Characters & Setting
The old man is originally from this town, which he had to leave due to the war.
What is San Carlos?
The old man had this many goats.
What is two?
The old man represents the innocent victims of this human activity
What is war?
This is what the old man is doing when the narrator first sees him.
What is sitting by the side of the road?
Hemingway tells this story from this point of view
What is first person?
This is the profession of the narrator who encounters the old man.
What is a soldier (or scout)?
He also cared for this type of bird, which he mentions several times.
What are pigeons?
The story demonstrates this theme about how war affects ordinary people.
What is the displacement of civilians (or innocent suffering)?
The narrator advises the old man to go to this city for safety.
What is Barcelona?
The story is told primarily through this literary technique between two characters.
What is dialogue?
The old man was the last person to leave his town because he was taking care of these.
What are his animals?
The old man had this many cats.
What is four (or one cat with four kittens)?
The narrator's inability to help the old man represents this feeling common in wartime.
What is helplessness (or powerlessness)?
The old man gives this reason for why he cannot walk any further
What is that he is too tired (or "I am without politics")?
The story's ending demonstrates this type of conclusion that leaves the outcome uncertain.
What is an open ending (or ambiguous ending)?