- I believe that one of the most important relationships shown in the first part of “A Farewell To Arms” is between our main character, Tenente Henry, and the priest. They contradict as much as complement one another quite well through their interactions and observations. After reading this section, what are your predictions on the priest’s fate, and do you think it will have a major impact on Tenente Henry’s more detached moral ambiguity and spiritual skepticism
- Nature plays a part in the storytelling in this novel, just as it has in many others we’ve read this semester. Many times Tenente Henry will go into vivid detail not only of what the landscape looks like, but what the weather feels like, how the sky looks, as well as using a motif of “rain” many times throughout. Because of this, do you think that nature has played a pivotal role in the emotional atmosphere so far? Do you think the passages about nature will play into a bigger theme throughout the novel as we follow Tenente Henry’s journey.
- In the very beginning of “A Farewell To Arms,” Tenente Henry goes on leave. Yet, the audience doesn’t actually get to view his leave like we do in “All Quiet on the Western Front,” when Paul’s final declaration is that he should not have come home. It is only after Tenente Henry gets back that we get vague details about where he went and what he did. Do you think that not having seen his leave through a present perspective adds or takes away from the narrative? Would you have liked to see it, even if we don’t already know Tenente Henry like we did Paul?
Emily Bailey Reading Questions for 9/30 – Hemmingway, Part 1
Reply