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  1. Amelia mazumder
    Amelia mazumder
    This answer was edited.

    In the story, the old man’s dilemma is whether to stay with his animals, whom he considers his family, or whether to flee towards Barcelona to save his own life, where he knows “no one in that direction.” The old man’s dilemma reveals how thoughtful he is of his animals. He cares more about his animRead more

    In the story, the old man’s dilemma is whether to stay with his animals, whom he considers his family, or whether to flee towards Barcelona to save his own life, where he knows “no one in that direction.” The old man’s dilemma reveals how thoughtful he is of his animals. He cares more about his animals that his own life and his hesitating to flee. His moral dilemma reveals his nature, which is that despite being a victim of the war, he’s the embodiment of humanity and cares for his animals like his own family.

    Summary of the Short Story Old Man at the Bridge

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  1. Amelia mazumder
    Amelia mazumder
    This answer was edited.

    The four important themes of the short story war in violence conflict between man and inner self kindness towards animals and the trauma of war and displacement. War and violence:- This story highlights how war caused havoc on the lives of people, especially on those who are not even directly linkedRead more

    The four important themes of the short story war in violence conflict between man and inner self kindness towards animals and the trauma of war and displacement.

    War and violence:- This story highlights how war caused havoc on the lives of people, especially on those who are not even directly linked with the war. The old man was never a part of the war yet he had to leave his animals, whom he considered his family, behind in order to save his life. The old man was a victim of the war and through him, the author tried to portray the condition of the refugees during that time.

    Man and inner self:- The story brings out the conflict between man and his inner self through the character of the old man. The old man’s animals were like his family and he was guilty of leaving them behind in a war prone area but there was no other option. When he cross the bridge he was saved physically but consciously he was still in trouble. 

    Kindness towards animals:- for the old man his animals are his family. He cares more about the animals lives than his own life and his hesitating to leave them behind and three. He is torn between focusing on the plight of innocent animals, who were also like him victims of the war, and running away to save his own life. His nature towards the animals shows that he’s a true embodiment of humanity.

    Trauma of war and displacement:- war is never the solution of peace. The war, not only causes people to leave behind their native land and their family but also to seek the security of another place where they know no one. The victims of the war, both mentally and physically, are exhausted just like the 72-year-old man sitting by the bridge, dejected and helpless, because he had to leave his animals behind.

    Summary of the Short Story Old Man at the Bridge

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  1. Amelia mazumder
    Best Answer
    Amelia mazumder
    This answer was edited.

    The conclusion of the story is how the war create havoc in the lives of the people who are in no way linked to the war. The old man in the story was a victim of the war and had to sacrifice his animals in order to save his own life. He never participated in the cause of the war yet had to face the dRead more

    The conclusion of the story is how the war create havoc in the lives of the people who are in no way linked to the war. The old man in the story was a victim of the war and had to sacrifice his animals in order to save his own life. He never participated in the cause of the war yet had to face the devastating effects of the war.

    Summary of the Short Story Old Man at the Bridge

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  1. Amelia mazumder
    Amelia mazumder
    This answer was edited.

    The theme of compassion is portrayed through the nameless soldier in the story. When the soldier meets the old man at the bridge, he questions about the old man’s life. Initially, he shows little interest but then as the old man narrates his story, the nameless soldier feels pity and compassion forRead more

    The theme of compassion is portrayed through the nameless soldier in the story. When the soldier meets the old man at the bridge, he questions about the old man’s life. Initially, he shows little interest but then as the old man narrates his story, the nameless soldier feels pity and compassion for the old man. He is sympathetic of the old man’s condition. The soldier tries to console the old man by saying that his pets will be all right. However, the soldier also ends up worrying for the old man’s goats even though he has never met them.

    Summary of the Short Story Old Man at the Bridge

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  1. Amelia mazumder
    Amelia mazumder
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    The bridge is the central symbol of the story. The bridge marks the demarcation between life and death for the old man. For the old man, his animals, whom he had left behind, were his only family and if he crossed the bridge then he would be putting an end to his family’s life. The old man is seen hRead more

    The bridge is the central symbol of the story. The bridge marks the demarcation between life and death for the old man. For the old man, his animals, whom he had left behind, were his only family and if he crossed the bridge then he would be putting an end to his family’s life. The old man is seen hesitating by the bridge as he does not want to renounce his life. The bridge is also a symbol of communication. This communication can either be between heaven and earth or between his outer self and his inner self.

    Summary of the Short Story Old Man at the Bridge

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  1. Amelia mazumder
    Amelia mazumder
    This answer was edited.

    The message of the story is that war causes devastation not only to the ones involved in the battle but also to the common people. The author shows the sufferings of the common man through the portrayal of the old man in the short story. The old man had to leave his family behind in order to save hiRead more

    The message of the story is that war causes devastation not only to the ones involved in the battle but also to the common people. The author shows the sufferings of the common man through the portrayal of the old man in the short story. The old man had to leave his family behind in order to save his life and seek the comforts of a place where he knows no one. War causes, both physical and emotional, trauma to all the victims.

    Summary of the Short Story Old Man at the Bridge

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  1. Poonam Sharma
    Poonam Sharma literarian

    The narrator was a soldier for the Republican side during the Spanish Civil War. He was patrolling the area in order to keep on eye on enemy's movements. Summary of the Short Story Old Man at the Bridge  

    The narrator was a soldier for the Republican side during the Spanish Civil War. He was patrolling the area in order to keep on eye on enemy’s movements.

    Summary of the Short Story Old Man at the Bridge

     

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  1. Amelia mazumder
    Amelia mazumder
    This answer was edited.

    Easter Sunday is traditionally a time for joy and happiness and a day to be celebrated with one’s family. The mention of Easter Sunday, at the end of the story, marks the contrast between the ongoing situation. Even on Easter Sunday people are fleeing in order to save their lives from the ongoing baRead more

    Easter Sunday is traditionally a time for joy and happiness and a day to be celebrated with one’s family. The mention of Easter Sunday, at the end of the story, marks the contrast between the ongoing situation. Even on Easter Sunday people are fleeing in order to save their lives from the ongoing battle. Easter Sandy is also a symbol of hope is it led to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The author ended the story on a symbol of hope that humanity will once again resurrect after all the brutality.

    Summary of the Short Story Old Man at the Bridge

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  1. Amelia mazumder
    Amelia mazumder
    This answer was edited.

    The animals of the old man in the story symbolize innocence. The animals are in no way the cause of the war yet they are the victims of the war. The narrator is seen referring to the man’s pigeon as doves, which highlights his deep longing for peace in the world to end. The goats in the story symbolRead more

    The animals of the old man in the story symbolize innocence. The animals are in no way the cause of the war yet they are the victims of the war. The narrator is seen referring to the man’s pigeon as doves, which highlights his deep longing for peace in the world to end. The goats in the story symbolize happiness which one cannot escape. The cat reflects a solitary person who manages to stay alive but won’t help others. The animals in both ways represent the inhumanity of the war and also the effects of the war.

    Summary of the Short Story Old Man at the Bridge

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