Characters Discussed
Volpatte
Volpatte (vohl-PAT), a square-faced, jaundiced-looking, broken-nosed man who is hospitalized after almost losing his ears but returns bitter about the men in the hospital, both the malingering patients and the arrogant staff members.
Eudore
Eudore (ew-DOHR), a pale, pleasant-faced former keeper of a roadside café. Ironically, the one night of furlough he spends with his wife is spoiled by the presence of four soldiers taken in because of a heavy rain. He is later killed on patrol.
Poterloo
Poterloo (poh-tehr-LEW), a pink-faced, blond former miner who accompanies some friendly German privates to an Alsatian village to see his wife and is shocked to see her enjoying herself with a German sergeant. He is later killed.
Joseph Mesnil
Joseph Mesnil (zhoh-SEHF meh-NEEL), one of six brothers, four of whom already have been killed by 1915. Almost maddened by the death of his last remaining brother, Joseph is later wounded and is taken by the narrator to a dressing station.
André Mesnil
André Mesnil (ahn-DRAY), Joseph’s brother, a former chemist, who is killed on patrol.
Corporal Bertrand
Corporal Bertrand (behr-TRAH[N]), a leader who is soldierly, serious, and friendly to and respected by his squad. He is killed.
Lamuse
Lamuse (lah-MEWZ), a fat, ruddy-faced peasant, killed on patrol.
Paradis
Paradis (pah-rah-DEE), a plump, fat-cheeked, baby-faced former carter. He often discusses war with the narrator.
Cocon
Cocon (koh-KOH[N]), a slight, desiccated ironmonger. He is killed.
Tirloir
Tirloir (teer-LWAHR), the former manager of a traveling circus, sent back from the trenches with dysentery.
Bicquet
Bicquet (bee-KAY), a squat, gray-faced, heavy-chinned Breton, killed on patrol.
Barque
Barque (bahrk), a Parisian porter and tricycle messenger, killed on patrol.
Fouillade
Fouillade (fwee-LAHD), a middle-aged, tall, long-jawed, and goateed soldier from southern France.
The narrator
The narrator, apparently the author, who remembers his friends, grieving for those who have died and brooding on the filth, brutality, and nausea of war experience.
