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Luigi Pirandello, War

Luigi Pirandello, War

Read War and check your comprehension by answering the following questions. Then “submit” your work.

Question 1.1810

1. Where are the characters in this story?

crammed in a small German car headed for the border

traveling in a smoky second-class carriage

aboard the U.S.S. Commodore on the way to England

flying in the cargo hold of a small plane

Question 1.1811

2. Why is the bulky woman in deep mourning?

Her only daughter has died during a bombing raid.

Her husband has gone missing among the dead in Normandy.

Her only son has been called to the front.

Her three nephews and two sons are all fighting in Germany.

Question 1.1812

3. When presented with the couple’s case, how do the fellow passengers respond?

They present stories of greater mourning and sadness.

They refuse to respond at all, and instead they react with silent contemplation.

They concede that their situation is worse than all of the passengers’ situations combined.

They all weep together over the horror of war.

Question 1.1813

4. Which of the following is NOT the situation of one of the passengers?

One has a son who sent him a letter before dying that reported that he was dying satisfied at having ended his life in the best way he could have wished.

One has a son killed on the first day of the first battle of the war.

One has two sons and three nephews at the front.

One has a son who was sent to the front on the first day of the war who has twice been sent home wounded and twice sent back to the front.

Question 1.1814

5. What question by the woman to the fat traveler reduces him to uncontrollable sobs?

“How do we all bear this?”

“How long have you been alone?”

“Do you not love your son?”

“Is your son really dead?”