Question

literary - text elements
historical and social context
directions: below are two passages. read each one, and answer the questions that follow.
the arrival of the enemy was imminent, but as the darkness stretched on, the troops grew weary of waiting. sleep was the only thing that allowed them to forget their hunger and the constant cold. shivering in their thin tents, the soldiers dropped to the hard ground and began to drift off to sleep. they dreamed of hotcakes and warm fireplaces. the men were losing hope, even though they regularly received encouraging mail from home. captain walters knew that he had to let his men rest, or they would never see victory. and defeat was not an option.

1. explain how the historical context is shown through the setting.
2. what does the last sentence suggest about the excerpts social context?
3. explain how you know that the soldiers lack power.

i was 16 when the bombs began dropping on london. in the park across the street, trenches that served as air - raid shelters had been dug. when the sirens went off in the middle of the night, mom, dad, and i would quickly change our clothes and grab our gas masks, water, blankets, and flashlights before rushing to the park. the miserable trenches had only concrete floors, wooden benches, and a few chemical toilets. yet, i have some fond memories of those benches. mr. mason would tell jokes, and we would sing along to joan wards guitar. the harris family set up a little business selling biscuits and tea. there was a pie shop nearby, and the owner and his son sometimes brought over as many pork pies as they could carry. the warmth from the pies and the laughter often turned our fear and exhaustion into a jolly party.

1. describe the political and social environment in the excerpt.
2. what theme or message is suggested by the writers experience in the trenches?
3. although not everyone has lived through a similar experience, explain how this excerpt shows an archetypal theme.

Explanation:

1. The setting of soldiers waiting for the enemy, being cold, hungry, and losing hope shows a war - time historical context where the situation is dire and victory is uncertain.
2. The last sentence "And defeat was not an option" suggests a social context where there is a strong sense of duty and the need to persevere in the face of adversity, likely due to societal and military expectations.
3. The soldiers lack power as they are at the mercy of the elements (cold, hunger), the enemy's imminent arrival, and their own physical and mental exhaustion.
4. The political and social environment is one of war, with air - raid shelters, gas masks, and the need to quickly evacuate at night. Socially, there is a sense of community as people come together in the trenches, sharing food and entertainment.
5. The theme suggested is the resilience of the human spirit in the face of war - time hardships. Despite the difficult living conditions in the trenches, there are positive memories of community and shared experiences.
6. The excerpt shows an archetypal theme of the human response to crisis. People come together, find ways to cope, and create positive moments even in the most difficult of circumstances, which is a common human experience across different crises.

Answer:

1. The setting with soldiers waiting for the enemy, being cold and hungry, indicates a war - time historical context of hardship and uncertainty.
2. It suggests a social context of strong duty and perseverance due to societal and military expectations.
3. They are at the mercy of elements, the enemy, and their own exhaustion.
4. Politically, it's a war - time environment with air - raid precautions. Socially, there is community bonding in the trenches.
5. The resilience of the human spirit in war - time hardships.
6. It shows the common human response of coming together and finding positives in a crisis.