Research Essay

The Isonzo and Hemingway

How did the Italians capture Gorizia? What did it mean to shell it or bomb it "only a little, in a military way"? Why was the town strategically important?

Thesis Statement

How did the Italians capture Gorizia? What did it mean to shell it or bomb it "only a little, in a military way"? Why was the town strategically Why was the town strategically important?important?

History

• Highly defensible frontierHighly defensible frontier• Strategic base for an offensiveStrategic base for an offensive• One of the greatest kill zones of the First One of the greatest kill zones of the First

World WarWorld War

Hemingway

• Autumn at the beginning of the novel• Happiness at the beginning/Felt comfortable

at Milan/Out of place back at the front• Protection within the mountains and the river Protection within the mountains and the river

bed leads to the stall and retreat of the Italian bed leads to the stall and retreat of the Italian ArmyArmy

Support

How did the Italians capture Gorizia? How did the Italians capture Gorizia? What did it mean to shell it or bomb it "only a little, in a military way"? Why was the town strategically important?

History

• Italians attacked everywhere but gained little Italians attacked everywhere but gained little anywhereanywhere

• Social and economic strains on the nationSocial and economic strains on the nation• Effort to keep popular supportEffort to keep popular support• Italians focused ten divisions against Austria-Italians focused ten divisions against Austria-

Hungary’s twoHungary’s two

Hemingway

• (In the beginning) Hemingway (Frederic) (In the beginning) Hemingway (Frederic) enjoyed the warenjoyed the war

• Volunteered as an ambulance driver with the Volunteered as an ambulance driver with the Italian Army because he was unable to serve Italian Army because he was unable to serve in the American Armyin the American Army

• While the description is cheery, there is an While the description is cheery, there is an underlying feeling of death that foreshadows underlying feeling of death that foreshadows Caporetto and CatherineCaporetto and Catherine

Support

How did the Italians capture Gorizia? What did What did it mean to shell it or bomb it "only a little, in a it mean to shell it or bomb it "only a little, in a military way"?military way"? Why was the town strategically important?

History

• A Delimitation Commission following the war A Delimitation Commission following the war of 1866 had given Austria the frontierof 1866 had given Austria the frontier

• Italy joined the war early in effort to reclaim Italy joined the war early in effort to reclaim land cheapland cheap

• Recaptured the area after the Battle of Recaptured the area after the Battle of CaporettoCaporetto

Hemingway

• Hints to the fact that they will be returningHints to the fact that they will be returning• Foreshadows leaving and returningForeshadows leaving and returning• Shows beauty surrounded by destruction

Commentary

• The following three battles started the downward spiral of the morale of the Italian Army

• Lead up to the defeat at Caporetto

Commentary

• Starts Frederic’s disenchantment of war• Foreshadows Catherine’s death