SUMMARY

The story is about the adventures of Rudolf Rassendyll, an Englishman, who

bore a resemblance to King Rudolf of Ruritania. After meeting the King who was
imprisoned by his evil brother, Black Michael the Duke, he found himself
impersonating the King in a plot to save the King and his throne. He also fell in
love with Princess Flavia, the King's cousin and betrothed. The princess was also
in love with Rudolf but she had to sacrifice their love by marrying the King for the
sake of the country.

THEMES
Friendship and loyalty

a. Rassendyll’s loyalthy to the King even though he barely knows the King.
Refused Duke Michael’s bribery

b. Colonel Sapt and Fritz are willing to die for their king.

c. Josef dies protecting the unconscious king.

Love and sacrifice

Love and sacrifice is an important theme in this novel. Princess Flavia and
Rassendyll love each other very much. However, they sacrifice that love for the
sake of King and the country. There is also the love that the loyal subjects,
Colonel Sapt Fritz, have for their King. Despite the King's weaknesses, the men
are even willing to die to save the King and his throne bec they love their King
and country more than their lives. It is obvious that the characters in this novel
are willing to give up a lot for the sake of what they believe is right.

Love and honour

Princess Flavia and Rassendyll sacrifice their love and personal happiness for
the sake of Ruritania and its people.

Patriotism

Rassendyll, Sapt and Fritz are willing to sacrifice themselves to save the King
and protect Ruritania from the treacherous Duke Michael.
Greed, treachery

Rupert of Hentzau wants money and power. He also wants Antoinette de

Mauban, who is in love with Duke Michael. In order to get what he wants, he is
willing to betray the Duke.

Sibling rivalry

Duke Michael’s greed for power and the urge to marry Princess Flavia makes
him willing to kill his own brother.

Crime and punishment

The characters that conspired with Duke Michael in overthrowing the King were
all perished. The Duke rallied his men to kidnap the King so that he could take
over the throne. In the end, he was killed by his own man, Rupert of Henzau,
during an argument over Antoinette de Mauban. Rupert had to flee the country.
Finally, all the perpetrators were punished for their evil deed.

Courage

a. Rassendyll, Sapt and Fritz risk their lives in order to safe the King.

b. Josef gives his life to save the King.

Good versus evil

Rassendyll, Sapt and Fritz represent the good while Duke Michael and Rupert of
Hantzau represent the evil. Finally, the good triumphs over the evil.

PLOT
Introduction

Rassendyll visits Ruritania and meets the King.

Conflict

The King is drugged and kidnapped. Rassendyll is persuaded to take his place at
the coronation.

Climax
Rassendyll, Sapt and Fritz go to Zenda quietly to Zenda to rescue the King. They
fight the Duke and his Famous Six. The Duke is killed by Rupert of Hentzau, one
of his Famous Six.

Resolution

The King is saved. Princess Flavia discovers the truth about the King and
Rassendyll.

Ending

Rassendyll and Princess Flavia make an understanding that their duty must
come before their own personal feelings. Rassendyll leaves Ruritania but returns
every year to meet Fritz and sends a rose silently to Princess Flavia through
Fritz.

CHARACTERS
1. Rudolf Rassendyll

• Rich and has status: tells his sister-in-law that he has plenty of
money and good social status.
• Widely travelled and knowledgeable: being to many places.
• Well-educated: graduated from a university and could speak
French and German
• Brave and courageous: willing to risk his life for the King
• Honourable: sacrificing his love for Princess Flavia for the future of
Ruritania.
• Faithful: remains unmarried and was constant in his love for
Princess Flavia by sending her a rose every year.
• Intelligent: draws a successful plan to save the King.
• Persistent and confident: relentlessly tries to save the King
despite numerous drawbacks.
• Good swordsman and fighter: able to defeat Duke Michael’s
men.

2. King Rudolf

• Irresponsible: does not take his duty seriously. Often away from
the country.
• Friendly and hospitable: able to make friend with Rudolf quickly
• Carefree: has a sense of humour.
• Weak: gives up easily and prefers to surrender to his brother than
to fight him.
 • A drunkard: drinks wine and is often drunk especially on the night
of his coronation.

3. Princess Flavia

• Beautiful: Rassendyll and Duke Michael are crazy over her.

• Honourable and self-sacrificing: put her country and people
before herself. That is why she is loved by her people.
• Caring: concerns over the safety and welfare of Rassendyll.
• Observant: notices that Rassendyll is different from the King.
• Determined: goes to the Castle of Tarlenheim to see Rassendyll
when he is hurt even though the Marshall forbids her to.
• Constant: continues to keep in touch with Rudolf after married.

4. Duke Michael

• Cunning: plans to kill the King and blames it on someone else.

• Greedy for power: wants to be the King by any ways or means.
• Ruthless/Evil: willing to kill own brother to get what he wants.
• Influential: able to get the support of the poor and the King’s
subjects.

5. Colonel Sapt

• Dedicated/Loyal: prepares to do everything to save the King even

though he is aware of the King’s fault.
• Intelligent/Wise: able to give good advice to both Rassendyll and
the King.
• Shrewd/Sharp-minded: able to speculate on Duke Michael’s plans
and takes action to stop him.
• Decisive: knows what has to be done and carries them out quickly.
When the King is drunk and kidnapped, he quickly asks Rassendyll to
impersonate the King.
• Perseverance: insists Rassendyll to continue to impersonate the
King and does not let sentiment stop him from doing his duty.
• Calm/Level-headed: calm on the way to Strelsau for the
coronation. He is also not overcome by emotion. He stops Rassendyll by
revealing the truth to Princess Flavia even though he knows that they
are in love.

6. Colonel Fritz

• Brave & Loyal: willing to die for the King and does not betray the
King’s secrets.
• Dutiful: carries out Rassendyll and Sapt’s orders without question.
 • Lack of confident/Timid: worries about the plan of Rassendyll
impersonating the King causes him to become ill and pale.
• Faithful friend: meets Rassendyll every year and acts as a
messenger for Rassendyll and Princess Flavia.

7. Rupert of Hentzau

• Ruthless, cunning & selfish: willing to kill for money and power.
Attack Rassendyll when he pretends to wanting to shake hands with him.
• Disloyal/Traitor: offer to kill Duke Michael if Rassendyll can give
him power, money and Antoinette de Mauban. In the end, he kills the
Duke.
• Insincere & cunning: pretend to be loyal to the Duke when he
actually hates him. He pretends to shake hands with Rassendyll and
then tries to kill him.

8. Antoinette de Mauban

• Beautiful and rich widow: Duke Michael’s mistress and desired by

Rupert of Hentzau.
• Brave: tries to help Rassendyll rescue the King.
• Helpful & Truthful: tells Rassendyll she was forced to write letter
and that three men will be coming to kill him.
• Faithful: loves Duke Michael even though she knows he desires
Princess Flavia. After the Duke died, she is heartbroken and prefers to
live a lonely life in Paris with memories of the Duke.
• Determined: finds a way to stop the Duke from becoming king and
hence marrying Princess Flavia.

SETTING
Location:

1
London
．

2 Ruritania (a fictional country in

． Europe)

3 Strelsau (capital of Ruritania)

．
• the Old Town
 • the New Town

• the King’s palace

4 Zenda
．
• the inn
• the hunting lodge
• forest
• Zenda Castle

• Castle of Tarlenheim

Time: 19th century

Social Setting: aristocrats and the upper class.

POINT OF VIEW
3rd person’s point of view:

The story is told in the 3rd person’s pont of view where the autor is all-knowing. All
the events were told from the narrator, Rudolf Rassendyll’s point of view.

LANGUAGE & STYLE

Similes

a. …as white as a sheet…(p.15)

b. …like a man in a dream…(p.18)

c. …trembling like a leaf…(p. 18 &

46)

Metaphors

a. …the old lady who kept the inn was kindness it self. (p.6)

b. Then we are brothers of the sword. (p.11)

c. I am the Devil’s own master. (p.70)

Imagery

a. …a sea of faces round me …

(p.18)

b. …shower of roses …(p.21)

Personification

a. The wind carried the sound clearly to our ears.

(p.28)

MORAL VALUE
• Honour comes before love
• Sacrifice and duty
• Patriotism/loyalty
• Friendship
• Have courage in the face of adversity
• Be selfless for the betterment of others
• Justice must be upheld

Created by SHAFIE ISMAIL