"Soldier's Home" by Ernest Hemingway

Question 1

setting

Answer 1

• Physically: set in a small Oklahoma town
• Emotionally: Krebs’ mind is stuck back at war in Germany and France
• Chronologically: set in 1919 just prior to the Roaring 20’s

Question 2

incongruous juxtaposition of the setting shows the emotional effects of war on soldiers when they come back home

Answer 2

• even though he physically came back home in one piece, emotionally he did not come home and does not feel safe
• Krebs wants to live an uncomplicated life, but while his physical surrounds allow that, his emotional setting does not
• women in Europe could not talk to him because of the language barrier, but women in American can talk about he war, but don’t want to talk about ti because he came home after the war was socially removed from the context
• home was no longer comforting for krebs

Question 3

theme

Answer 3

sometimes you are stuck and can’t go home anymore

Question 4

Hemingway volunteered to be an ambulance driver in WWI and suffered a terrible tragedy while at war

Answer 4

he was very effected by this event and has written several pieces on the effects of war-this story being one of them

Question 5

what does Krebs mean by “There would be one more scene maybe before he got away”?

Answer 5

he expected there to be one more argument or uncomfortable moment before he left for Kansas city

Question 6

why does Krebs not make any effort to relate seriously with anyone, including women?

Answer 6

because doesn’t want the complications/consequences

Question 7

what does the line “he came back much too late…” imply to the reader?

Answer 7

he came home after the hype over returning soldiers was celebrated

Question 8

what about girls makes them seem complicated to Krebs

Answer 8

relating to their normal lives

Question 9

answers

Answer 9

• krebs is not on good terms with his father and wants to avoid him
• to leave oklahoma and go find a job in kansas city
• even though he physically came back home in one piece, emotionally he did not come home 100%
• the townspeople do not want to hear
• Oklahoma and Europe

Question 10

why is it significant that the story is set at Krebs’ home

Answer 10

it helps develop the theme by causing tension

Question 11

purpose of setting the story at Krebs’ home in Oklahoma

Answer 11

show the effect war has on krebs