1. Identify the CONFLICT in this story. Is it primarily an external Man ...
1. Identify the CONFLICT in this story. Is it primarily an external Man ...
1. Identify the CONFLICT in this story. Is it primarily an external Man ...
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World L<strong>it</strong>eratureQuestions: “War” by Luigi Pir<strong>an</strong>delloName: ____________________________<strong>1.</strong> <strong>Identify</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>CONFLICT</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>this</strong> <strong>story</strong>. <strong>Is</strong> <strong>it</strong> <strong>primarily</strong> <strong>an</strong> <strong>external</strong> M<strong>an</strong>-vs-M<strong>an</strong> conflict,or is <strong>it</strong> <strong>primarily</strong> <strong>an</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternal M<strong>an</strong>-vs-Self conflict?2. What/when is <strong>the</strong> CLIMAX of <strong>this</strong> <strong>story</strong>? How c<strong>an</strong> you tell <strong>it</strong> is <strong>the</strong> climax?CHARACTERIZATION:Your book says: “[Pir<strong>an</strong>dello’s] focus on <strong>the</strong> social masks that people wear has been a major<strong>in</strong>fluence on modern fiction, as well as on modern drama. …Pir<strong>an</strong>dello was fasc<strong>in</strong>ated by <strong>the</strong>contrast between appear<strong>an</strong>ce <strong>an</strong>d real<strong>it</strong>y <strong>in</strong> hum<strong>an</strong> behavior. He viewed life as a series of illusions,each conceal<strong>in</strong>g a surpris<strong>in</strong>g core: comedy <strong>in</strong> tragedy, s<strong>an</strong><strong>it</strong>y <strong>in</strong> madness, grief <strong>in</strong> happ<strong>in</strong>ess. Hesaw people as suffer<strong>in</strong>g from <strong>the</strong> necess<strong>it</strong>y of lead<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>s<strong>in</strong>cere public lives, <strong>an</strong>d he watched w<strong>it</strong>hcompassion as <strong>the</strong>y clung to <strong>the</strong>ir delusions. He created l<strong>it</strong>erature that he hoped would force peopleto exam<strong>in</strong>e <strong>the</strong>ir convictions, acknowledge <strong>the</strong>ir <strong>in</strong>ner selves, <strong>an</strong>d lead more au<strong>the</strong>ntic lives.”3. In <strong>the</strong> short <strong>story</strong> “War” <strong>the</strong> author, Luigi Pir<strong>an</strong>dello, does not give <strong>an</strong>y of <strong>the</strong> charactersnames. Why not? What effect does that have on <strong>the</strong> <strong>story</strong> <strong>an</strong>d <strong>the</strong> reader?4. Which of <strong>the</strong> characters are wear<strong>in</strong>g “social masks” as Pir<strong>an</strong>dello would say (at least at<strong>the</strong> beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>the</strong> <strong>story</strong>) ?5. Choose one of <strong>the</strong> characters you listed <strong>in</strong> #4. What is <strong>the</strong> “mask” he/she is wear<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>an</strong>dwhat is true about him/her?6. Of <strong>the</strong> characters you listed <strong>in</strong> #4, choose one (same or different th<strong>an</strong> <strong>in</strong> #5) who is aDYNAMIC CHARACTER. What is <strong>the</strong> ch<strong>an</strong>ge <strong>the</strong>y undergo? What causes <strong>it</strong>?7. Both <strong>the</strong> wom<strong>an</strong> <strong>in</strong> mourn<strong>in</strong>g <strong>an</strong>d <strong>the</strong> fat m<strong>an</strong> are described as hid<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir faces. Why is<strong>this</strong> <strong>an</strong> import<strong>an</strong>t detail? – What purpose does <strong>it</strong> serve <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>story</strong>?8. Why does <strong>the</strong> wom<strong>an</strong> ask <strong>the</strong> fat m<strong>an</strong> if his son really died?
LITERARY TECHNIQUE:9. How does Pir<strong>an</strong>dello use <strong>the</strong> technique of REVERSAL? (‘Reversal’ is <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Glossary ofL<strong>it</strong>erary Terms at <strong>the</strong> back of your World L<strong>it</strong> textbook.)10. What is <strong>the</strong> central IRONY of <strong>the</strong> <strong>story</strong>?THEME:1<strong>1.</strong> Which of <strong>the</strong> broad <strong>the</strong>mes we are focus<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>this</strong> semester is/are evident <strong>in</strong> <strong>this</strong> <strong>story</strong>?12. What does Pir<strong>an</strong>dello po<strong>in</strong>t out about a parent’s love for a child?13. What is Pir<strong>an</strong>dello’s att<strong>it</strong>ude toward patriotism? C<strong>it</strong>e a specific statement or quote fromone of <strong>the</strong> characters to support your <strong>an</strong>swer. Do you agree? Why or why not?INDIVIDUAL RESPONSE & INTERPRETATION: CHOOSE ONE.1) The characters <strong>in</strong> “War” all make arguments why <strong>the</strong>y believe <strong>the</strong>ir experience is better orworse th<strong>an</strong> <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs’ experiences, who has suffered <strong>the</strong> greatest loss, etc. Each character has aunique s<strong>it</strong>uation. Each <strong>in</strong>dividual has a unique personal<strong>it</strong>y. If you had to choose one, w<strong>it</strong>hwhom do you agree <strong>the</strong> most? Do you th<strong>in</strong>k <strong>it</strong> is possible to compare <strong>the</strong>ir s<strong>it</strong>uations? C<strong>an</strong> oneperson underst<strong>an</strong>d <strong>an</strong>o<strong>the</strong>r person’s pa<strong>in</strong> or loss <strong>an</strong>d <strong>the</strong>ir personal, emotional response to thats<strong>it</strong>uation? Why or why not?2) Do you ever wear a “social mask”? Give <strong>an</strong> example of a time or s<strong>it</strong>uation when you wear amask. <strong>Identify</strong> <strong>the</strong> ‘mask’ as well as what is more truly your <strong>in</strong>ner character. Why do you put on<strong>the</strong> mask? What purpose does <strong>it</strong> serve? How would th<strong>in</strong>gs be different w<strong>it</strong>hout <strong>it</strong>?