A Farewell to Arms Lesson Plan

The Thing We Wanted To Do

Kind of Activity:

Classwide Discussion

Objective:

Students will identify a moment of foreshadowing early in the novel and discuss its implications.

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.1, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.1

Structure:

In Chapter III, Frederic expresses remorse at failing to visit the priest's hometown, Abruzzi. Point students to this passage:

“I had drunk much wine and afterward coffee and Strega and I explained, wine-fully, how we did not do the things we wanted to do; we never did such things.”

Ask the class to consider the implications of this sentence. Is it possible that Hemingway is foreshadowing the novel's...