| |
Toward a More Complete Reading of the Novel
Introduction Sample Question
Sample
Answer Analysis Study
Guide Links
Introduction: The questions linked below are to help you as you read the novel, A
Farewell to Arms. They are not easy to answer because they usually ask
you to use your judgment about the meaning behind what people in the story say
or do. When you discuss these questions--in class, in a study group, or
with another reader--look for more than one interpretation of the
"data" in the novel so that you can evaluate which interpretation
makes the most sense to you.
Below are a sample answer to study question #14 and one teacher's analysis of it
as a response made during a first reading of the novel.
| Q .
14: After meeting him, what do you think of
Ettore Moretti? What does Catherine think of him? How does Frederic seem
to feel about him? Why might Hemingway introduce such a character at this
point? |
| Sample
Answer: Ettore
is a gauge to show that Lt. Henry and Catherine view war differently and
react to the war with different emotions. Lt. Henry accepts Ettore's
bragging about his war exploits and tolerates the parading of his
medals. Even though Lt. Henry feels that medals are empty symbols
and he himself is quiet about his war experiences, he also believes the
army needs men like Ettore--men who glory in war and killing. Catherine
sees through Ettore's fraud and his presumptuous attitude and can not
accept him. Catherine believes nothing is gained by war. |
| Analysis:
This
answer shows that the student infers the characters' attitudes about
Ettore Moretti, one of the minor characters in the novel, by what they say
or don't say. Her answer shows that she followed Ettore's words and
read closely the discussion of Ettore by Lt. Frederic Henry and Catherine
Barkley. It also draws information from other parts of the book, such as
referring to Lt. Henry's attitude about medals which is pointed up in
question #19c. She may even be using the plot summary supplied to
the class to guess how the scene with Ettore fits in with what happens to
Lt. Henry later and with Hemingway's apparent attitude toward war. |
| Note to
Teachers: When I first assigned the 34 study
questions to students, I asked them to write answers to all of them
individually before we discussed the novel in class. This procedure
frustrated me because students weren't reading strategically, in general,
and were not making answers like the sample above.
When I had students work in groups and answer questions a few at a
time, they were able to help each
other read less one-dimensionally by
 | testing each other's assumptions
about characters and their actions, |
| referencing phrases in the text
that stood out to them which might not have stood out to others |
| operating under the assumption that nothing is accidental in a published
novel.--EH |
|
Study and Research Questions by "Book" in A Farewell to Arms
|
Book One: introduction of
major themes and characters; Chapters 1-12
|
|
Book Two: Frederic and
Catherine in Milan; Chapters 13-24
|
|
Book Three: retreat from
Caporetto; Chapters 25-32
|
|
Book Four: farewell to the
war; Chapters 33-37
|
|
Book Five: Switzerland;
Chapters 37-41
|
|
Suggested Assignment Parameters:
What options might teachers and students consider for reporting on the
research topics listed at this website?
|
|
Copyright
and Permission:
This web on Ernest Hemingway's early novel was begun under a small grant from the
VCCS, which holds copyright. © 2001 by the