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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 Eudoxie do when Lamuse announces his feelings to her?

2. Was does Poterloo discover about his wife?

3. Cocon is described as being which of the following?

4. The soldier being carried by the Territorial stretcher-bearers was killed doing what?

5. When Chapter 12 begins, how long has the squad been digging trenches?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the "feast of the survivors"?

2. How do Volpatte and Fouillade get lost?

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

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

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

6. What do the soldiers think about people touting the fine and admirable side of war?

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

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

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

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

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

The equipment, appearance, and clothing of the poilus is discussed at length throughout the book. They are depicted as individuals, each with a unique look and personality. This individuality forms an important theme in the novel, demonstrating that the soldiers are normal people thrust into circumstances that they have difficulty adapting to and understanding. They maintain this individuality until the final chapter of the book, when the rain and mud make the men of both sides appear the same.

Part 1) Using examples from the book, explain how the author establishes the individuality of the soldiers on the basis of appearance.

Part 2) Discuss how this individuality reflects the soldier's unique backgrounds and temperaments.

Part 3) How does this individuality become an important theme in the novel? Why is it important that the author picks out and differentiates individuals among the masses of the French army? Explain how this theme is developed in the novel, starting with the introduction of the individual soldiers, and ending with the reflection near the end of the novel that war is made up of individuals, but that they fade into nothing in the grand scheme of the struggle.

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.

(see the answer keys)

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