"War" by Luigi Pirandello: Short Questions and Answers 2025
1) Where is the story "War" by Luigi Pirandello set?
Ans: The story is set in a second-class railway carriage in Italy during World War I.
2) What is the main topic of conversation among the passengers in the carriage?
Ans: The main topic of conversation is the impact of the war on their families, especially their sons who are fighting in the war.
3) How do the passengers initially react to the couple entering the carriage?
Ans: The passengers initially react with curiosity and pity towards the couple, particularly because the woman is visibly distraught.
4) What does the fat man claim about the loss of his son?
Ans: The fat man claims that his son died a glorious death for the country and that parents should be proud to have their sons sacrifice their lives for such a noble cause.
5) How does the wife of the couple feel about her son going to war?
Ans: The wife is deeply grieved and cannot find solace in the idea that her son's sacrifice is noble. She is overwhelmed by the personal loss she anticipates.
6) What is the turning point in the story?
Ans: The turning point is when the wife asks the fat man if his son is really dead, and his facade of stoic acceptance crumbles, revealing his deep sorrow.
7) How does the fat man react to the woman's question about his son?
Ans: The fat man breaks down and weeps, showing that despite his earlier bravado, he is profoundly affected by his son's death.
8) What theme does the story "War" primarily explore?
Ans: The story explores the theme of the personal vs. the public cost of war, highlighting the profound personal grief that parents feel despite the public rhetoric of patriotism and honor.
9) How does Pirandello use irony in the story?
Ans: Pirandello uses irony by contrasting the public facade of bravery and acceptance with the private grief and pain experienced by the characters. The fat man's initial speech about the nobility of sacrifice is undercut by his eventual breakdown.
10) What message does Pirandello convey about war through the story?
Ans: Pirandello conveys that the true cost of war is not just in terms of national loss or heroism but in the deep, personal suffering of individuals and families.
11) How do the passengers in the carriage try to comfort themselves?
Ans: The passengers try to comfort themselves by rationalizing their sons' sacrifices as noble and necessary for the country, even though it is clear that they are struggling with their own grief.
12) What does the wife's question to the fat man reveal about her state of mind?
Ans: The wife's question reveals her desperation and inability to come to terms with her son's involvement in the war. It shows her need to confront the reality of loss head-on.
13) How do the other passengers respond to the fat man's initial speech about his son's death?
Ans: The other passengers listen respectfully and seem to take some comfort from his words, although they are each struggling with their own pain and loss.
14) What is the significance of the title "War"?
Ans: The title "War" signifies not only the literal conflict but also the internal battles and emotional turmoil experienced by those who have loved ones involved in the war.
15) How does Pirandello illustrate the contrast between public duty and private grief?
Ans: Pirandello illustrates this contrast through the characters' conversations and the fat man's breakdown, showing how public duty is often used as a veneer to mask deep personal grief.
16) What do the passengers' interactions reveal about their understanding of patriotism?
Ans: The passengers' interactions reveal a complex understanding of patriotism; they acknowledge the importance of national duty but are also deeply conflicted by their personal losses.
17) How does the setting of the story contribute to its themes?
Ans: The confined setting of the railway carriage creates an intimate atmosphere where the characters are forced to confront and share their deepest emotions, highlighting the themes of shared suffering and the personal impact of war.
18) What role does the woman's silence play in the story?
Ans: The woman's silence represents the unspeakable pain and grief that many feel but cannot express. Her eventual question to the fat man breaks this silence, bringing the hidden emotions to the surface.
19) How does the story "War" challenge the romanticization of war?
Ans: The story challenges the romanticization of war by showing the raw and painful emotions of those who are left behind, questioning the notion of noble sacrifice in the face of personal loss.
20) What is the reaction of the other passengers when the fat man breaks down?
Ans: The other passengers are initially shocked and then sympathetic, recognizing that his grief mirrors their own hidden sorrows.
21) How does the story depict the varying ways individuals cope with loss?
Ans: The story depicts various coping mechanisms, such as denial, rationalization, and stoicism, ultimately revealing that all these strategies are inadequate to fully address the deep pain of losing a loved one.
22) What does the fat man's final breakdown symbolize?
Ans: The fat man's final breakdown symbolizes the inevitable collapse of the façade of stoicism and the undeniable power of personal grief and loss.
23) What is the significance of the interaction between the woman and the fat man?
Ans: The interaction between the woman and the fat man serves as a catalyst for revealing the true depth of sorrow that lies beneath the surface for all the characters, highlighting the universal nature of their grief.
24) How does Pirandello use dialogue to develop the characters and themes in the story?
Ans: Pirandello uses dialogue to reveal the inner thoughts and emotions of the characters, allowing the themes of public duty vs. private grief and the personal cost of war to unfold naturally through their conversations.
25) How do the passengers' stories reflect the larger societal impact of the war?
Ans: The passengers' stories reflect the widespread suffering and loss experienced by many families, illustrating how the war's impact extends beyond the battlefield to touch every aspect of society.
CLASS-XII
SEMESTER-III
"War" by Luigi Pirandello: Long Questions and Answers 2025
