Ernest Hemingway in Paris, 1928
(The John F.
Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston)
TEXT INTRO:
1 In 1918, Ernest Hemingway joined the Italian
Red Cross as an ambulance driver during World War I. On July 8, 1918 he was struck by a trench
motor shell on the frontlines and was sent to a hospital in Milan. There is speculation that Hemingway developed
a romantic relationship with Red Cross nurse, Agnes von Kurowsky, and many believe
this is the inspiration for Hemingway’s 1929 novel, A Farewell to Arms.
The novel begins with Lieutenant Frederic Henry, an American
serving as an ambulance driver in the Italian Army, considering plans to tour
Italy during the winter lull of World War I.
After Frederic returns from his trip he encounters a British nurse’s
aide, Catherine Barkley. Catherine is
emotionally unavailable for a romantic relationship because her fiancé has
perished as another casualty of the war, however she engages with Frederic through
fun and flirtatious banter. Later,
Frederic is wounded and is sent to Milan for surgery and recuperation. He is delighted to discover that Catherine
has been transferred to the hospital and she is assigned to tend to him. Overtime, their playful relationship develops
into a deep and meaningful love affair.
Eventually Frederic’s wound heals and he is granted three weeks leave
and at this time Catherine reveals that she is carrying his baby. Before Frederic can take his leave, he
develops jaundice and is forced to spend his leave time convalescing.
After making a full recovery, Frederic returns to the war
front. At this time, the Italians are
struggling in the war and they cannot contain their frontline. The Germans finally breakthrough causing the
Italian forces and civilians into a hasty retreat. Frederic leads the other ambulance drivers in
the evacuation. The sheer number of people makes the retreat slow and laborious
and eventually Frederic decides to try using backroads as a faster route. The ambulances get bogged down in the muddy
roads and they decide to proceed on foot.
Troubles arise within the group and Frederic rejoins the army’s retreat,
but he is confronted with the horrors of war caused by chaos and confusion and
decides to desert by jumping into a river and swimming away. He returns to Milan by concealing himself on
a train.
He reunites with Catherine in the town of Stresa and they escape
safely to Switzerland. They winter in
the town of Montreux and settle into a comfortable domestic life. Later in the spring they decide to move to
Lausanne to be closer to the hospital for the delivery of their baby. The novel closes after the birth of the baby.
Rationale for Choice:
2.
I
chose the book for a couple of reasons, first because it is my favorite book of
all time. Second, because I believe students need to experience Hemingway’s
minimalistic writing style. The book is
listed in the Common Core State Standards Appendix B as a text exemplar. The book is listed under the Grade 11-CCR under
the stories heading. The book would be
most appropriate for older secondary students due to adult content dealing with
war and sexuality.
Lesson Ideas:
3.
My
first lesson idea would center around collaborative discussions focusing on the
Catherine Barkley character to foster discussions about gender roles. (Social
Studies or ELA)
My second lesson idea would be to utilize the historical and
biographical background to help students make connections to events during
World War I. (Social Studies)
My third lesson idea would to use the parts of the novel for close
reading exercises which exposes students to Hemingway’s minimalistic writing
style. (ELA)
Obstacles:
4.
This
book has been used in schools for a long time, (I was first introduced to this
book over 25 years ago in an English/Novel class) so I think usage of the book
in secondary classrooms is common and accepted.
Parents and administrators might find some of the adult sexual themes to
be unacceptable for some students.
Students might not find the book engaging because they are unaccustomed
to Hemingway’s minimalistic writing style and struggling readers might have a
difficult time engaging with the book due to content.
.
.
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