Notes of the Old Man at the Bridge

Old Man at the Bridge Extract I 1.

There was a pontoon bridge across the river…..he was too tired to go any further.

1.    What is a pontoon bridge? Why are many people crossing the bridge?           A bridge that is made of large hollow containers filled with air is called        a pontoon bridge. The story is set during the Spanish Civil war and people are crossing the bridge to protect themselves from the impending attack by the enemy troops.

2.    Where is the old man sitting? Unlike others, why doesn’t he move? The old man was too tired to go any farther because he had already walked twelve kilometers since he left his hometown, San Carlos.

3.    Who is the speaker in the above extract? Why is he there? The unnamed narrator, who is an army scout is the speaker. He was on a mission to cross the bridge and find out how far the enemy had advanced.

4.    What is the first question that the narrator asks the old man? What does he answer? Why does the old man smile? The narrator asked the old man where he came from. The old man replied, “ San Carlos”, and he smiled because the mention of his native town gave him pleasure.

5.    Why is the old man the last one to leave his town? Describe his physical appearance. The old man was the last to leave because he was taking care of his animals. The old man wore dusty clothes and steel rimmed spectacles. His face was grey and dusty.

Extract II

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

1.    Who is referred to as He in the extract above? In what condition is he? Old man is He. He is in a weary condition as he has already walked twelve kilometers and too tired  to move further. Moreover his clothes are dusty and his face has turned grey.

2.    What all animals did he own? What kind of relationship did he share with them? He had two goats, a cat and four pairs of pigeons. The animals were his family; he loved them and cared for them so much that separating from them made him feel that he had lost his reason for existence.

3.    What did he do with the animals? What forced him to do so? He left the animals behind in his native town of San Carlos. They heavy firing from the enemy forced him to do so.

4.    Why doesn’t the old man cross the bridge and escape to a safer place? He had already traveled twelve kilometers, so he was too tired to go any further. He was weak, the old man had no family and he had left his animals behind, he felt helpless as he couldn’t save his animals; he surrendered himself to his fate.

5.    What do the incidents in the story show about the consequences of the war. The Spanish civil war forms the background to the story and Hemingway depicts that how in times of war man acts inhumanly to his own race. War causes and death and destruction, and this is highlighted through the condition of the old man who can be seen as the symbol of civilian victims of war. The old man gives meaning to his life by taking care of his animals, but the war takes away everything from him. He sits alone by the side of the road; he is as helpless as his goats; he cannot escape and is too old and tired to save himself.

Extract III

“ I am without politics…..forks for Tortosa.

1.    What does the old man mean when he states, “ I am without politics”? Why does he mention his age? Like other innocent civilians what matters to the old man is his home and animals rather than politics. He mentions his age along with the fact that he had already walked twelve kilometers to reflect the extent of his weariness.

2.    Describe the old man’s appearance. What was he doing in San Carlos? The old man wore steel rimmed spectacles; his clothes were black and dusty and his face had turned grey from dust. In San Carlos, he was taking care of his animals.

3.    The narrator says “ This is not a good place to stop.” Which place is he referring to? Why is it not advisable to halt there? The place referred to is a war zone at a pontoon bridge across the Ebro river. The place is 12 kilometers from San Carlos in Spain.

4.     What does the narrator give to the old man? How does the old man react to it? The narrator advised the old man to cross the bridge and catch a truck towards Barcelona. But the old man replied that he did not  know anyone there. However, he thanked the narrator for his suggestion and continued to express his concern for the fate of the animals he had left behind.

5.    Explain why the old man finally resigns to his fate. The Spanish civil war forms the background to the story and Hemingway depicts that how in times of war man acts inhumanly to his own race. War causes and death and destruction, and this is highlighted through the condition of the old man who can be seen as the symbol of civilian victims of war. The old man gives meaning to his life by taking care of his animals, but the war takes away everything from him. He sits alone by the side of the road; he is as helpless as his goats; he cannot escape and is too old and tired to save himself. Forced to flee his town the old man sits  near the Ebro river; he surrenders to his fate and waits for his impending death.

Extract IV

He looked at me very blankly….think about others?

1.    Why does the old man look blank and tired? How can you say that the old man needed someone to talk to? The man was forced to flee from his native town, leaving behind his only family i.e. his animals. He was concerned for them but did not know what to do. It made him blank. Moreover, he was 76 years old man who had already traveled twelve kilometers so he was tired. The manner in which the old man engaged in a conversation with the narrator and told him about his village and animals shows that he needed someone to talk to.

2.    What is the cause of old man’s worry and guilt? The old man believed that he must watch over the cat, the goats and the pigeons in San Carlos. The man was not able to fulfill his responsibilities so was guilty and wondered what would the animals do in his absence.

3.    Explain how the story brings out the conflict between man and his inner self. The story has two levels of conflicts. One of the conflicts is that between man and his inner self which is seen in the character of the old man. The old man is guilty of leaving his animals behind for the fear of fire by the artillery. Man against another man is the other conflict in the story. In times of war, a man causes pain and suffering to another man. He fights with his own race for a seemingly greater good.

4.    The old man seems to have given up on his life. Do you agree? Why ? Yes, it seemed that the old man had given up on his life: He was not concerned for his safety. He sat by the side of the road at a pontoon bridge in the war zone. Despite repeated insistence from the narrator to save his life and to catch a truck to Barcelona, the old man paid no heed. He was preoccupied only with the fate of his animals he had left behind in San Carlos.

5.    How does the narrator try to relieve the old man of his worries? Does he prove successful? Support your answer with instances from the story. The Narrator tries to engage in a conversation and inquires if he had left the dove cage unlocked. He tries to reassure him that the animals would be fine. At regular intervals, he reminds him to cross the bridge. The narrator becomes a friend in need for the old man but he is not able to relieve him of his worries. The  old man surrenders to his fate and till the end he only thinks of his animals. The narrator thus realizes that  nothing can be done  about him and moves on leaving him at the bridge.

Extract V

“ I was taking care of animals……would ever have.

1.     Why does the narrator note that the old man spoke ‘dully’ The old man had lost all hope and was filled with guilt for not being able to look after his animals. War thus does not  only cause physical destruction but also psychological destruction.

2.    What makes the narrator feel that “ there was nothing to do about him?” The Narrator tries to engage in a conversation and inquires if he had left the dove cage unlocked. He tries to reassure him that the animals would be fine. At regular intervals, he reminds him to cross the bridge. The narrator becomes a friend in need for the old man but he is not able to relieve him of his worries. The  old man surrenders to his fate and till the end he only thinks of his animals. The narrator thus realizes that  nothing can be done  about him and moves on leaving him at the bridge.

3.    State how both the narrator and the old man are depicted as helpless by the end. The old man loved his animals so much that separating from them made him feel that he had lost his reason for existence. The old man, like his goats, had no one to take care of him and thus he surrendered to his fate. The narrator lends a kind ear to the old man and urges the man to get up and cross the bridge; the man tries but fails. The soldier feels sorry for him. Thus the story ends with the old man’s concern for the goats and the soldier’s  concern for the man.

4.    What is “all the good luck that old man would ever have?” All the luck that he would have is that the cats could protect themselves and as the day was overcast, the Fascists would not  launch their planes to attack the local people.

5.    The story is set on an Easter Sunday, which symbolically shows renewal and peace. How is it ironical with reference to the events in the story? The Old Man at the Bridge, the action of the story is set on Easter Sunday, the day when Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day after he was crucified. Thus, Easter is symbolically viewed as a welcome time of rebirth, renewal and possible change. However, for the old man at the bridge, this day meant inevitable death and the destruction of that was meaningful to him. The image of resurrected Christ is like the image of the old man’s doves being released from their cage, both being symbols of hope and peace. The soldier , however, is not hopeful about the old man’s fate-he bitterly remarks that ‘all the good luck that old man would ever have’ was the fact that the artillery planes of the enemy could not fly that  day.

Notes of Chief Seattle's Speech

Extract I

“Yonder sky that  has swept tears of compassion upon……..sends us greetings of friendship and goodwill.

1.    Who speaks these words? Give the meaning of:

“Yonder sky that has swept tears of compassion upon my people for centuries untold.”

These are words are spoken by Chief Seattle. She says that nature has sympathised with his people for many centuries.

2.    Why does the speaker say “ tomorrow it may be overcast with clouds”?

Chief Seattle feels that things are fine at present. However, the scenario will change in the future as the Great Chief in Washington wishes to buy their land with words of feigned ‘goodwill and friendship.’

3.    Who is the ‘Great Chief at Washington’? What has the Great Chief done to  Seattle and his people?

George Washington, the first President of the United States of America,  is the Great Chief at Washington. The Great Chief at Washington wishes to buy the land of the Native Americans with words of feigned ‘goodwill and friendship.’

4.    How much are Seattle’s words reliable as far as the Great Chief is concerned?

His words are like the stars that never change. The Great Chief at Washington can rely upon his words with as much certainty as he can upon the return of the sun or the seasons.

5.    Briefly state the reaction of the Chief Seattle to the greetings sent by the Big Chief at Washington?

The Great Chief sends Chief Seattle and his people words of goodwill and friendship. Seattle feels that he is in little need of their help and friendship, as his people are strong and powerful as compared to the natives.

Extract II

His people are many. They are like…..no longer  in need of an extensive country.

1.    Compare the number of Chief Seattle’s people with that of the White Chief. How does the narrator illustrate this act?

Seattle says that there was a time when his people were large in number now they are nothing more than a mournful memory. He compares the Whites to the grass that covers the vast prairies, large in number. His people are few and they resemble the scattering trees of a storm-swept plain.

2.    What message does the White  Chief send to the native people?

The White Chief informs that they must get ready for land settlement treaty between the US government and Native American tribe. According to the treaty, the Native Americans should surrender their land to the Whites and move farther from their ancestors’ land.

3.    A little later, how does Seattle describe that his people were numerous once upon a time?

He says that once the Native Americans covered the land as the waves of a wind-ruffled sea cover its shell-paved floor.

4.    State the message sent by the White Chief to the native people. What is the reaction of Chief Seattle to the message?

The White Chief wishes to buy  the land of the Native Americans. Seattle says that the proposition seems  to be just, kind and generous s the Red man no longer has rights. The offer appears to be wise since the Native Americans are less in number and don’t require a vast territory.

5.    What happened when the White man began to push the natives westward? Should the native people take revenge on the White men? Why?

They young turned violent and indulged in revengeful acts when the white men pushed the westward. There is no use in taking revenge on the White men because they are large in number as well as more powerful. In times of war, they even lose their own lives, but the family that wants for the m at home bears the loss.

Extract III

Our good father in Washington…..will cease to frighten our women, children and old men.

1.    Who is referred to as our father in Washington? Since when he has become ‘our father and your father’?

George Washington. Since King George has moved his boundaries further north, he has become the father the Native Americans.

2.    A little earlier, Chief Seattle exclaims that ‘youth is impulsive.’ Why does he say that? What does it reflect about his character?

Youth is impulsive because they grow angry at real or imaginery wrong and they often become cruel and relentless. They become hostile and lose their lives in violent acts.

Seattle discourages such kind of behaviour from the youth and it indicates his love for peace and friendly relationship. He is against war and he does not glorify war but condemns it.

3.    Under what condition is the good father going to protect the native people? What is meant by ‘bristling wall of strength’?

If the Native Americans surrender or sell their land to the White settlers, he will protect them from foreign enemies like Haidas and Tsimshians.

Bristling wall  refers to the vigorous and energetic white people’s brave men who will provide them strength and will protect them from their ancient enemies.

4.    Who are Haidas and Tsimshians? How they will cease to frighten the natives?

They are two tribes who constantly at the Suquamish tribe. Haidas are indigenous people of North America. Tsimshains are  North American Indians of the North-west Coast.

The White Chief’s brave men will provide the natives strength and his ships would fill their harbours so that Hidas and Tsimshians cease to frighten the natives.

5.    How does Chief Seattle prove that the White man’s God is not the God of the natives?

The God of the White man loves his people and hates Seattle’s people. He protects them lovingly and leads them like a father leads his infant son. But he has forsaken Seattle and his people.

Extract IV

Our God, the Great Spirit…….renew our prosperity and awaken in us dreams of returning greatness?

1.    Who is referred to as the God of the natives? Why does he seem to have forgotten them?

The Great Spirit is referred to as the God of the natives. The Great Spirit has forgotten his people because Suquamish tribe has almost become extinct and their number is declining rapidly. The Great Spirit is no longer a father figure to them; “they seem to be orphans who can look nowhere for help.”

2.    Why are the natives compared to  the receding tide and are called orphans?

Their population is rapidly reducing and they have almost become extinct. They are called orphans because their God, the Great Spirit has forgotten them.

3.    Why does the Chief say ‘that if there was a common father for both races, he must be partial?

Because He came to the help of His paleface children and never came  to the help of Red Man. He gave them laws to be followed but none to his Red children. They have separate origin and separate destinies. He makes the White people stronger every day but does nothing for the well being of the natives.

4.    Finally, the Chief says ‘We are two distinct races with separate origins and separate destinies.’ Give examples to prove this statement.

 They are two distinct races-the native Americans and the White colonists.

The natives’ origin is the American land that is being contested; the Whites here originally belonged to Europe who came and colonized these native Americans.

Their destinies are different-the natives are receding every day while the Whites are like the grass that covers vast prairies.

5.    How does the speech of the Chief show that his people were oppressed?

The Whites unjustly exercising authority over the Native Americans. It is the natives’ land that the Big Chief in Washington ‘wishes’ to buy but ‘wish’ is a word sarcastically used by Chief Seattle. The Whites are so powerful in terms of their army and navy that the Red Indians need to bow down. Chief Seattle says that Whites are willing to allow them enough land to live comfortably which is symbolic of their master-slave relationship.

Extract V

Your religion was written upon tablets…….is written in the hearts of our people.

1.    Give the meaning of :

a)    Tablet of stone

Refers to the words written on to stone tablets that later were brought down from Mount Sinai by Moses. The tablets were also  known as the Ten Commandments.

b)    Iron finger: Biblical phrase which means Finger of God.

2.    What was the Red Man’s religion?

The religion of the Red Man is the traditions of their ancestors-the dreams of their old men, given them in solemn hours of the night by the Great Spirit; and the visions of their sachems, and is written in the hearts of their people.

3.    Compare the religion of the White man with that of the Red man.

The religion of the Red Man is the traditions of their ancestors-the dreams of their old men, given them in solemn hours of the night by the Great Spirit; and the visions of their sachems, and is written in the hearts of their people.

 The White men followed Christianity and it was written by the iron finger of their God, symbolising strict adherence to rules and principles. The God of this religion is partial and has forsaken his Red children. Seattle says that this God loves only his paleface children and not the natives.

4.    How can you conclude that the natives are more dependent on their ancestors than the White men?

Seattle says that the ashes of his ancestors are sacred and their resting place is hallowed ground. They love to stay in the land where their ancestors’ memories are alive. Whereas the Whites wander far from their ancestors’ graves. The Whites once they are dead, forget their native land and never return. The dead of the Red men will never forget their native land and year to visit this beautiful land.

5.    What does Seattle say about Christianity?

The White men followed Christianity and it was written by the iron finger of their God, symbolising strict adherence to rules and principles. The God of this religion is partial and has forsaken his Red children. Seattle says that this God loves only his paleface children and not the natives.

Extract VI

Your dead cease to love you and the land…….console them.

1.    Why do the dead of the White men cease to love their land and their people?

This is because they never connect with their land their people spiritually. Their relationship with their land and their people is not sacred or holy; it is materialistic. As soon as they die, the link to their earthly life breaks and devoid of spiritualism they are incapable of an afterlife.    

2.    On the other hand, what do the dead of the Red man do to their living?

The dead of the Red man never forget their native land where they lived. They still love its verdant valleys, its murmuring rivers, its magnificent mountains, sequestered valleys and verdant lined lakes and bays, and ever yearn to visit this place again. Moreover the spirits of the dead keep visiting to guide, console and comfort the living.

3.    What propel was put forward to the Red man by the Great Chief?

The Red men should surrender their native land to the Whites. In return of this, the Whites will protect them foreign attack from the Haidas and Tsimshians. The Whites are willing to allow them to enough land to live comfortably.

4.    What is the impact of the proposal on the Red man and the White man?

The Native Americans  will have to leave their native land where their ancestors are resting in eternal peace. They lose their land which is full of memories. The land that they have been asked to sell is sacred for them.

The Whites unjustly exercising authority over them. The Whites are powerful in terms of their army and navy that the Red Indians need to bow down. The Whites are willing to allow them enough land to live comfortably which is symbolic of their master-slave relationship.

5.    What role do the dead Red men play for the living? How do the dead Red men show that they are an intimate part of nature?

The Native Americans would be transported to a reality beyond what is felt by  the senses. The ‘shores’, ‘the pathless woods’,  ‘the field’ would never be empty of their spirits. This land will make them eternal. “In all the earth there is no place dedicated to solitude,’ and hence they will be a part of land forever. Their spirits would still love ‘this beautiful land’ and its ‘magnificent mountains’ and ‘sequestered vales.’ Their death here would not be death but only a gateway to the eternal world.

Extract VII

Tribe follows tribe, ad nation……we may be brothers after all. We will see.

1.    How has the Chief shown earlier that he is not happy about the fate of his people?

He feels as if not a single star of hope hovers above the natives’ horizon. The winds moan and grim fate follows them. Their situation is similar to a wounded doe that is being hunted down. Moreover he feels that in a few more years, their race will disappear. This is how he reflects his unhappiness about the fate of his people.

2.    How is the order of nature referred to by the Chief? How does he hint that justice will be done at the end?

Every person, tribe, or culture that is risen to great glory would definitely meet its fall one day and that would be surely be the day of justice. Seattle believes that time will come when the Whites would also be moving  towards their inevitable doom.

3.    What is referred to: ‘White man’s God who walked and talked with him?’

This is a reference to the Biblical God and his ten commandments that always supported and guided the White men.

4.    Give the meaning and significance of:

‘We may be brothers after all.’

Seattle believes that White settlers too will have their decay one day. It would be then that the White men and Red men would share a common destiny.  They would be brothers only when the Whites would be able to empathise the Red men.

5.    What could be the common destiny of man? Give the hints given in the extract to show that the Chief foresees the unity of all human beings?

The common destiny of man is that his decay is inevitable. It is through the White man’s decay the Seattle foresees the unity of all beings. He says: ‘we may be brothers after all. We will see.’

Extract VIII

In all the earth there is no place dedicated…..the White man will never be alone.

1.    Explain why there is no place dedicated to solitude.

This is because even after the last native has perished ‘shores will swarm with the invisible dead’ of Seattle’s tribe. The natives’ love for their  land makes them immortal. Thus, the Whites will never be alone.

2.    When do the shadowy spirits visit the places?

The shadowy spirits visit the places at nights when the streets of the Whites’ cities are silent and it is falsely believed that they are deserted.

3.    When would the memory of the tribe be a myth among the White men?

The memory of the tribe would become a myth among the White men when the last Red man shall have perished from the natives’ land, but this would be momentary as it would  the ‘swarm with the invisible dead of the tribe.’

4.    What is the attitude of the dead towards the objects of nature?

Native Americans even after death don’t  forget the world that gave them their being and identity. They keep on loving its valleys, its rivers, its magnificent mountains, and its lakes. The dead feel one with the nature and its surroundings.

5.    Explain how does the speech of the Chief reflect upon the theme of changing human life to another form.

The Native Americans would be transported to a reality beyond what is felt by  the senses. The ‘shores’, ‘the pathless woods’,  ‘the field’ would never be empty of their spirits. This land will make them eternal. “In all the earth there is no place dedicated to solitude,’ and hence they will be a part of land forever. Their spirits would still love ‘this beautiful land’ and its ‘magnificent mountains’ and ‘sequestered vales.’ Their death here would not be death but only a gateway to the eternal world. They will only change their world and hence will become immortal. He ends his speech with the assertion that ‘there is no death, only  a change of worlds.’