51 pages • 1 hour read
Timothy FindleyThe Wars
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1977A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
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In what ways does the First World War differ from previous wars, as presented in the book? In particular, pay attention to the way in which characters react to the battlefield, their expectations of war, and the affect that war has on the natural world.
Robert joins the Canadian forces in fighting for the Allies. How does the text treat the opposing forces? How are the Germans portrayed in the text?
Animals are a recurring motif throughout the text. What do animals represent in The Wars?
Robert’s relationship with Rowena is one of the defining aspects of his character. How does the memory of Rowena affect Robert’s time on the front?
When Robert shoots the German sniper in the snow-covered crater, he says that the sound of bird song will “haunt him” (122) until the day he dies. How does the death of the sniper affect Robert as a character?
As well as fighting against the Germans, Robert and his comrades are constantly fighting against the weather. In what ways does the climate of the battlefield affect the portrayal of war?
Barbara d’Orsey is one of the few women with whom Robert is romantically involved. Though they spend little time together, could they be considered to be in love?
Robert’s mother, Mrs. Ross, plays an important role in his decision to go to war. What affect does Mrs. Ross’s alcoholism and dementia have on the rest of the Ross family?
When he is first introduced, Eugene Taffler seems to be the ideal soldier, at least to Robert. How does this image change and evolve throughout the text? How does Robert’s perception of Taffler change?
The novel is concerned with how history’s perceptions of Robert Ross affect the story of his life. In what ways do the various perspectives—particularly, the changes between first, second, and third person perspectives—alter the way in which Robert is portrayed?
