6. Two Little Soldiers by Guy de Maupassant

 Two Little Soldiers

Guy de Maupassant

Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893) was a popular 19th century French writer. His short stories are characterized by their economy of style and their efficient effortless dénouement. His stories are linked by irony and the frailty of human nature. He was an author of the realist and naturalist schools of writing. He wrote novels, poetry and newspapers articles, but he is best known for his short stories in the field of literature.

The story 'Two Little Soldiers' is about a triangular love with a completely unexpected twist at the end. This story shows the compatibility of friendship and romantic love with change, discontent, conflict, betrayal and jealousy. 

Characters 

1. Luc Le Ganidec, a soldier and friend of Jean Kerderen,

2. Jean Kerderen, a soldier, friend of Luc Le Ganide

3. A Milkmaid

Summary 

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Understanding the text

Answer these questions

a. Why do the two soldiers spend their free time on Sundays away from the barracks out in the countryside?

Ans : The two soldiers spend their free time on Sundays away from the barracks out in the countryside because they miss their home very much and they want to enjoy the beautiful fields and forests along with the river which remind them of their homeland Plounivon.

b. Why does the girl become the topic of conversation for these soldiers?

Ans : The girl becomes the topic of conversation for these soldiers because both of them enjoy the company of her and they are attracted to her.

c. Why does deception enter into their friendship?

Ans : The two little soldiers are close friends. By nature Jean Kerderen is a bit shy and quiet whereas Luc Le Ganidec more frank, social and open-minded. He has acted a bit faster than Jean in the matter of love relationship with dairy maid. He keeps on leaving the barracks without informing Jean about his intentions. The love for the dairy maid made Luc Le Ganidec deceive his best friend Jean. His secret meeting with the girl outside the barracks causes deception into their friendship.

d. Do you think that Luc is a betrayer of friendship?

Ans : Yes, I think that Luc is a betrayer of friendship. In this story, his deceptive role with his friend Jean can be seen clearly. His private meeting with the girl is his betrayal to his friend Jean. He deceived or cheated Jean for the girl. The love of Luc and the milkmaid not only troubles but also kills Jean. His shameless kiss to the girl in front of Jean without caring about the feelings of Jean are his acts of betrayal to his friend.

e. What is the cause of suicide of Jean? Do you think that it was the only release of his love?

Ans : The cause of suicide of Jean is his friend´s betrayal for the girl. Jean is shocked to find his friend changed. He can’t tolerate the pain caused by his friend’s actions.

No, I don't think that it was only the release of his love. It was more than that because he felt shocked and heartbroken from his best friend’s acts. The betrayal of Luc was quite difficult for him to bear/ tolerate. There is discontent as well as mental conflict.

Reference to the text

a. What is the central theme of the story?

Ans : The central theme of this story is the betrayal and jealousy in a friendship. It brought a very tragic end of one friend who couldn’t endure his friend's betrayal for a girl.

b. "What are you doing here? Are you watching the grass grow?"

a. Who is the speaker?

Ans : The speaker is the dairy maid.

ii. What does the word “here” indicate?

Ans : The word "here" indicates the place of Bezons where the soldiers used to go and sit enjoying the scene.

iii. Who does “you” refer to?

Ans: "You" refers to the two little soldiers who sat there.

c. "He leaned--he--he was leaning--so far over--that his head carried him away--and--he--fell--he fell----"

i. Who is the speaker?

Ans : The speaker is Luc le Ganidec.

ii. Why is the speaker speaking with interruption?

Ans: The speaker is speaking with interruption because he is relating about the recent incident of Jean's death from the bridge to the barracks being very shocked and frightened.

iii. What does he mean when he says “he--fell--he fell---”?

Ans : When he says "he--fell--he fell---”, he means to say that Jean Kerderen fell into the river from the bridge.

d. Two Little Soldiers can be viewed as a series of dramatic scenes. Describe the story as a tragedy.

Ans : This short story "Two Little Soldiers" is a strange dramatic triangular love story. In the story the two soldiers are close friends whose friendship is ended due to the betrayal of one friend. There is dramatic change in the behaviour of Luc Le Ganidec who secretly meets the dairy maid deceiving his friend Jean kerderen. The romantic love of Luc and the milkmaid caused discontent as well as mental conflict to Jean. The entry of milkmaid into their life brought immoral as well as deceptive acts between two friends. She has created enmity between two friends. Both friends' intimacy and their enjoyment ended with a tragic incident. She has become the main cause of Jean's fall down into the rushing stream. Without revealing his painful feelings he feels better-committing suicide than staying with betrayers. The tragic death of Jean at the end of the story dramatically surprises the readers as well.

e. What is the setting and style of the story?

Ans : The setting of the story is a barrack in Courbevoie, a town in French countryside along the way up to Bezons, Bezons's bridge and small forest with plain fields. The two soldiers go the countryside where they enjoy in various activities.

The style used in this short story is the realistic as well as naturalistic. It has shown the psychological realism of the characters. With the help of this style, he is able to present the frailty of human nature. Friendship and romantic love with change, discontent with mental conflict, betrayal and jealousy are found in the story. Humans´ sufferings and regrets are the causes of their deeds.

f. How would you describe the conflict between the friends?

Ans : In this triangular love story, psychological conflicts can be seen between two friends. The nature of conflict is differs according to the situations. Conflicts create jealousy as well as enmity. Here in this story, Jean has gone under mental conflicts due to the betrayal acts of Luc. The entry of a milk maid in their friendship has caused the unexpected deception. When our best friend deceives us, we are much hurt. In the story, Jean's realization about the affair of Luc and the dairy maid makes him very angry as well jealous. He feels himself being cheated and betrayed by his good friend Luc. This has created mental conflict in Jean. Due to this hidden conflict, Jean thinks of killing himself leaving the world of deceivers