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  • Essay / The Narrative Structure of A Farewell to Arms

    Ernest Hemingway's novel A Farewell to Arms follows a distinct narrative structure. Every element of the plot – exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution – is contained in a book. This specific section allows the audience to follow and map the plot of the story. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay The first book of the story contains the exposition or introduction to the story. The protagonist, Lieutenant Frederic Henry, is an American serving in the Italian Navy during World War I. He is an officer and ambulance driver. Another central character, Catherine Barkley, is also introduced during this book. Catherine is a British nurse who volunteered to serve in the war. At this point in the novel, the characters are in Italy, fighting to prevent Austro-Hungarian forces from joining the Germans on the Western Front. Although an initial conflict is not evident, Hemingway emphasizes the landscape surrounding the war, suggesting that the war and Italy are central to the story. At the end of this book, Frédéric is injured and transferred to a hospital in Milan for x-rays and treatment. This change of scenery sets the stage for the next component of the plot. The second book of the story encompasses the rising action. At this point in the story, Henry is in hospital in Milan where he is told that he must wait six months before having an operation. Feeling that this recovery time is far too long, he meets another doctor who agrees to speed up the process. In the meantime, Catherine is also transferred to the hospital in Milan. At this point, the couple's relationship becomes more serious and more important to the story. Soon the couple are deeply in love and spend most nights together. After several months, Henry's time to return to the field approached. One particular evening, Catherine admits that she is three months pregnant, but insists that he should not worry about her. The book ends with Henry on a train, returning to the front. The climax of the story is contained in the third book. Upon returning to work, Henry is tasked with traveling to Bainsizza to take command of a fleet of ambulances. He spends the rest of the day meeting up with old friends, and in the morning he leaves for his new command. The war intensified and rumors spread that the Austrians had broken through the Italian lines. The following night, the Italian army begins to retreat and Henry is ordered to leave the wounded soldiers behind and use the ambulances to transport hospital supplies. After spending hours on the road, stuck in a stationary trailer, Henry decides that if they are ever to reach the fallback positions, the ambulances must take back roads. Almost at their destination, one of the ambulances gets stuck in the mud and the group begins to hear bombing coming from the main road. Henry sees German soldiers and the group flees, although one soldier is shot in the process. Henry and the others spend the night in a barn. The next morning, they head towards the Tagliamento River, and as they cross it, a policeman catches Henry. He manages to escape by jumping into the river and eventually jumping on a train. At the end of the book, he realizes that he will not return to the army or see his comrades again, but takes comfort in imagining where he and Catherine will go once they are reunited. Book four follows the falling action of the story. The train drops Henry off in Milan, where he.