolf Rassendyll, Sapt and Fritz. Sapt and Fritz knew the true identity of Rassendyll but they kept it a secret. They remained loyal to him throughout his time in Ruritania. Rassendyll relied on them and considered them his true and trusted friends. True friendship also existed between Rassendyll and King Rudolf as Rassendyll helped the King by saving his throne. They became such close friends that King Rudolf regarded him as his own brother.


Question 16

Based on the novel ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’, write about an incident that changed the life of a character. Give evidence to support your answer.

The novel I have chosen to write about is ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ by Anthony Hope. The character I have chosen is Rudolf Rassendyll. The incident that changed the life of Rudolf Rassendyll was when he was asked to impersonate the King of Ruritania whom he resembled. The King was drugged and could not attend the Coronation. This particular incident changed Rudolf Rassendyll from a good-for-nothing into a man who was responsible, loyal, brave and sincere. He carried the role as the King with dignity, never once fooling anyone. Although he was in a position of power where he could own everything, he remained loyal to the King. He helped to search for the King who was kidnapped and showed extraordinary courage in the face of adversity.


Question 17

Based on the novel ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’, write about the underlying themes. Give evidence to support your answer.

One of the themes in the novel ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ by Anthony Hope is courage, friendship & loyalty. Rassendyll puts his life in danger when he agrees to pretend as the King. Colonel Sapt and Fritz are very loyal to their King. They are willing to die for their King. If it had not been for them, the King would have lost his life and his throne. Colonel Sapt and Fritz are also loyal to Rudolf Rassendyll when they ask him to pretend to be the King. They are always at his side and ready to protect him.We need courageous and loyal friends because we all need people we can trust. True friends stay by your side when you are in trouble.

The second theme of the novel is the ‘greed for power’. The struggle for power is between King Rudolf and Duke Michael as well as between Duke Michael and Rupert of Hentzau. King Rudolf V is the rightful ruler but Duke Michael wants to be King. Duke Michael’s greed for power makes him try everything he can to get rid of his brother and take over the throne. Rupert of Hentzau is also greedy for power. He is disloyal to Duke Michael and double-crosses him because he wants power, money and Antoinette de Mauban. When people are greedy for power and money, they can become very evil.

The next theme is ‘dedication to duty’. Princess Flavia and Rassendyll show this when they sacrifice their love for the sake of the King and the country. On the other hand, King Rudolf is a weak leader. He drinks too much wine and because of this, he is unable to attend his own coronation.


Question 18

Compare and contrast two characters from the novel ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’. Give evidence from the story to support your answer.

In the novel ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ by Anthony Hope, I would choose to compare Rudolf Rassendyll and Duke Michael. Both Rassendyll and Duke Michael are brave men, but Rassendyll has shown his courage positively to fight for the King and the country. He risks and sacrifices his life without even caring for himself in order to save the King. Not only that, he is a loyal, responsible and honourable man. Knowing that he has to return the throne to the rightful King, he does not act out of selfishness and greed. He even sacrifices his love for Princess Flavia and gives her up for the sake of her duty and responsibility to Ruritania.

Duke Michael on the other hand is an evil man. He is blinded by greed and he wants to possess not only the throne, but also Princess Flavia. He acts out harshly out of hatred and stoops low enough even to kidnap his own brother, King Rudolf V. He betrays not only his family but also his country and is even ready to have the King killed in order for himself to be crowned as the King of Ruritania. In the end, he was killed by his own greed.

This novel allows me to see the differences between the values and nature of two men from a very clear aspect. I have been able to distinguish the two characters and see the good and bad sides of them.


Question 19

Compare and contrast two characters from the novel ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ based on the theme ‘love’. Support your answer with evidence from the novel.

I choose to compare Rudolf Rassendyll and King Rudolf V from the novel ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’. When it comes to love, Rudolf Rassendyll shows the genuine love and affection towards Princess Flavia. He is caring and is full of love for her. Princess Flavia herself feels it and mentions it when the two of them were alone. King Rudolf V on the other hand loves Princess Flavia out of duty. She is to be the Queen of Ruritania and they are destined to be together, with or without love. It is their responsibility to be wedded as they have to win the peoples’ trust and live up to their expectations. King Rudolf has always been cold and quiet whenever the two of them are together.

In terms of ‘love towards the country’, Rudolf Rassendyll, not being a Ruritanian himself, has shown great effort and courage in ensuring that the throne is returned to the rightful king. He fights bravely to save the King’s life in order to restore peace and harmony to the country. King Rudolf, on the other hand, does not show enough positive qualities to prove his love to his own homeland. He is often drunk and thus, ignores his duty and sets a negative image to the people.