THE OLD MAN AT THE BRIDGE

This post contains important questions and answers to the short story The Old Man at the Bridge by Ernest Hemingway

Ques 1 of The Old Man at the Bridge

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

There was a pontoon bridge across the river ————. He was too tired to go any farther.

iv) What is the first question that the narrator asks the old man at the bridge? What does he answer? Why does the old man smile?

Ans. The first question that the narrator asks the old man is “Where do you come from?”

He answers, “From San Carlos”.

The old man smiles because the name of San Carlos his home town fills him with happiness and pride.

v)  Describe the physical appearance of the old man at the bridge.

Ans. The old man’s age seventy-six. He is so old that he cannot protect himself from becoming a war victim. He wears silver-rimmed spectacles and is sitting by the side of the road at the pontoon bridge.

 

Ques 2 of The Old Man at the Bridge

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

He did not look like a shepherd ………… “What animals were they?”

ii) What all animals did the old man at the bridge own? What kind of relationship did he share with them?

Ans. He owned three animals altogether. There were three goats, a cat, and four pairs of pigeons.

He was very attached to these animals. He used to take care of them and was very reluctant to leave them while leaving his native town. Even while sitting by the roadside at the pontoon bridge he is seeing worrying about these animals.

v) What do the incidents in the story show about the consequences of the war? How does war affect the old man and his animals in the story?

Ans. The story shows how innocent human beings and animals become victims of the war and suffer unnecessarily. Their lives become uncertain and they need to leave their native land to travel to some foreign land as refugees.

The war compelled the old man to leave his animals behind and travel for some unknown land. He had been taking care of these animals for a long time. Before leaving he left the cage of the pigeons open so they could fly away. He knew the cat could take care of itself. But he was worried about his two goats.

 

Ques 3 of The Old Man at the Bridge

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

“I am without politics ———————-  the road where it forks for Tortosa”

i) What does the old man at the bridge mean when he states “I am without politics”? Why does he mention his age?

Ans. When the old man states, “I am without politics”, he means that he has no political views.

He mentions his age seventy-six to show how old he was and how difficult it was to leave his native land and animals at this age and walk twelve kilometers.

v) Explain why the old man finally resigns to his fate. What is the old man’s fate symbolic of? Do you think the old man could have changed his fate? Give reasons to justify your answer.

Ans. The old man finally resigns to his fate because he has no other option. He was too old and tired to protect himself from becoming the victim of the war.

The old man’s fate symbolizes the defeat of liberal democracy in Spain. It symbolizes the helplessness faced by the victims of war.

No, I don’t think the old man could have changed his fate. This is because war is declared by the administrators of the countries and the common people only become victims of the war. Only awareness of the devastation caused by war can change the fate of common people like the old man of the story.

Ques 4.

Read the extract given below on The Old Man at the Bridge and answer the questions that follow:

He looked at me very blankly  ——– Now what do you think about the others”?

ii) What is the cause of the old man’s worry and guilt?

Ans. The old man had to leave his town, San Carlos, because of the artillery attack by the enemy. He used to take care of four pairs of pigeons, a cat, and two goats whom he had to leave behind. This worried him and filled him with guilt thinking that if the humans were removed because of the artillery attack then how these animals could survive in the attack.

iii) Explain how the story brings out the conflict between man and his inner self.

Ans. In the story, we see an inner conflict that takes place between the old man and his inner self. The old man has to leave his native town, San Carlos, because of the fear of the artillery attack. He also has to leave behind the animals he is taking care of. This makes him feel guilty. His conversation with the narrator shows his struggle with his inner self as he feels he has not done justice to the animals he was supposed to protect.

iv) The old man seems to have given up on his life. Do you agree? Why?

Ans. The old man seems to have given up on his life. Yes, I agree with the above statement. This is because the old man looked tired and exhausted and sat down by the side of the road. He took no initiative to cross the pontoon bridge and get into a truck that would take him to Barcelona, knowing very well that the Fascists were advancing towards the river Ebro.

 

Ques 5

Read the extract given below of The Old Man at the Bridge and answer the questions that follow:

“I was taking care of animals,” …………..  was all the good luck that old man would ever have.

iii) State how both the narrator and the old man at the bridge are depicted as helpless by the end.

Ans. Both the narrator and the old man are depicted as helpless by the end. The old man had to leave his animals behind against his will because of the artillery attack.  The narrator was a young soldier whose duty was to keep an eye on the approaching of the enemy and to see that the war victims were safely sent to the other side of the pontoon bridge. He tried to persuade the old man to cross the bridge but failed. He could only hope the grey overcast day would prevent the enemies from attacking. Here we see the narrator’s helplessness.

v) The story is set on an Easter Sunday, which symbolically shows renewal and peace. How is it ironic with reference to the events in this story? 

Ans. The story is set on an Easter Sunday, which symbolically shows renewal and peace. But it is ironic with reference to the events in the story. This very day is selected for an artillery attack by the enemies which brings the natives of San Carlos to the verge of uncertainly and insecurity. For the old man, it meant inviting death since he did not cross the pontoon bridge.