Characters
This character has a profound impact on Robert Ross before he enlists.
Who is Rowena Ross?
This person is symbolic of purity, innocence, and unconditional love. They are a living symbol of the world Robert wants to preserve, and of the guilt he carries for failing to do so.
Who is Rowena Ross?
Throughout the novel this emotionally and physically affects individuals.
What is war?
Robert deals with this conflict when he faces strong feelings guilt, grief, identity.
What is Robert vs. Himself
The global conflict Robert enlists in.
What is World War 1?
This soldier is met by Robert Ross and Clifford Purchas on the prairie during their training in Lethbridge, Alberta.
Who is Captain Eugene Taffler?
These two elements are used to foreshadow Robert's psychological and moral trials he will face.
What is fire/water?
Robert feels this as he has the pressures of certain responsibilities and this affects how he sees himself.
What is guilt and expectation?
This is the pressure Robert feels to be a man, the pressure of going to war.
What is societal conflict?
The Canadian city where the Ross household resides in.
What is Toronto?
This character is tasked with killing Rowena's pet rabbit after Robert Ross chooses not to.
Who is Teddy Budge?
These capture moments to remind the readers of not only the memories, but its limitations.
What are photographs?
Robert feels this as his life changes after his sister's death and when he kills the horse.
What is loss of innocence?
This conflict occurs when Mrs. Ross is cold and distant and orders Robert to kill Rowena’s rabbits. Also Robert does not feel unsupported by Mr. Ross.
What is family conflict?
This prairie city in Alberta is where Robert undergoes initial military training.
What is Lethbridge?
These characters are Robert Ross' younger siblings
Who are Peggy Ross and Stuart Ross?
This symbol represents Robert's emotional state and the constraints of guilt and family pressure.
Who are the caged animals/rabbits?
Robert's mother does this as she makes Robert feel bad for Rowena's death, ultimately resulting in his desire to escape.
What is blame and revenge?
Rowena’s death marks a sudden and tragic end to this.
What is Robert vs. Loss of Innocence?
This is the place where Robert and other soldiers are taken to unwind.
What is the brothel?
This character is a young soldier from Sydney, Nova Scotia, whom Robert meets on the S.S Missanabie from Canada to England.
Who is Harris?
This is a symbolic tradition for Robert from his civilian life to the war. It's enclosed environment represents Robert's emotional confinement.
What is the train?
This is shown when Robert takes the responsibility to enlist in the war.
What is honor?
What is societies expectations of masculinity
This is the name of the ship Robert takes on his way overseas.
What is the SS Massanabie?