Class 11 English Lesson 6: Two Little Soldiers by Guy de Maupassant

 

Lesson 6: Two Little Soldiers by Guy de Maupassant

About the Story Writer

Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893) was a popular 19^th-century French writer. His stories are linked by irony and the frailty of human nature.

Characters of the Story

•      Luc Le Ganidec, a carefree and open-minded,

•      Jean Kerderen, a bit quiet and shy, (French Soldiers)

•      a young milkmaid village Guy de Maupassant girl

Theme of the Story

The story 'Two Little Soldiers' is about a triangular love with a completely unexpected twist at the end. This story shows the compatibility of friendship and romantic love with change, discontent, conflict, betrayal, and jealousy.

Summary of the Story

Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohNdsb_pxF4 (Part I)

Luc and Jean are two soldiers who habitually spend their free time on Sundays away from the barracks, out in the countryside. Their day off has taken on the character of a ritual. Every Sunday, they bring food for breakfast to the same spot in the woods and lie back to enjoy the food, wine, and sights of an area that reminds them of home.

Eventually, their ritual comes to include a bit of innocent staring at a young village girl who brings her cow out to pasture every week at the same time. One Sunday, however, the girl speaks to them on her way to the pasture, and when she returns later, she shares the cow’s milk with them and leaves them with a promise to meet the following Sunday.

The next weekend, Jean suggests that they bring something for her. They settle on candy as an appropriate present, but when the girl arrives, both are too shy to tell her that they have brought something. Finally, Luc tells the girl of the treat, and Jean, who always carries the provisions, gives the bonbons to her. As the weeks pass, the girl becomes the topic of conversation for these soldiers as they spend time at the barracks, and the three become fast friends. The girl begins to share their Sunday breakfast meal and appears to devote equal attention to the two recruits. 

 

 

Then, in an uncharacteristic move, Luc seeks leave on a Tuesday, and again the following Thursday. He borrows money from Jean on that day, but does not explain his behavior. Jean lends the money. The following Sunday, when the girl appears with the cow, she immediately rushes up to Luc and they embrace ardently. Jean is hurt because he is left out and does not understand why the girl has suddenly turned all of her attention to Luc. Luc and the girl go off to care for the cow and disappear into the woods for a long time. Jean is stupefied. When they return, the lovers kiss again, and the girl offers Jean a kind “Good evening” before going away.

Neither soldier speaks of the incident, but as they return to their barracks, they stop momentarily on the bridge over the Seine. Jean leans over toward the water, farther than he should in Luc’s judgment, then suddenly tumbles into the torrent. Luc can do nothing; he watches in anguish as his good friend drowns.

 

Guy de Maupassant is known for his very realistic style of writing. In most of his stories, there is a war going on because of the time de Maupassant spent in the army. There is also a character in love because of de Maupassant's love for women. Homesickness: When soldiers are away from home for so long, they are going to feel homesick. They will miss the feeling of a woman, which is why both soldiers fall in love with the milkmaid. 

There are two themes: Love and Romance, and Betrayal and Conflict. The milkmaid causes the conflict between Luc and Jean, leading Jean to commit suicide. The countryside and the milkmaid brought Luc and Jean together, but eventually they ended up leading to Jean's death. 

Understanding the text

Answer the following questions.

a.      Why do the two soldiers spend their free time on Sundays away from the barracks, out in the countryside?

The two soldiers spend their free time on Sundays away from the barracks, out in the countryside, because they have found a spot which reminds them of home, and they do not feel happy elsewhere.

b.     Why does the girl become the topic of conversation for these soldiers?

The girl becomes the topic of conversation among these soldiers because both of them have fallen in love with her.

c.      Why does deception enter into their friendship?

Deception enters into their friendship because Luc used to secretly leave the barracks to meet the girl without informing his friends.

d.     Do you think that Luc is a betrayer of friendship?

Yes, I think that Luc is a betrayer of friendship as he has broken the faith of his friend Jean. He leaves the barracks without telling anything to his friend anything so that he can meet the countryside girl whom Jean loves equally.

e.      What is the cause of suicide of Jean? Do you think that it was the only release of his love?

The cause of suicide of Jean was his friend, Luc, because he was mentally disturbed by the love affair of his friend Luc with the girl whom he loved very much. I don’t think suicide was the only way to release his love. He could have expressed his feelings to the girl or could have moved on in his life, accepting Luc’s love instead of committing suicide.

 

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