Old Man at the Bridge Themes, Setting, Form and Structure:

Old Man at the Bridge Themes, Setting, Form and Structure, Literary Devices

** For a detailed line by line explanation video of the story, click on the following link: https://youtu.be/r7mbQf9T1gE

Setting

The story is set in Spain during the Spanish Civil War which lasted from 1936 to 1939.

The events described in the story unfold on Easter Sunday at a place that is being evacuated before enemy forces arrive. By setting a war story on Easter Sunday, which is a day of joy and celebration, Hemingway makes the situation all the more touching.

Key Themes

Futility of war

The predominant theme of the story is the futility of war. Hemingway skilfully brings this out through the sheer defencelessness of the old man who is too tired to cross the bridge to safety. The old man is shocked and keeps repeating that he was only taking care of animals. He is 'without politics' and an innocent victim of a cruel war.

Compassion

The story is also about compassion. While the old man's. thoughts revolve around the safety of his animals, the soldier is worried about the old man's safety. The story, thus, shows that even in difficult times, human beings are capable of showing empathy and kindness.

Loss of hope

Like many of Hemingway's works, Old Man at the Bridge is about the sense of helplessness that overcomes people in difficult times. This is brought out most clearly through the narrator's observation: "There was nothing to do about him." Though the narrator tries to convince the old man to keep moving, he eventually resigns to the fact that the old man would soon meet. his end.

Literary Style

Straightforward, conversational style of writing

Old Man at the Bridge is written in a straightforward manner using a conversational style.

Hemingway touches our hearts with his description of the bewildered old man and makes us keenly aware of the psychological and emotional impact of war.

He looked at me very blankly and tiredly...

"I was taking care of animals," he said dully, but no longer to me. "I was only taking care of animals."

Irony

The irony in the setting of the story is unmistakeable. Easter Sunday is the day that Catholics celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Hemingway points out that ironically that is also the day the old man will become an innocent victim of war.

Symbolism

Hemingway uses several symbols that allow the story to take a deeper meaning.

The cat is a symbol of survival. Cats are considered to have nine lives and said to survive fatal encounters easily. In the story, the old man is not too worried about his cat because he knows the cat will survive.

The pigeons symbolise peace and hope. In the second half of the story, the narrator calls the pigeons 'doves'. Doves are symbols of peace. The fact that the old man left the cage door open implies that the birds can hope for a longer life than their owner.

Goats are offered as sacrifice and also considered meek and timid animals. The author subtly uses the goats to symbolise the plight of the old man. Like his goats, the old man is also an unsuspecting victim of war who cannot escape his fate.

The bridge is a symbol of hope and the lack of it at the same time. It offers the hope of a continued life to those who are able to cross over. But for the old man, the bridge is like a hurdle.

Old Man at the Bridge by Ernest Hemingway  :-

1. Question and Answers RTCs: http://old-man-at-bridge-question-and-answers

2. Context and Summary: http://old-man-at-bridge-context-and-summary

3. Themes, Setting, Literary Devices, Form and Structure: http://old-man-at-bridge-themes-setting-form

4.  Character Analysis: http://old-man-at-bridge-character-analysis