A Farewell to Arms Lesson Plan

Why is Frederic skeptical of the wine shop owner's attempts to help him?

Begin the discussion by asking students how well Frederic seems to be transitioning to civilian life. After the arduous journey to Milan, it seems as though he has little difficulty finding allies all around him. The proprietor of the wine shop immediately identifies Frederic for who he is, and offers shelter and falsified leave papers, both of which Frederic turns down.

Frederic is understandably skeptical of the man, but why? Ask students what the proprietor's motives may be. Is he acting out of genuine altruism? It seems unlikely. It seems more likely that he wants to earn a quick buck off of a...