Note About The Author

Anthony Hope Hawkins was born in London in 1863. He was the

son of a headmaster. At the age of thirteen, he was sent to a well-
known school called Marlborough. He was a very clever boy and
did well there. He was also very good at sport.

From Marlborough, Hope went to Oxford University. He

graduated with a very good degree and decided to follow a career
in law, in London.

While he was studying law, Anthony Hope also started to write fiction. He paid the cost
of printing his first novel four years later, in 1890. This was a book that made fun of
people – a satire – in the political world. It was called A Man of Mark. From that time,
he used the name Anthony Hope as his writing name.

Anthony Hope began to write stories for the Westminster Gazette in London. These
stories made fun of fashionable life in London and they were very popular. They were
collected and printed as a book in 1894 as The Dolly Dialogues. Anthony Hope's name
became widely known after this.

The Prisoner of Zenda, which was published in 1894, is Anthony Hope's most famous
novel. From this novel, he earned enough money to give up his career in law. Four years
later he wrote a Sequel, Rupert of Hentzau, but it was never as popular as The

Anthony Hope married in 1903 and had two sons and a daughter. During World War I
he worked for the Ministry of Information. At the end of the war, in 1918, he was given
the title 'Sir' to reward him for his war work.

Anthony Hope wrote many novels, including some historical fiction. He was one of the
richest members of the writing profession at that time, but he still worried about money!

J.M. Barrie, another famous author of the time, said:" Anthony Hope has
made more people happy than any other author of our time". But he failed
to make himself happy. Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins died in 1933.
 About The Novel
The novel tells the story of an English gentleman, Rudolf Rassendyll, who looks very
much like King Rudolf the Fifth of Ruritania, an imaginary country in Europe. Just before
the king's coronation, his evil brother Duke Michael imprisons him in the Castle of
Zenda. Rassendyll is asked to pretend to be the king at the coronation to prevent
Michael from become king. During this time, Rassendyll falls in love with the beautiful
Princess Flavia, who is destined to marry the king. He saves the king's life and
renounces his love for the princess.

By 1934, almost a million copies of The Prisoner of Zenda had been sold. The novel
had all the right features for a successful story: surprise, danger – and, more
importantly, romance.

The Prisoner of Zenda contains many of the traditional elements of romantic novels,
including mistaken identity, letters written in secret, jealousy, thwarted love and chivalry
– courteous, gallant behaviour. While playing the role of the king, Rassendyll wins
Princess Flavia's heart. But he cannot tell her who he really is, and his sense of chivalry
makes him more uncomfortable with the deceit the longer it continues.

Fate also plays an important part in the novel. "Chance sent you here, Rudolf", Colonel
Sapt tells Rassendyll, "to go to Streslau in the king's place". Criticised at the start of the
book for wasting his life, Rassendyll is an unlikely hero, but he rises to the
circumstances he fins himself in and acts in a chivalrous way. He could leave the king
to die in the Castle of Zenda, continue on in the role of king and marry Flavia, but duty
instead drives him to risk his life and save the king. Once he has done this, however,
he must give up his love for Flavia and leave Ruritania.

The Prisoner of Zenda was also popular because it was shorter and more exciting than
many other adventure stories at the time. And it was written in only four weeks!

The book was also very suitable for the new film industry. It was made into a film four
times, using the most famous film stars of the time. One of the finest film adaptations
was made in 1937.

Anthony Hope had always admired the use of mistaken identity in the plays of William
Shakespeare. It was simple and powerful dramatic device, and it was the starting point
for Hope's characters and their emotions in The Prisoner of Zenda.
But mistaken identity doesn't explain why the novel was so popular. Some of the other
famous novelists of the time also wrote adventure stories. What was Hope's secret? It
was the use of time. Time dominates the action of the story. The reader is constantly
told what time it is, and how little time is left to save the life of the king. In this way, the
story is like later detective stories of suspense.

Hope makes many references to the theatre in The Prisoner of Zenda. Rassendyll is
referred to as a play-actor when he impersonates the king. Much of the novel uses
dialogue to tell the story. This explains why the novel was so successful in other
languages, and in films and plays.

The Prisoner of Zenda quickly became the best-loved adventure story in the world.
 The Setting

The Main Characters

f
The Plot
 The Themes

3
.
 Chapter (1)
The Rassendylls and The Elphbergs
1- Answer the following questions:
1. Rudolf Rassendyll didn’t believe that he was wasting his life. Elaborate
2. Rudolf decide to travel to Ruritania. Give reasons

2-Comment on the following quotation:

1. “When in the world are you going to do anything?”

2. “Maybe she's also angry because I've got red hair.”
3. “I don't need to work. I'm a Rassendyll. My family is one of the best in England. I'm
rich - I don't have to do anything.”

Chapter (2)
Off to Ruritania
1- Answer the following questions:

1. Write short notes on; Madame de Mauban.

2. Why do you think the officer in charge at The Ruritanian borders gave Rassendyll
a stare?
3. The old woman & her daughters had different opinions about the King & the Duke.
Explain
2-Comment on the following quotations:

1- “She's a famous beauty. What does she look like?’

2- “That's Antoinette De Mauban, and she's travelling on your train. She's going to
Dresden as well.

3- “They really hate each other as they both want to be king. Everybody knows it.”
 Chapter (3)
The Cousins Rudolf
1 -Answer the following questions:

1. Describe the Castle of Zenda.

2. Duke Michael managed to drug the king. Explain
2. Compare and contrast between the King & Rassendyll.

2 - Comment on the following quotations:

1- “He's the same height, as well. Really, it's very odd!”

2- “Everything that I have is yours too, and that includes half of Ruritania. But
don’t ask me for a single drop of this most excellent bottle.”

3- “Mr. Rassendyll cannot attend the coronation. People may mistake him as the
King,”

Chapter (4)
A Critical Decision
1-Answer the following questions:

1-Sapt had a plan in order to save the King’s coronation. Explain

2- Rassendyll had no choice but to accept to replace the King during the coronation.

Illustrate.

2-Comment on the following quotation:

1. “'We had to wake you up. There's something wrong.”

2. “'The coronation is this morning. If King Rudolf does not go to Strelsau today, he'll
never be crowned!”
3. “'Fate sent you here for a reason. You can be King Rudolf for the day.”
 Chapter (5)
The Coronation
1-Answer the following questions:

1. Sapt prepared Rassendyll as much as he could for the coronation. Discuss

2. Strelsau was divided into two parts. Explain

3. Rassendyll acted as a real king during the coronation. Illustrate

2- Comment on the following quotation:

1. “I’ll stand next to you all the time. I'll tell you what to say and what to do.”
2. “I’ll ride in front of the soldiers. I'm not afraid of my own people!”
3. “You look different today. You look more serious.”

Chapter (6)
Back to Zenda
1-Answer the following questions:

1. The King was kidnapped. Discuss

2. Although both Duke Michael and Rassendyll knew each other’s reality, they
couldn’t reveal it. Illustrate
3. There was a battle between Rassendyll, Sapt & Fritz with the Duke’s men.
Explain
4. Write short notes on; The Six.
2-Comment on the following quotations:

1. “I think the King is a prisoner in his brother's castle.”

2. “You will have to be the King for a while longer.”
3. “But the Duke of Strelsau knows that I'm not the real King,”
 Chapter (7)
A Battle With A Tea Table
1-Answer the following questions:

1. Antoinette de Mauban helped Rassendyll although she loved Black Michael.

Discuss
2. Three of the famous six tried to trap Rassendyll but he defeated them using a
simple weapon. Illustrate
3. De Mauban told Rassendyll about Michael’s plan to be the king. Explain
2-Comment on the following quotation:

1. “I have important news for the King. Come to the old house in New Avenue tonight.
Do not come with anyone else.”
2. “'The Duke's men will kill you if you go there tonight.”
3. “We've come from Duke Michael. He wants to make you an offer,”
Chapter (8)
Forbidden Love
1- Answer the following questions:
1. Prove that Princess Flavia loved Rassendyll not the real King.

2. Sapt arrived at the right moment to prevent a disaster. Explain

3. Rassendyll proved that he was a man of honour. Justify

2 -Comment on the following quotations:

1. "'Would you really love me if I were an ordinary man,”

2. “You were going to tell her the truth. Be careful,”
3. “The people believe that I am the King. I could marry the Princess and kill Black Michael
and his brother.”
 Chapter (9)
Zenda, Once More
1- Answer the following questions:
1. Rudolf decided to carry out his plan to save the king. Explain
2. Rupert Hentzau proved to be a daring character. Discuss

3. Duke Michael had another offer for Rassendyll. Illustrate

4. Rudolf and Rupert exchanged offers but both of them refused. Explain

5. Johann told Rassendyll about Michael’s master plan to get rid of the King. Discuss

2 - Comment on the following quotations:

1." I will send you a messenger every day. If no messenger comes for three days in a
row, you will publish an order that I will give you.

2. “Why must we still pretend?”

3. “'You could really be the King of Ruritania, if you want. My friends and I will
help you.”

Chapter (10)
To The Rescue
1- Answer the following questions:
1. Antoinette had an important role in saving the king. Explain
2. Finally the King was saved & Duke Michael was dead. Discuss

2 -Comment on the following quotations:

1. “Forget about Black Michael. I'm a better man than he is.”

2. “Help, Michael! It's Hentzau, help me!”
3. “Now get off the horse. Come and fight me like a man.”
 Chapter (11)
I Am Not The King
1 -Answer the following questions
1. Rudolf knew the whole story beyond the plan to save the king. Explain
2. Flavia was confused. Discuss

2- Comment on the following quotations:

1. “How can the King be in two places? or are there two kings?”

2. “'I am not the King!”

Chapter (12)
If Love Were All!
1- Answer the following questions:
1. Describe the last meeting between Rudolf and Flavia.
2. Rudolf Rassendyll proved to be a man with morals. Discuss giving examples.
3. The theme of good versus evil was very clear in the novel. Discuss
4. Mention the moral lessons that you’ve personally learnt from the novel.
5. Compare between Princess Flavia and Antoinette de Mauban.
2- Comment on the following quotations:
1. "You have shown me how to be a King.”
2. “If love were all I would follow to the world’s end. But is love the only thing?”