ORAL REPRODUCTION
OF STORIES(2)
WAR
WRITTEN BY:
LUIGI
PIRANDELLO
1
LUIGI
PIRANDELLO
(1867-1936)
Luigi Pirandello came
from a
well-to-do family who
lived in a backward,
violent section of Italy
where he was early
impressed by the injustice
and cruelty. He was
unknown as a writer. after
World War I, when his
play Six Characters in
Search of an Author
brought him sudden
fame. He is one of the
most influential dramatist
of the 20th century.
2
Summary of WAR
WAR by luigi Pirandello is a story about people
who traveled by the small old-fashioned local train
that was joining the main line with sulmona.
It began in a stuffy and smoky second-class
carriage in which 5 people had spent the night.
They observed entrance of a bulky woman in deep
mourning who her husband escorting her. she
seemed very fraught and stressful. her husband(He
was thin and weak) explained that their son(whom
they devoted their entire life) volunteered for war
and now they receive a wire saying that he was due
to leave in 3-day time and asking them to go and
see him off.
3
It was not strange and unusual event in that period of
time because a war was happened(I think World War
I)And all people have one or more than of their pet
family whom engaged enemies. Each one had one’s
story that all of them was very sorrowful and touching.
They were very sad and beaten except one . He was a
fat traveler who lost his son in war . he was not
mourning and he did not even wear mourning because
he taught his son was young , happy and satisfied when
he died, Without having the ugly sides of life, The
boredom of it, the pettiness, the bitterness of disillusion.
He believed his twenty son died for his country his
beliefs and for superior goal that was freedom country
and happy people.
4
the woman who mentioned her at the beginning
of the story, lifted her head and trying to listen
with great attention to the details which the fat
man giving to his companions about the way his
son had fallen as a hero, for his king and his
country, happy and without regret.
She found that couldn’t rise up to the same
height of those parents willing to resign
themselves, without crying not only the
departure of their sons, but even to their death.
5
Suddenly she asked a silly and incongruous
question him, "then….is your son really dead?”
He starred her, he couldn’t reply her. His face
contracted, become horribly distorted and to the
amazement of everyone, broke into
harrowing,heart-rending,uncontrollable sobs.
6
Note: It is not clear why she asked him . maybe
because she taught death of son is the greatest
tragic event in everybody s life and that man
was not heartbroken as well as she was. He was
strong and resistant. He was definitely sad and
lonesome for his son . However he made
hopeful other people not because he was
regardless of his dead son of course because he
sacrificed his son and his life for his country.
7
The elements of fiction
Third person
(point of view) storyteller
Deep sadness in the fat
man’s mind &his strong
appearance.
Internal conflict
Hopeful man vs. disappointed
parents.
The acceptance of their sons
as a soldier for their country
and the denial of their sons
death.External conflict
The Bulky woman asked an
incongruous question to the
fat man (Is your son really
dead?) and he sob.
The fat man is
protagonist(round character).
Character
Climax
The love of homeland is the
the most important thing.
theme
Setting: in a old-fashioned
carriage of local train when a
war was happening.
Proverb:1-when you are in Rome”do az Romans do.2- You can’t judge a
8
For discussion
PART1(suggested answers)
1.Why is the bulky woman in deep mourning?
Because her only son will be sent to the front in 3day time.
2.Why does she not participate more in the
conversation?
because She was depressed and nobody could not
console her deep sorrow.
3.Why does she finally speak to the fat man?
Because the fat man amazed and stunned her
4. Why does the fat man, who has actually lost a
son in the war, not even wear mourning?
Because his son before dying sent him a massage
saying that he was dying satisfied at having ended
his life in the best way he could have wished
9
5.What suggestion does the fat man have for the
parents?
They should not wear mourning and crying.every one
should stop crying,every one should laugh.
6.How do the fat man’s explanation and suggestion
affect the other passengers?
His eyes was watery and motionless and soon after he
ended with a shrill laugh which might well have been a
sob.
7.The fat man and the bulky woman have the same
internal conflict. How do their methods of meeting it
differ?
The bulky woman was depressed but the fat man made
hopeful other people
10
8.What light does the ending of the story throw on the fat man’s true
feeling?
To the amazement of everyone broke into harrowing, heart-rending
uncontrollable snobs. The truth of his son death.
11
“War”
Vocabulary
Puffing: breathing hardly
Moan:sob,cry
Uneasy: uncomfortable
Collar: the part around the neck of a shirt, jacket
or coat that usually folds down.
Nasty:unkind,unpleasant
Mutter: to speak in a low voice
Companion: somebody you spend a lot of time
with.
Pitied: shamed
12
Devote: dedicate
Break up: leave
Assurance: confidence
All of a sudden: suddenly
Due to: because of.
See off: to say goodbye to sb who is starting
journey.
Wriggle: squirm
Growling: to say s.t in a low angry voice.
Arouse: cause
Wounded: people who have been injured,esp in a
war.
Well-to-do:rich and with a high social position.
13
Spoil:waste
Excessive:immoderate
Paternal:connected with being a father.
Discrimination:not equally
Sigh:to take & then let out a long deep breath
that can be heard,to show that you are
sad,tired,etc.
Console:sympathize
Nonsense:rubbish
Pant:to breathequickly with short breath.
Bosh:not true
Defend:protect
14
boredom: the quality of being boring.
Disillusion: to destroy sb's belief in or good opinion of
sb/st.
Fawn: light yellowish-brown in color.
Shrill: very high and loud, in an unpleasant way.
Grief: a feeling of great sadness.
Rise up: revolt
Bulg:that stick out from st in a round shape.
Contract:expand.
Distort: to change the appearance,etc,that is strange or
unclear.
Haste:excessive speed.
Arrangement:maryam marzban/1393
15