Prisoner of Zenda Activities Key
Anthony Hope Hawkins (p. 4)
1 Anthony Hope was born in London.
2 The title of his first adventure story was A Man of Mark and it was published in 1890.
3 He wrote The Prisoner of Zenda in 1893.
4 The sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda was called Rupert of Hentzau and it was published in 1898.
5 Hope was knighted in 1918 for his work for the government during the First World War.
1. activities
1 1 (Suggested answer)
I can see a man reading a newspaper and then it seems that this man is visiting a different
country. It looks like he meets a man in a town who shows him different people and places.
2 (Suggested answer)
It looks like they are sitting in a café or inn. I think they have just finished eating and now they
are talking.
2 1 Johan 2 Prince Rudolf 3 Rudolf Rassendyll 4 Antoinette
3 3 Johan and Rudolf had a meal.
7 Two men pointed guns at Rudolf.
4 Johan and Rudolf saw Antoinette in the street.
1 Rudolf Rassendyll decided to go and see Prince Rudolf being crowned.
2 Johan met Rudolf in the street.
6 Two men saw Rudolf walking through the forest.
5 Johan showed Rudolf Duke Michael’s castle.
4 Ss read and listen, then take roles and act out the episode.
5 (Suggested answer)
They might be robbers or perhaps they own the forest and they are angry with Rudolf for being
on their land. They could also be people who work for the King and they are trying to protect
him.
(Ss’ own answers)
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Prisoner of Zenda Activities Key
2. activities
1 a crown – picture 12 a fireplace – pictures 4 and 5
a bucket – picture 6 guns – picture 1
a carriage – picture 10
2 (Suggested answer)
It looks like the men threaten Rudolf with guns but later they become friends. In fact, it looks like
they later invite Rudolf for a meal. In the later pictures it seems Rudolf goes to the coronation.
3 1 Duke Michael sent the special fish meal.
2 The Prince couldn’t wake up because the fish meal had been poisoned.
3 Sapt wanted Rudolf Rassendyll to pretend to be the Prince because he looks just like the Prince
and he wanted to stop Duke Michael from stealing the throne.
4 Rudolf met Duke Michael at the coronation.
4 1 We want to know your name = (Picture 1) Tell us who you are!
2 Join us for lunch = (Picture 3) Come and have a meal!
3 Hang on = (Picture 8) Wait …
4 That’s rubbish, Sapt = (Picture 5) Nonsense, Sapt!
5 The Prince is on his way = (Picture 2) Here comes the Prince!
5 Ss read and listen, then take roles and act out the episode.
6 (Suggested answer)
I would pretend to be the King because I think it would be very nice to live in a big palace, eat
delicious food and wear expensive clothes.
OR
I wouldn’t want to pretend to be the King because Duke Michael and his friends might guess that I
was not really the King and it might become dangerous.
3. activities
1 Who:
1 is wearing a crown? (Rudolf Rassendyll)
2 is holding a candle? (Rudolf Rassendyll)
3 is riding on a white horse? (Sapt)
4 has got short, dark hair? (Fritz)
2 (Suggested answer)
I think the men in picture 9 are Rudolf and Sapt. I think they might be at the hunting lodge and
perhaps they are looking for the King.
3 1 F 2 F 3 T 4 F
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Prisoner of Zenda Activities Key
4 1 return = go back 2 genuine = real 3 continue = carry on
5 Ss read and listen, then take roles and act out the episode.
6 • (Suggested answer)
If I were a King for a year I would enjoy living a luxurious life but I would also try to help people. I
would not allow people to fight and there would be no wars. I would try to make my country a
peaceful place.
• (Ss’ own answers)
4. activities
1 1 (Suggested answer)
I think the title means that someone is going to receive an invitation that will lead them into a
dangerous and exciting situation. Perhaps Duke Michael sends an invitation to Rudolf and Sapt
that puts them in a dangerous situation.
2 1 The Duke has six special, brave soldiers (True – they are known as the ‘Famous Six’).
2 Sapt and Rudolf go to visit Duke Michael (False – Sapt takes Rudolf to visit Princess Flavia).
3 Rudolf talks to Princess Flavia (True).
4 Flavia sends Rudolf a letter (False – Antoinette sends him a letter).
2 friends = spies
four = three
Antoinette = Flavia
loved = liked
Fritz = Sapt
him = Duke Michael
castle = house (the summerhouse in the garden).
Antoinette = the Duke.
3 1 famous 2 dangerous 3 different 4 important
4 Ss read and listen, then take roles and act out the episode.
5 Sapt – loyal/brave
Rudolf – loyal/brave/kind
Duke Michael – dangerous/evil
The Famous Six- loyal/dangerous/evil
Flavia-loyal/kind
Antoinette- loyal/brave/kind
(Ss’ own answers)
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Prisoner of Zenda Activities Key
5. activities
1 1 Sapt and Rudolf 2 Outside Antoinette’s house 3 One of the Famous Six (Detchard)
2 1 hate ≠ love 2 late ≠ early 3 close ≠ open
3 5 Detchard knocked on the summerhouse door.
4 Antoinette told Rudolf that she was trying to help him.
1 Sapt and Rudolf arrived at Antoinette’s house.
3 Rudolf met Antoinette inside the summerhouse.
6 Detchard offered Rudolf £50,000 to leave Ruritania
7 Antoinette warned Rudolf not to open the summerhouse door.
2 Rudolf saw the summerhouse in the garden.
4 Ss read and listen, then take roles and act out the episode.
5 (Suggested answer)
I would accept the money because it might mean that I could get out of the summerhouse safely. If
I escaped with the money, I would give it to a charity.
OR
I would not accept the money because I would know it was just a trap. I would try to escape
somehow.
6. activities
1 1 Say which people are:
1 dancing? (Rudolf Rassendyll and Princess Flavia – Picture 8)
2 riding on horses? (Rudolf and Sapt – Picture 7)
(Fritz, Sapt and Rudolf – Picture 12)
3 standing in a doorway? (Three of the Famous Six – Pictures 2, 3)
4 talking under the full moon? (Flavia and Rudolf – Picture 9)
2 (Suggested answer)
It looks like Rudolf manages to escape from the summerhouse and later he is at a big party with
Flavia. In the last picture it looks as if Rudolf, Fritz and Sapt are going to the Duke’s castle.
2 1 The three members of the Famous Six
2 Rudolf Rassendyll
3 Rudolf, Fritz and Sapt/Rudolf Rassendyll
3 1 save = rescue 3 tricked = fooled
2 well-liked = popular 4 not being in danger = safe
4 1 False – He fooled the Famous Six himself.
2 False – He doesn’t want to go on pretending and doesn’t want to hurt Flavia.
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Prisoner of Zenda Activities Key
3 True
5 Ss read and listen, then take roles and act out the episode.
6 (Suggested answers)
• Rudolf says he can’t go on pretending because he is falling in love with Flavia and he hates
having to lie to her. He wants to be honest with her but he can’t. He then says, “… either we
rescue the King or I’m going back to England!” because he wants the situation to end quickly so
he can be honest with Flavia and stop her from being hurt.
• I would not tell Flavia the truth because she might tell someone and that could make the
situation very dangerous. If people found out that Rudolf was not the real King, Duke Michael
could make himself King.
OR
I would tell Fritz and Sapt to tell Flavia the truth and ask her to keep it a secret until the real King
could be saved from the Duke’s castle. By doing this, I could be honest with her about who I
really was. If I kept it a secret, Flavia might hate me when the truth was revealed.
7. activities
1 (Suggested answer)
I think that Rudolf, Fritz and Sapt are talking about the King being held prisoner at the Duke’s
castle. We can see some of their thoughts about this and we can actually see the King in a
dungeon. Later, it looks like they actually go to the castle and a battle takes place.
2 1 (At least) two. 3 Someone sneezing.
2 Detchard 4 Two of Sapt’s men and two of the Famous Six.
3 Fritz = Johan day = night three = two
bedroom = dungeon Robert = Rupert
four = six frightening = dangerous
4 Ss read and listen, then take roles and act out the episode.
5 • (Suggested answer)
I would disguise myself as Duke Michael’s soldier and get into the dungeon to save the King . At
the same time, some of my other men would attack the front of the castle to cause a distraction.
• (Ss’ own answers)
8. activities
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Prisoner of Zenda Activities Key
1 1 Rudolf, Fritz, Sapt and Detchard have a meeting. (False – Rudolf, Fritz and Sapt have a
meeting with Johan).
2 Rudolf and Rupert meet each other in a street. (True).
3 Sapt goes swimming in a river (False – Rudolf swims in the castle moat).
4 Rupert climbs into the water near the castle. (False – Rudolf climbs into the water).
2 1 straight away = at once 3 deal with = take care of
2 precisely = exactly
3 1 Rudolf, Fritz and Sapt/ Rupert
2 Rudolf/Johan
3 Rudolf, Fritz, Sapt and their men/The King
4 Rudolf Rassendyll/Rupert
4 1 Hentzau’s plan is to kill the others and go back to Strelsau. Then Rudolf could be the King and
he could be his assistant.
2 He asks him to open the castle entrance at exactly two o’clock that night.
3 He thinks that it’s dangerous but they haven’t got any other choice.
5 Ss read and listen, then take roles and act out the episode.
6 • (Suggested answer)
I think Rudolf wants to go to the dungeon by himself because he wants to fight with Rupert and
stop him from escaping. He knows that Rupert is a very dangerous man.
• (Ss’ own answers).
9. activities
1 1 Outside the castle in Zenda 2 Rudolf and Rupert
2 (Suggested answer)
I think the title of the episode means that Rudolf and his men are going to try and rescue the King.
It looks like Rudolf manages to get to the King but he has many fights on the way. Later it looks
Rudolf is chasing someone, perhaps Rupert, and he manages to get away.
3 1 No (Rupert’s gone to help) 3 No (Detchard – stop!)
2 Yes
4 2 Rudolf killed one of the guards.
1 Rudolf saw Rupert running along a bridge.
5 Sapt shouted that Duke Michael was dead.
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Prisoner of Zenda Activities Key
6 Rudolf left the King to find Rupert.
7 Rupert jumped off the bridge.
4 Detchard cut Rudolf’s arm.
3 Rudolf found some keys.
5 Ss read and listen, then take roles and act out the episode.
6 • (Suggested answer)
Rupert leaves the King because he knows that, as Sapt and his men have arrived in the
dungeon building, the King is completely safe. He knows that it is safe to leave the King alone
until Sapt and his men find him.
• (Suggested answer)
Rudolf chases after Rupert and wants to catch him because he knows he is a dangerous man
who might still be a threat to the real King in the future.
• (Ss’ own answers).
10. activities
1 1 Picture 2 2 Pictures 2-6 3 Picture 8
2 (Ss’ own answers)
3 1 T
2 F – Rudolf wants to fight with Rupert and Rupert tells him he “couldn’t fight a dog!”
3 F – He is captured by Fritz’s soldiers.
4 1 Flavia. She feels sad because she will miss Rudolf Rassendyll but she knows that she must
stay there and become Queen.
2 The King. He feels grateful because Rudolf saved him and the throne for him.
3 Rudolf Rassendyll. He feels happy because becoming King of Ruritania is one of his
adventures that will be unforgettable!
5 Ss read and listen, then take roles and act out the episode.
6 (Suggested answer)
My favourite episode was episode nine because that was the one with the most action. It was also
the most exciting episode. There were several sword fights and even though Rudolf saved the King
the episode ended in an exciting way with Rupert running away.
7 (Suggested answer)
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Prisoner of Zenda Activities Key
My favourite picture from the whole story is picture 6 in episode 2. We can see Sapt throwing a
bucket of water over the King to wake him up. The picture makes me smile because although the
water is flying through the air, it has not reached the King yet and his face is still completely dry!
8 (Suggested answer)
The character that impressed me the most was Rudolf Rassendyll because, although he is brave
and a good fighter, he is also a kind, honest person. I don’t think he would fight with anyone unless
it was to defend his King and country. I think he cares about Flavia and he is such a good person
that he hates having to lie to her. To me, he is the typical hero that you want to see or read about in
an adventure story.
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