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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. Was does Poterloo discover about his wife?

2. What type of establishment does Eudore's wife Mariette run?

3. Lamuse is described with what seemingly contradictory label?

4. How are Volpatte and Fouillade lost?

5. Barque is described as being which of the following?

Short Essay Questions

1. What obstacles do the French face during their assault on the German trench?

2. What happened to Joseph's brother, and how is his body found?

3. What is Poterloo's mental state when he and the narrator discover the remains of Souchez?

4. What is Volpatte's opinion of the phrase, "If we do return"?

5. How adequate are the rations and wages issued to the men?

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

7. In Chapter 15, how do the men react to the lack of supplies?

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

9. What are the men's hopes and fears as their last day of leave approaches?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the novel, and in particular in the chapter "Bombardment," it is shown that the men have an intimate knowledge of artillery weapons used by both sides. Although these weapons seem to intercede only occasionally, their effect is devastating and seemingly random. The men have a strange mixture of admiration, respect, and fear of these weapons, mixed in with a strange kind of superstition developed over the course of many months spent trying to avoid death at the hands of these random killers.

Part 1) Using information from the book, discuss some of the types of artillery employed by both sides. How effective and accurate are these weapons?

Part 2) Describe the level of knowledge that the soldiers seem to have of the various kinds of artillery employed against them. Explain some of their more rational beliefs and fears.

Part 3) Explain some of the soldiers more irrational beliefs and fears about the artillery. Speculate about why these almost superstitious fears and practices came into being.

Essay Topic 2

Many types of forces and divisions within the French army are discussed in the book. The poilus are the mainstay of the French forces, but there are many others, including the Territorials, the Zouaves, and the Foreign Legion.

Part 1) Describe in detail at least three forces in the French army besides the poilus. Using information from the book, discuss their composition, their armaments, and their strengths and weaknesses.

Part 2) Using examples from the book, explain how each of these groups performs a vital function in the French army that helps to support the poilus.

Part 3) Explain how the poilus relate to each of these others forces. How often do they work in close connection? What is the poilus' opinion of each group?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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