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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Chapter 7 begins with the squad waiting where as they prepare for redeployment?

2. What is Biquet's response to his mother's concern for him as expressed in her letter?

3. What is the squad's duty at night?

4. Where is the squad dispatched at the end of Chapter 2?

5. On their final day of leisure, what do the men hope for?

Short Essay Questions

1. How has the squad been reduced in numbers when Chapter 20 opens?

2. What is the state of the area around the railway station where the squad waits in Chapter 7?

3. How do the civilian's perceptions of the war differ from the soldier's experiences?

4. What are some of the predictions made by the invalids?

5. How does Volpatte regard his wound? How do the other men regard it?

6. How do the men first meet Eudoxie, and what is Lamuse doing when they do?

7. Describe the conditions in which the squad digs the trench in Chapter 23.

8. What does Volpatte do at the depot after recovering from his injuries?

9. Where do the men go when the bombardment gets worse? What happens when they get there?

10. What religious references does the narrator make while escorting Joseph to safety?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the novel, many opinions of the poilus are articulated indirectly. The perspective always stays with the men of Bertrand's squad and almost always with the narrator, but through the experiences of these men, the perceptions of many other people towards the poilus becomes clear.

Part 1) Explain how the poilus, and particularly groups like Bertrand's squad, who have spent a great deal of time in the trenches, are perceived by the more active forces, such as other formations that are on the march, or the Moroccan Division.

Part 2) Describe the shirker's attitudes towards the poilus. How are these attitudes shaped by the shirker's own failures and vices?

Part 3) Explain how the civilians and journalists see the poilus. How are these perceptions shaped by this group's desire to support the war?

Essay Topic 2

The equipment, appearance, and clothing of the poilus is discussed at length throughout the book. They are depicted as individuals, each with a unique look and personality. This individuality forms an important theme in the novel, demonstrating that the soldiers are normal people thrust into circumstances that they have difficulty adapting to and understanding. They maintain this individuality until the final chapter of the book, when the rain and mud make the men of both sides appear the same.

Part 1) Using examples from the book, explain how the author establishes the individuality of the soldiers on the basis of appearance.

Part 2) Discuss how this individuality reflects the soldier's unique backgrounds and temperaments.

Part 3) How does this individuality become an important theme in the novel? Why is it important that the author picks out and differentiates individuals among the masses of the French army? Explain how this theme is developed in the novel, starting with the introduction of the individual soldiers, and ending with the reflection near the end of the novel that war is made up of individuals, but that they fade into nothing in the grand scheme of the struggle.

Essay Topic 3

Lamuse is a unique character with strange, but internally consistent behavior. He is eccentric, but extremely loyal to his squad. Among the many normal men the narrator describes being drawn into the war, Lamuse learns to adapt well and demonstrates his strong character at many points in the novel.

Part 1) Describe Lamuse as a character. Who is he? Where does he come from? What is his appearance? What are his personality traits?

Part 2) The narrator often uses comparisons to various animals to describe Lamuse. Cite some of these examples and explain their purpose. What do these comparisons establish about Lamuse?

Part 3) Explain some of Lamuse's eccentricities and odd behavior, as well as some ways that he demonstrates his loyalty and dedication to the squad.

(see the answer keys)

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