War Questions and Answers
War
An analysis of Luigi Pirandello's "War," including its historical influences, characters, themes, conflicts, and the...
"War" by Luigi Pirandello is set during World War I and reflects the anguish of families affected by the conflict. The characters, primarily parents of soldiers, grapple with themes of grief,...
War
What is the deeper meaning of "War" by Luigi Pirandello?
The deeper meaning of “War” by Luigi Pirandello is that conflict is simply not worth the immense suffering it causes. It's all too easy to romanticize war, to make it seem glorious, as the man on the...
War
How does Luigi Pirandello judge patriotism in "War"?
In Luigi Pirandello's "War", patriotism is portrayed as an inadequate justification for the pain and loss caused by war. Characters in the story rationalize their sons' sacrifices with patriotic...
War
What are the feelings of the fat man about sending young people to war?
The fat man believes young people should go to war out of patriotism and sees their sacrifice as noble, sparing them the disappointments of civilian life. Despite his seemingly resolute stance, his...
War
What is the theme of war?
The theme of war in Pirandello's short story is the lack of justification for its horrific nature. At the time of World War I, various ideals such as nationalism and pride were invoked to justify the...
War
Why did the woman ask the fat man "Is your son really dead?" despite hearing his train speech?
The woman asks, "Is your son really dead?" to challenge the fat man's extensive speech about the necessity of sacrificing children in war. She seeks to confirm his beliefs and confronts the ultimate...
War
What personal experience does the red-faced passenger share in "War"?
In the short story "War" by Luigi Pirandello, the red-faced man in the train compartment first shares the opinion that parents should not sorrow for their sons who have gone off to war, because they...
War
What are the different views on war articulated by passengers in Pirandello's "War"?
In Pirandello's "War," passengers express differing views on war. One passenger sees it as a source of unending loss, unable to fully empathize with others. Another, the fat traveler, believes in...
War
Does the story suggest the fat man was unsure of his argument?
The story suggests that the fat man was confident in his argument, as he enters with certainty and commands attention with a spirited discussion, showing no hesitation or weakness. His assuredness...
War
Who are the main characters and what is the main conflict in the story "War"?
The main characters in "War" are a husband and wife, and a fat man who debates with them in a railway car. The primary conflict revolves around how parents rationalize their children's participation...
War
How does Pirandello use symbols in "War"?
Pirandello uses symbols in "War" to reflect the impact of conflict on individuals. The second-class railway car symbolizes the shared suffering across social classes, highlighting how the poor are...
War
Why was the woman who entered the war carriage upset?
The woman who entered the war carriage is upset because her only child is set to leave for the warfront in three days. Her husband explains their distress to the other travelers, who then share their...
War
In "War" by Luigi Pirandello, what was the last message from the old man's son and did he believe it?
The old man's son sent a message justifying his participation in the war, expressing satisfaction with his sacrifice. The father firmly believes his son's words and sees the sacrifice as a source of...
War
Why does the lady's question about his son's death shatter the fat man's optimism and composure?
The lady's question about the fat man's son's death shatters his optimism and composure by forcing him to confront the reality he had been avoiding. Until then, he had been projecting his own beliefs...
War
What is the climax of the story "War"?
The climax of "War" occurs when the bulky woman, grieving for her son sent to the front, asks the old man, "Then...is your son really dead?" This moment forces the old man to confront his own loss,...
War
What is the physical appearance of the old traveller in the context of war?
The old traveler is described as a "fat, red-faced man with bloodshot eyes of the palest gray," indicating poor health and exhaustion. His missing front teeth and "horribly watery" eyes further...
War
What does "the country" refer to in the story "War"?
In "War," "the country" refers to Italy, the homeland of the characters. They debate whether their children belong to them or the country, with some believing they give birth for the country's sake....
War
What is the mood of the short story "War" by Luis Pirandello?
The mood of "War" by Luis Pirandello is darkly humorous and ironic, with an underlying sense of tragedy. Characters exhibit detached misery and cope with grief by over-intellectualizing their...
War
What is the turning point that the big woman experiences in "War"?
The turning point for the big woman in "War" occurs when she listens to a man recounting his son's death in the war. She realizes that her own grief had isolated her and prevented her from...
War
What was the purpose of the "Fat Man" in the war?
The "Fat Man" character serves to justify sending soldiers to war by prioritizing patriotism over personal loss, suggesting that the "ultimate sacrifice" is honorable. His role reflects the...
War
What does the fat man's statement imply about parental love and duty in the context of war?
The fat man's statement implies that parental love should be secondary to national duty during wartime. He argues that parents should not dwell on the loss of their children to war but rather support...
War
What is the main theme of the story and the writer's intended message?
The main theme of the story is the futility of war, especially in modern times where traditional justifications for war no longer hold. The writer, Pirandello, illustrates this through characters who...
War
What do the train and the smoky compartment symbolize in the context of war?
The train and its smoky compartment symbolize the collective helplessness and powerlessness experienced during war. The train, lacking clear direction, represents people bound together by...
War
Why is the man portrayed as unappealing in "War" by Pirandello?
The man in "War" by Pirandello is portrayed as unappealing to reflect negatively on his ideas. His physical unattractiveness symbolizes the unpleasantness of his beliefs, particularly his pride in...
War
How is the concept of war constructed?
The concept of war is constructed through dialogue and third-person omniscient narration, set in a railroad car. The narrative explores the theme of war by examining the predicament of a father and...
War
What are the fat man's convictions in the war-themed short story?
The fat man operates as the force that tells parents the nobility of a child dying in name of country. When he hears of the parent son the train feeling despondent over sending their children to...