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Shell shock
Horses
As horses are a traditional symbol of freedom, Robert Ross’s exposure to their captivity and mistreatment as military animals parallels his gradual loss of innocence throughout the novel and highlights World War I’s devaluation…
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The Four Elements
Throughout the novel, Robert Ross and his fellow soldiers continually encounter water, air, earth, and fire in various forms. As the men experience the violence of World War I, these four elements come to represent…
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Eyes
Eyes represent the intrinsic connection and vulnerability that human beings share, as well as the dehumanizing guilt and shame associated with World War I. After having to shoot and kill a horse with a broken…
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