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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. What is Lamuse's opinion of aircraft?

2. The narrator compares Lamuse to what mythological figure?

3. How did Volpatte and Fouillade help Sgt. Sacerdote?

4. Which soldier besides Lamuse believes the Eudoxie is infatuated with him?

5. Why does Labri refuse to eat?

Short Essay Questions

1. What problem do Blaire and the other face in Chapter 18, "A box of matches", and how do they solve it?

2. What do the soldiers believe about fraternity, liberty, and equality?

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

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

5. What happens when the refuge is shelled by artillery?

6. What do Volpatte and Fouillade do between the time they are sent to the shell-hole and the time they are found by their unit?

7. What are Lamuse and the narrator's opinions about aircraft?

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

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

10. How does Paradis's mood change throughout Chapter 16?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

This novel is alleged to be semi auto-biographical, and there are strong hints that the narrator of the story is the author. Still, little is revealed about the narrator, although it is clear that he is not like the other men of the squad.

Part 1) Describe as many details about the narrator as possible. What are his personality traits? What is his background and history?

Part 2) Explain what sets the narrator apart from the other men of the squad. How is he different in speech, action, and thought? What does this say about his character?

Part 3) What evidence exists to suggest that the author and narrator are the same person? Is there any evidence to the contrary? What is the author's intent in this regard?

Part 4) Describe the literary intent of suggesting, but never confirming, that the narrator is the author.

Essay Topic 2

There are only a handful of times in the novel that the French and German soldiers come into peaceful contact, but these events are remarkable during war, and they stand out in the novel.

Part 1) Describe at least two scenes in the novel when French and German soldiers come into contact with one another without attempting to kill one another. Explain why the peaceful contact occurs.

Part 2) What do the French and German soldiers discuss when they are in contact? Are they still enemies? Why or or why not?

Part 3) Explain some of the themes of the novel elucidated by this type of contact.

Essay Topic 3

Corporal Bertrand is the aloof leader of the narrator's squad. The men respect his leadership, and he clearly is capable, most of his men having earned medals for their exploits.

Part 1) Describe Cpl. Bertrand as a character. What are his major character traits? What sets him apart, other than his rank, from the other members of the squad?

Part 2) What evidence suggests that Cpl. Bertrand is a capable leader? How does he earn the loyalty of the men who serve under his command?

Part 3) Explain, using examples from the book, what Cpl. Bertrand's leadership style is like in action. How does this contribute to the functioning of the squad?

(see the answer keys)

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