"The Old Man and the Bridge"

How old is the old man?

seventy-six

What was the old man doing in his native town?

taking care of animals

The old man is a symbol of what?

the civilian victims of war

How does Hemingway show that war is disrupting the lives of the peasants? Is this portrayal realistic? Why or why not?

the old man says that he had to vacate the town and leave behid his belonging; realistic, many towns have to vacate during war

Why does the narrator take so much time to converse with the old man?

to show how worn out the civilians were from the war

Why does the old man stop and not go across the bridge?

too tired

The trucks are crossing the bridge and going where?

Barcelona

What is special about the day the narrator encounters the old man?

Easter Sunday

Author

Ernest Hemingway

What is the old man's native town?

San Carlos

Setting

Southern Spain, near Ebro Delta

How is the narrator portrayed in the story? How does he treat the old man?

a kind person that tries to comfort and help the old man

Which animal is the old man least concerned about?

cat

Why does the old man leave the animals?

due to the artillery

What is the narrator's job?

he scouts ahead for the enemy's location

What kind of life has the old man been living? What keeps him going?

simple and poor; his animals