1. We’re so glad
You’re here!1

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3. We are...
Topic: Arms and the Man
Course Teacher: Mr.
Takad Ahmed
Chowdhury
Course Title : Introduction
to Drama
Course Code: ENG: 108
D. M Salauddin
(14116003)
Presented To Presented By
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4. Overview
 Introduction.
 Authors biography.
 Themes.
 Characters.
 Plot Overview.
 Authors Motive.
 Conclusion.
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5. Introduction
 “Arms and the Man” is a play by
George Bernard Shaw
published in 1894.
 It’s title comes from Virgil’s
Aeneid in latin.
 The play was first produced in
1898.
 It is an Anti-romantic comedy
and humorous play.
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6. Introduction
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 The play was one of Shaw’s first
commercial successes.
 He was called onto stag after
the curtain , where he received
enthusiastic applause.
 Deals with Anti-romantic
view of life.

7. Authors biography
 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.
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8. Authors biography
 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
Superman”“Major Barbara”,
“Candida”, “Pygmalion” etc .
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9. Themes
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10. Themes
 Romanticism of War .
 Romanticism of Love .
 Class Discrimination .
 Idealism versus Realism .
Theme
s
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11. Romanticism of War
 Shaw satirizes the romantic
notions about war.
 From Shaw’s opinion , Real
soldiers need not be patriot
to fight for country.
 Shaw wants to put realistic
view about war to the
audience and readers.
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12. Romanticism of Love
 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.
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13. Class Discrimination
 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.
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14. Idealism versus Realism
 This play also deals with the
conflict between idealism and
realism.
 Shaw didn’t give much
importance to the war.
 At last, the characters
understand the reality about
their activities .
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15. CHARACTERS:
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16. Characters
 Captain Bluntschli .
 Raina Petkoff .
 Sergius Saranoff .
 Major Petkoff .
 Catherin Petkoff.
 Nicola .
 Louka .
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17. Captain Bluntschli
 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.
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18. Raina Petkoff
 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.
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19. Sergius Saranoff
 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.
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20. Catherin Petkoff
 She is a middle-aged affected
woman who is Raina’s 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.
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21. Major Petkoff
 Major Paul Petkoff has acquired
his rank in the Bulgarian army
more because of his family’s
wealth than his ability as a
military leader.
 He is good natured , gullible
and blustery.
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22. Nicola
 He is an old servant of the
family who is discreet and
servile.
 He is fond of Louka , but
disapproves of her bold
attitude.
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23. Louka
 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.
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24. Plot
Overview
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25. Plot Overview Act-1
 It is Nov 1885, during the Serbo-Bulgarian War.
 A Serbian officer enters into
Raina Petkoff’s 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.
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26. Plot Overview-Act 2
 Catherin is upset that the Serbians
have agreed to peace treaty.
 Sergius Saranoff joins with Major
petkoff’s 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.
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27. Plot Overview-Act 3
 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.
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28. Authors Motive
 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.
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29. Conclusion.
 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 today’s world is still very
similar to the scenario of the play.
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30. References
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.
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31. For paying
attention31