The Old Man at the Bridge
How does Hemingway show that war is disrupting to the lives of the peasants? Is this portrayal realistic? Why or why not?
Hemingway uses symbolism to show that war is disrupting to the lives of the peasants. The narrator asks what the old man's animals are and they are a cat, some pigeons, and two goats. He chose the animals because only the cats, which are the survivors, and the pigeons, which represent the people who believe in peace but flee anyway, while the goats, which are like the innocent peasants that die due to war.
What statements from the story suggest that the old man is about to give up on life?
Some statements from the story that suggest that the old man is about to give up on life are that his animals might get killed from war, also he is sad and tired and cannot go any farther.
How is the narrator portrayed in the story? How does he treat the old man?
The narrator in the story is portrayed as a kind and curious man. Although his conversation with the old man is to get him across, he gives the man some hope and finds out where he came from. In the end, he realizes the old man is going to give up on life and tries to convince him one more time and leaves.
Explain why the narrator takes so much time to converse with the old man.
The narrator in the story takes a lot of time to converse with the old man because he slowly tries to convince the old man to cross the bridge so the man won't die. He gets to know the man so he can slowly persuade him inside the conversation.
What kind of life has the old man been leading? What keeps him going? Use details from the story to support your answer.
The old man has been leading a very simple life caring for his animals.
What is the setting of the story?
The setting of the story is daytime near a pontoon bridge close to the village of San Carlos in Spain. Proof of this is shown when the narrator asks the old man where he is from and the old man says, San Carlos. The old man also said he has traveled 12 kilometers to get to the bridge. It is during the Spanish Civil War in probably 1938.