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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. Which luxury in Gauchin-l'Abbé do the men seem to enjoy most?

2. What do the men concede with regards to the "shirkers"?

3. When Cpl. Marchal and the narrator meet, they discuss which of the following happening to their mutual friends?

4. According to the media, what is the state of the war?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What is meant by the phrase that each poilu "carries his crowd along"?

2. What do the men of the squad think about the shirkers?

3. How does the squad acquire room and board in Gauchin-l'Abbé?

4. How does Poterloo sneak behind enemy lines?

5. What is the general psychological state of the men of Cpl. Bertrand's squad?

6. How does the author feel about the speech of the characters in the book he is writing?

7. How do the men feel about the things they carry?

8. What do the survivors of Bertrand's squad do while on leave?

9. What do the men believe about 77mm shells, despite evidence to the contrary?

10. Why does Eudore agree to take his five old friends with him when he goes to visit his wife?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Functional equipment is discussed throughout the novel indirectly by the narrator and openly by members of the squad. The men live and sometimes die by the equipment that they carry, and so its nature, maintenance and quality is of utmost importance. The men use a variety of standard issue, irregular, and even improvised equipment.

Part 1) What do the men think of their standard-issue equipment and supplies from the government? Do they generally find that these things are adequate for their day-to-day needs and the demands of battle?

Part 2) How do the men supplement their government-issued equipment? How do they personalize and augment their clothing, weapons, and supplies?

Part 3) What are the men's priorities when selecting and dealing with their equipment? What factors seem most important, and which seem of little relevance to them?

Essay Topic 2

Despair is a constant threat in the novel. Many characters find unique ways to fight against despair and some are consumed by it. It is the source of strange behavior and adaptive strategies, and the cause of some seemingly suicidal actions.

Part 1) Explain the theme of despair as it occurs in the novel. How does this threat compare to other threats of trench life and warfare?

Part 2) Discuss some of the strategies some of the men develop to stave off despair. How well do these strategies fare. Explain examples of the men falling into complete despair.

Part 3) Using examples from the last chapters of the book, give a last analysis of the theme of despair. How much does it affect the men overall? How successful can they be, in the end, in fighting it off?

Essay Topic 3

There is a wide gap in perceptions about the war between the soldiers who are fighting it and the civilians who learn about its progress from the media. A few times in the novel, the soldiers come into direct conflict with this misunderstanding, but do little to correct it.

Part 1) Describe how the civilians perceive the state and progress of the war. How accurate are these perceptions?

Part 2) How does the media shape the perceptions of the civilians of France? Does this manipulation seem intentional? Speculate about the motives of the media.

Part 3) Explain how the poilus perceive the war. How does this differ from public perception? Why do the soldiers fail to speak out to correct the civilians?

(see the answer keys)

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