1. In Chapter 3, when Lt.
Henry explains what he did and did not do on leave, what does he mean when he
says that the priest "had always known what I did not know and what, when
I learned it, I was always able to forget"? (Hint: About a page
earlier, he had said, "I explained, winefully,
how we did not do the things we wanted to do.")
2. In
Chapter 4, when Catherine Barkley says to Lt. Frederic Henry, "Do we have
to go on and talk this way," what does she mean? Characterize their
conversation up to this point AND the change that occurs after her question.
3. When Lt. Henry says
that he has never loved anyone, in what sense does he mean that?
4. On
approximately the same page, surmise why Catherine didn't marry her young
man? What would she have given him if she had known that he would die in
the
5. On the next page or so,
can you see an example of foreshadowing? (Hint: Answer this question after
someone gets wounded later in the novel.)
6. On the same page,
determine if Catherine Barkley still seems to be the romantic who imagined her
fiancé returning to her with a neat and honorable wound or if she has
changed. How can you tell?
7. In
Chapters 5-6, as Catherine yields to Frederic, how do they feel about each
other? Why does she yield?
8. About
Lt. Henry's personality:
a.
Considering his comments about art, does Lt. Henry seem to have a cultured view
of art?
b. Why is he in the Italian army?
c. How does Lt. Henry feel about guns? (Remember the rifle
in his room and the pistol he carries. See chapters 3 and 6 for these
references to note his differing attitudes about the two weapons.)
d. Why is Frederic Henry in the ambulance service instead of
a combat unit like the soldier from
e. Tell why you think Lt. Henry
could or could not kill someone.
f. In summary, what kind of a
man is Frederic Henry, as nearly as you can tell at this point? (Hint:
Later, in Chapter 10, Rinaldi will accuse Lt. Henry
of really being like "an Italian, all fire and smoke and nothing
inside." Is that a fair assessment or a misunderstanding of Lt.
Henry? Assembling this first impression is important so you can see if
Frederic Henry's experiences change him or not.)
9.
Toward the end of Chapter 8, why do you think Hemingway has Lt. Henry
announce his being wounded just before it happens? List at least 5 of the
"absurd" things that happen to Lt. Henry from Chapters 9 through 15,
starting with his wounding. How is Hemingway depicting war at this point?
10.
According to Passini in Chapter 9 and the
priest in Chapter 11, why do wars continue? How are their views
different?