Arms and the Man
by George Bernard Shaw
About_
This study guide accompanies George Bernard Shaw’s satirical comedy ‘Arms and the Man,’ which pokes fun at
romantic ideals of love and war through the story of Raina, her soldier fiancé Sergius, and the pragmatic mercenary
Captain Bluntschli. It covers all three acts, guiding students through the shifting alliances, hidden secrets, and
comic misunderstandings that unfold in the Petkoff household. The guide includes factual recall questions, critical
thinking prompts, a vocabulary-based crossword, and a character study. This study guide contains 39 questions
across 3 chapter sections (30 Factual + 9 Critical), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity.
What’s Included_
This study guide features 3 sets of 10 Factual Questions with an answer key (30 total), 3 sets of 3 Critical Analysis
Questions (9 total), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity (8 traits + evidence prompt +
critical thinking question).
Target Grades_
Grades 9-11
Teacher Note_
This guide is designed to help students move past the play’s comic surface to engage with its sharp satire of
romantic idealism and social class. The mix of factual and critical questions builds both close-reading skills and
thoughtful discussion, saving you valuable prep time so you can focus on guiding classroom conversation.