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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 does the arrival of the Moroccan Division mean to the men of Cpl. Bertrand's squad?

2. Which of the following was considered an aggravating circumstance in the veteran's case?

3. Tirette is best described as which of the following?

4. How do Volpatte and Fouillade capture the two German soldiers?

5. In general, what opinion do the soldiers have of the local women?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Who was executed just before the events of Chapter 10, and why?

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

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

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

7. What unusual orders are given to the unit in Chapter 11?

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

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

10. How do Volpatte and Fouillade get lost?

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 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

Near the end of the novel, religious themes are discussed frequently and in a serious fashion. The narrator himself reveals little about his faith or lack thereof, but the things he experiences clearly cause him to begin thinking about such matters in more detail. The men at the refuge discuss this subject in great detail. Appropriately, they ask more questions than they answer.

Part 1) How are religious themes developed throughout the novel. Explain how these themes are first introduced, where they are discussed most thoroughly and how, if at all, they are resolved.

Part 2) Explain the narrator's personal progression in this regard, citing examples to show his changing state of mind and increasing interest in the subject. Citing information from the book, explain why these changes take place.

Part 2) Explain some of the opinions of the poilus and other soldiers about religion and God. Explain how these opinions are consonant with their experiences and other opinions expressed at other points in the novel.

(see the answer keys)

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