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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. When the narrator returns to the squad's quarters after listening to the story of execution, what is Volpatte doing?

2. When the narrator and the other encounter Eudoxie, what is Lamuse doing?

3. The "Moroccan Division" is admired for what?

4. Why does Tulacque believe that those who drive the artillery pieces to Verdun are not truly in the war?

5. Who is sent with the narrator to find the missing Volpatte and Fouillade?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. During his six-day leave, how much time is Eudore able to share with his wife?

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

4. Describe the encounter that the narrator and Paradis have with the four German soldiers.

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

6. What does the narrator overhear the Legionnaires talking about? What are they planning, and why?

7. In Chapter 1, how do the men know that an offensive is imminent?

8. What is the nature and duty of Cpl. Bertrand's squad?

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

10. Describe Lamuse's relationship with Eudoxie.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The machine gun is a feared weapon on the battlefield, and rightly so. Its effectiveness is seen in detail in the chapter "Under Fire," and the men discuss it on many occasions. It is the primary reason for the existence of trench warfare, and the cause of most of the misery on which the book centers. The machine gunners themselves represent an almost élite class in the army, being specially favored targets for retribution and looting, and receiving a variety of favors from their own side.

Part 1) Use information from the book to explain what a machine gun is and its impact on warfare in the time of the novel.

Part 2) Explain the men's perceptions and fears about machine guns. Cite specific examples to justify or disprove these perceptions.

Part 3) Discuss some of the ways that machine gunners are treated differently from other soldiers, both by their own forces and by the enemy. Why do these men receive this treatment?

Essay Topic 2

The scale of the war is important to many themes in the novel, and the men of the squad have opportunities to glimpse a portion of its full size. The strategic development of deep fronts that are hundreds of miles long necessitates huge armies, and the drive for advanced and numerically superior firepower requires volumes of weapons and material. The scale of the war makes it difficult for the men to fully understand, and it makes them uninformed pawns in a game far too large to be seen from ground-level.

Part 1) Cite examples from the book to explain how the author establishes the size and scale of the war.

Part 2) Discuss the impact of the scale of the war on the men of Bertrand's squad.

Part 3) Based on information in the book, and in particular the analysis of logical men like Cocon and Bertrand, speculate about the factors that contribute to the necessity of the large force sizes seen in the novel.

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.

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