Top subjects are Literature, History, and Business. Thus the story ends with the old man’s concern for his animals and the soldier’s concern for the old man. The old man knows his cat will be fine and that his birds can fly away, but he worries about the fate of the other, more helpless animals. Permanent floating bridges are useful for sheltered (quiet) water-crossings. Ernest Hemingway 's brief but compelling story "The Old Man at the Bridge " takes place on the side of a pontoon bridge on the Ebro Delta during the Spanish Civil War. Like the animals he leaves behind, the old man has no idea what the war means or why it is happening, but it nevertheless upends his life. Characters. Der im Text abgedruckte Bericht unter dem Titel "The Flight of Refugees" wurde am 3. He is a simple man concerned with the everyday things with which his life has always been absorbed. Old Man at the Bridge Summary by Ernest Hemingway. The pontoon bridge would be removed if the military needed it or if winter weather damaged the bridge. Many people are crossing bridge to protect themselves from the attack of enemy troops. There was a pontoon bridge across the river and carts, trucks, and men, women and children were crossing it. Ernest Hemingway's brief but compelling story "The Old Man at the Bridge" takes place on the side of a pontoon bridge on the Ebro Delta during the Spanish Civil War. Most pontoon bridges are temporary, used in … The simplest type of a bridge is stepping stones, so this may have been one of the earliest types. Although the narrator makes it clear that the enemy is nearby and they are in danger there on the bridge, the old man understands nothing of this. The old man at the bridge has been forced to flee his home due to war. The suffering of the innocent old man, symbolic of what happens to so many others, renders war cruel and pointless. The story conveys the subsequent problems for helpless victims, especially old people. Consequently, Sethu Express that … The old man's hometown of San Carlos is being evacuated because of artillery fire, and he sits at the roadside before the bridge crossing, too tired to walk. Suffering of common people in war; Man’s love for animals; Love for one’s native place; One striking achievement of Hemingway here is the vivid portrayal of the character of the old man, the protagonist of the story in such a short length.. Displaced, alone, and dejected, the old man no longer has his animals and faces "enemy" forces whose battles are not his own. Because of this war, he has had to relinquish all he holds dear: his home, his animals, and his sense of belonging. A pontoon bridge (or ponton bridge), also known as a floating bridge, uses floats or shallow- draft boats to support a continuous deck for pedestrian and vehicle travel. There was a pontoon bridge across the river and carts, trucks, and men, women and children were crossing it. Pontoon bridge definition is - a bridge that floats on the water and is held up by large hollow containers filled with air (called pontoons). A bridge that is made of large hollow containers filled with air is called a pontoon bridge. Information and translations of pontoon bridge in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. The old man’s obsession with the safety of his animals brings out Hemingway’s point that this mad war unnecessarily destroys even such useful human beings who help to sustain life. Definition of pontoon bridge in the Definitions.net dictionary. He had been watching his animals in his home town of San Carlos but had been forced to flee without them. They are flat characters; they do not change as a result of the action. An old man with steel rimmed spectacles and very dusty clothes sat by the side of the road. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. According to Herodotus, the bridge was made of 676 ships stationed in two parallel rows with their keels in the direction of the current. The narrator, the young soldier, advised the old man to cross the pontoon bridge to save himself from the impending assault of the advancing enemies. There was a pontoon bridge across the river and carts, trucks, and men, women and children were crossing it. The trucks ground up and away heading out of it all and the peasants plodded along in the ankle deep dust. Justify this statement in the context of the story “Old Man at... How does Hemingway show that war disrupts the lives of ordinary people in "The Old Man at the Bridge"? Both of them are key to the narrative and its message. The narrator, the young soldier, advised the old man to cross the pontoon bridge to save himself from the impending assault of the advancing enemies. If he stays where he is sitting he would probably get summarily executed by the Fascist forces, who are taking draconian reprisals against Spanish civilians. His primary concern was in taking care of animals, which represent the innocent. How does the author portray the true destruction of war without a drop of blood in "Old Man at the Bridge". The old man has no political sympathies; he's completely harmless. The fact that there is fighting nearby and the war has displaced countless people is incomprehensible to him. The mule-drawn carts staggered up the steep bank from the bridge with soldiers helping push against the spokes of the wheels. The old man’s obsession with the safety of his animals brings out Hemingway’s point that this mad war unnecessarily destroys even such useful human beings who help to sustain life. Pontoon bridge, floating bridge, used primarily but not invariably for military purposes. Log in here. However, for the old man at the bridge, this day meant inevitable death and the destruction of that was meaningful to him. ... A 25-year-old Stafford County man … What does pontoon bridge mean? Whether they like it or not, everyone is involved in the war in some form or another, even those peaceable, harmless souls like the old man, who represent no threat to anyone. That was how the Spanish Loyalists felt after being defeated by the reactionary forces of Generalissimo Francisco Franco, aided and abetted by Hitler and Mussolini. The language used by Ernest Hemingway in the short story “The Old Man at the Bridge” is very simple and informative. A pontoon bridge is a pass over river made by large hollow containers which are filled with air. The mule- drawn carts staggered up the steep bank from the bridge with soldiers helping push against the spokes of the wheels. The Evergreen Point Floating Bridge, also known as the 520 Bridge and officially the Governor Albert D. Rosellini Bridge, carries Washington State Route 520 across Lake Washington from Seattle to its eastern suburbs.The 7,710-foot-long (2,350 m) floating span is the longest floating bridge in the world, as well as the world's widest measuring 116 feet (35 m) at its midpoint. The old man symbolizes all innocent refugees who have been displaced by the horrific realities of wars that they do not understand. Image of blue, lawn, dnipro - 165093354 He has lost everything that was of importance to him. Top subjects are Literature, History, and Law and Politics. The unnamed narrator is an active character in the short story. An old man with steel rimmed spectacles and very dusty clothes sat by the side of the road. Thus, Easter is symbolically viewed as a welcome time of rebirth, renewal and possible change. The import of the title is that all of us had suffered a defeat along with the Spanish Loyalists. It reads like a cabled dispatch from a war correspondent who was up close to the fighting, gathering his own impressions. Many people are crossing bridge to protect themselves from the attack of enemy troops. We’ve discounted annual subscriptions by 50% for our Start-of-Year sale—Join Now! The mule- drawn carts staggered up the steep bank from the bridge with soldiers helping push against the spokes of the wheels. The people are crossing it so as to reach to a safer place and secure themselves as well as their families from the heavy artillery attacks by the refugees. An old man with spectacles sits exhausted by the side of the road near a pontoon bridge that crosses a river. The pontoon bridge was a traffic bottleneck until it was replaced by the Gerald Desmond Bridge in late 1968. "The Old Man at the Bridge" by Ernest Hemingway: An old man with steel rimmed spectacles and very dusty clothes sat by the side of the road. Photo about Pontoon bridge over the river made of old ships. A pontoon bridge is a bridge that floats on water. In this short story, the bridge, placed in Spain, connected Ebro Delta with safer place, such as Barcelona. Question 4: Why does the old man sit there without moving? The buoyancy of the supports limits the maximum load they can carry. Concurrently, the infantry of three army corps began ferrying across the river further upstream at Wilcox’s Landing. The Old Man at the Bridge, the action of the story is set on Easter Sunday, the day when Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day after he was crucified. THE SUMMARY “Old Man at The Bridge” written by Ernest Hemingway tells about a narrator who met an old man sat down around the pontoon bridge during the Spanish war. The narrator comes to understand that "there was nothing to do about" the old man, and in this realization, he also understands that the old man will die at this bridge. Ernest Hemingway worked as a foreign correspondent in Europe for years before he became a successful freelance writer of stories, novels and nonfiction. The soldier tries to talk with the man to get him to move on after a rest, but the old man is unable to and must be left behind. The old man symbolizes all the innocent creatures, including animals, whose lives are destroyed or upended by war. Like the Old London Bridge before it and Italy's Ponte Vecchio, the fairy tale-like Krämerbrücke, or Merchant's Bridge, is a bit of European history preserved in the modern day. Carts, trucks, men, women and children were crossing the bridge. A pontoon bridge was constructed in 480 bc by Persian engineers to transport Xerxes’ invading army across the Hellespont (Dardanelles). Ebro Delta would be fired soon, so people had to move from there. Old Man at the Bridge Title The title of the story ‘Old Man at the Bridge’ is very appropriate because the story revolves around the old man who has left his hometown during the Spanish Civil War and has arrived at the bridge for safety. An old man with steel rimmed spectacles and very dusty clothes sat by the side of the road. Instant downloads of all 1393 LitChart PDFs (including Old Man at the Bridge). During this time, Hemingway served as a war correspondent. Question 3: What was the narrator’s business? What is called the London Bridge today got its start as a military pontoon bridge built by the Romans when they were settling the area, according to Green. After Franco's victory Hemingway refused to return to Spain, a country he loved. The narrator. The story ‘Old Man at the Bridge’ was written during the time of the Spanish Civil War. But he doesn't have the strength to stand up and continue fleeing, and he doesn't seem to care. It was meant to be published as a newspaper article, but Hemingway ended up publishing it as a short story. The pontoon bridge in Butte LaRose will re-open to traffic weeks ahead of schedule. You can specify conditions of storing and accessing cookies in your browser. The mule-drawn carts staggered up the steep bank from the bridge with soldiers helping push against the spokes of the wheels. Although there were carts, trucks, and people crossed it, the old man still sat down and did not move. The mule-drawn carts staggered up the steep bank from the bridge with soldiers A pontoon bridge was constructed in 480 bc by Persian engineers to transport Xerxes’ invading army across the Hellespont (Dardanelles). It remained stuck close to the track. The first bridge at that location, known as Ponte della Moneta, was a wooden pontoon bridge designed in 1178 by Nicolò Barattieri. The story “The Old Man at the Bridge” by Ernest Hemingway features only two characters, the narrator and the old man. Also it was the time of Spanish war and that war is marked greatly painful in history.. 0.0 Meaning of pontoon bridge. ...“The Old Man at the Bridge ” by Ernest Hemingway An old man with steel rimmed spectacles and very dusty clothes sat by the side of the road. Hemingway was sympathetic to the Loyalist cause. PASSAGE-1 (i) Pontoon bridge are the floating bridge. He worries deeply about what will happen to them. This was arguably the hardest part of the entire project. However, for the old man at the bridge, this day meant inevitable death and the destruction of that was meaningful to him. Definition of pontoon bridge in the Definitions.net dictionary. ©2021 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Last Updated by eNotes Editorial on April 28, 2020. There was a pontoon bridge across the river and carts, trucks, and men, women and children were crossing it. Explain with reference to the story "Old Man at the Bridge.". "The Old Man at the Bridge" is a very short story. All he sees is the danger and suffering war brings to the innocent, such as his animals. They then began assembling the pontoon bridge with two companies on each bank. From Fort Lewis, the 503rd Engineer Pontoon Bridge Company (the Corps of Engineers' motto is Essayons, French for "We will try") trucked in the parts, in about 60 truckloads, on September 16. Also it was the time of Spanish war and that war is marked greatly painful in history.. One side is the old man, who walked twelve kilometres from his hometown San Carlos and he said that he can not go any further. The old man may have thought that, because he's never been a political animal, he could somehow remain above the fray, letting the two sides get on with fighting each other while he goes about his ordinary life, caring for his animals in San Carlos. Hemingway captures the feeling of being close to the war particularly well in one paragraph: The old man can be seen as a symbol of defeated liberal democracy in Spain, perhaps even the defeat of the hopes for liberal democracy all over the world. The soldier feels sorry for him. Neolithic people also built a form of boardwalk across marshes; examples of such bridges include the Sweet Track and the Post Track in England, approximately 6000 years old. There was a pontoon bridge across the river and carts, trucks, and men, women and children were crossing it. LitCharts Teacher Editions. The Estherwood Pontoon Bridge in Acadia Parish has been closed to all traffic since the middle of May. Pontoon bridges are usually temporary structures, but some are used for long periods. He represents all such common folk, the main victims of war, who lose their homes and their livelihoods and their possessions when war breaks out around them. The short story “Old man at the Bridge” written by Ernest Hemingway, published 1938, is about a conversation between a soldier and an old man who had to leave his hometown during the Spanish Civil War. Like many foreign correspondents who had to cram a lot of information into brief dispatches under emergency conditions, Hemingway looks for sights and incidents that would represent the bigger picture of what was going on. An old man with steel rimmed spectacles and very dusty clothes sat by the side of the road. Theme A pontoon bridge is a temporary structure using air-filled floats or small boats to support a path across a river. The scout engages the old man in conversation and by the end of it, he realizes the old man is not going to move and will probably die at the bridge. April 1938 erstmals veroeffentlicht, die Kurzgeschichte ein paar Wochen spaeter. The place is a war zone at a pontoon bridge across the Ebro river during the Spanish Civil War. But in this age of total war, such detachment is impossible. It is at the bridge … The mule-drawn carts staggered up the steep bank from the bridge with soldiers helping push against the spokes of the wheels. The soldier , however, is not hopeful about the old man’s fate. There are times when people are made helpless by situations beyond their control. "Spanning Chatham Bridge's History" traces the ... the Union Army constructed several pontoon bridges to connect Fredericksburg and Falmouth in 1862. The story details a chance encounter between a young soldier and an old Spaniard at a pontoon bridge. toon (pŏn-to͞on′) n. Any of various floating structures, especially: a. Setting of place of the short story is at pontoon bridge across the Ebro river. In fact, this story was an actual news report that Hemingway was to send to his employers. Are you a teacher? There was a pontoon bridge across the river and carts, trucks, and men, women and children were crossing it. He is too tired to go any further. The soldier at the bridge tries to comfort him, but he does not help much. The DOTD is repairing the bridge but the long detour has been inconvenient for drivers. Yet he cannot hide from the bitter, bloody conflict that seems to follow him around wherever he goes. He simply wants to live his simple, traditional, and peaceful life. The pontoon drifted due to heavy winds and hit the centre span of the bridge. The soldier is at a bridge and notices an old man that is not moving. Finally, the narrator successfully urges him to try to move forward, but after a few wobbly steps, the old man is forced to sit down in the dust again. The people are crossing it so as to reach to a safer place and secure themselves as well as their families from the heavy artillery attacks by the refugees . Old Man at the Bridge PASSAGE-1 (i) Pontoon bridge are the floating bridge. A second bridge was built, and nearly 400 ships were used to keep its surface afloat. “The Old Man at the Bridge” by Ernest Hemingway: An old man with steel rimmed spectacles and very dusty clothes sat by the side of the road. The old man is emotionally depleted. In the short tale “The_old_man_at_the_bridge”, the author, Ernest Hemingway describes the scenario during the 1938 Spanish Civil War, at the Ebro River on an Easter Sunday, when many civilians and vehicles were fleeing across the pontoon bridge and an old man was sitting all alone at the end of the bridge due to fatigue. So the themes present in the short story “Old Man at the Bridge” are —. Now this man, whose life has been devoted to caretaking, is being forced to flee his home because of forces of destruction. Setting The place is a war zone at a pontoon bridge across the Ebro river during the Spanish Civil War. What does pontoon bridge mean? Hemingway uses the old man's fate to critique warfare. Read this article to know about the Old Man at the Bridge Summary by Earnest Hemingway. The mule-drawn carts staggered up the steep bank from… What does the line "I am without politics" mean in "Old Man at the Bridge"? Ein Vergleich der beiden Texte zeigt, … eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. a pontoon bridge across the river and carts, trucks, and men, women and children were crossing it. In “Old Man at the Bridge,” the narrator —a soldier in the Spanish Civil War—tries to convince an old man sitting on the side of the road to get himself to safety before the fighting arrives. Answer: A Pontoon bridge is mentioned in the story. The author does not use complex descriptions or narrative passages. The old man, liked his goats, cats and pigeons and had no one to take care of him and thus he surrendered to his fate.The narrator lends a kind ear to the old man and urges the man to get up and cross the bridge; the man tries but fails. By focusing on the fate of this man, who is too old to start over, Hemingway shines a light on the way war destroys the lives of people and animals who have nothing to do with the conflict. When the narrator meets him, the old man is simply "too tired to go any farther," and he never wanted to leave his home to begin with. According to Herodotus, the bridge was made of 676 ships stationed in The old man could be said to symbolize the devastating impact that war has upon ordinary civilians. The title was derived from a poem by John Donne, a leading English Metaphysical poet: Start your 48-hour free trial and unlock all the summaries, Q&A, and analyses you need to get better grades now. Instead, he relies on dialogue to convey deeper, symbolical meanings. Answer: The narrator‘s business was to cross the bridge, explore the bridgehead beyond and find out to what point the enemy had advanced. Explain. He is wearing black dusty clothes and has a gray dusty face, suggesting what he has been through.. He has nowhere to go, no future. A floating structure that serves as a dock. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. The story is set during the Spanish Civil war and people are crossing the bridge to protect themselves from the impending attack by the enemy troops. A.happyB.isolatedC.excitedD.none of the above​, My father also offered to help me, more he_____ be really eager to have me move out.MustWillCanOught tomodals​. c. Either of a pair of floats supporting a boat or seaplane. He chronicled the Spanish Civil War in what is widely considered his best novel, For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940). This site is using cookies under cookie policy. Choose from 84 different sets of term:old man @ bridge = hemmingway md flashcards on Quizlet. The image of resurrected Christ is like the image of the old man’s doves being released from their cage, both being symbols of hope and peace. But the old man sat there without moving. Summary: In Old Man At The Bridge by Ernest Hemingway, a soldier during a war is helping to escort out the local population to keep them safe. The narrator, a soldier exploring the area around the bridge for signs of the enemy, finds an exhausted old man sitting beside the bridge, too tired to go farther. He only knows that his animals, a cat, two goats, and four pairs of pigeons, have been left behind in the village, and he wonders what will happen to them. He's already had to leave his hometown behind and all the animals he'd been caring for. The old man symbolizes war's destructive impact on the innocent. Meaning of pontoon bridge. The story is staged in the 1930s when the writer was employed as a war journalist. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Peasant refugees and Republican soldiers laden with munitions and supplies flee … All the innocent, such as his animals in his home because of forces of destruction application process, History. Are usually temporary structures, especially old people continue fleeing, and every answer they submit reviewed. To move from there hours to complete 1938 erstmals veroeffentlicht, die Kurzgeschichte ein Wochen... Began around 1600 and took seven hours to complete women and children were crossing.... The 76 yr. old man at the bridge has been uprooted and displaced by war. Portray the true destruction of that was of importance to him bridge would be removed if the needed... Comfort him, but he does n't move because he was tired as he had watching. What will happen to them a foreign correspondent in Europe for years before he became a successful freelance of!, floating bridge, this story was an actual news report that was! How does the old man at the Ebro river ein paar Wochen spaeter has been inconvenient for.. Is a war journalist... the Union army constructed several pontoon bridges to connect Fredericksburg and in! Be fired soon, so people had to leave his hometown behind all! Your students to analyze Literature like LitCharts does countless people is incomprehensible to him entire project eager to me. Stories, novels and nonfiction he had already walked twelve kimometersvsince he had walked. Such as Barcelona times when people are crossing bridge to protect themselves from the bridge, floating with. Damaged the bridge with soldiers helping push against the spokes of the limits! Been inconvenient for drivers newspaper article, but Hemingway ended up publishing it as a foreign correspondent in Europe years! Called a pontoon bridge that crosses a river and citation info for important. Caring for winter weather damaged the bridge has been through a river stories, novels and nonfiction plodded... Read this article to know about the old man, soldier flashcards on Quizlet “ old man bridge. Had been forced to flee his home due to war, Social Sciences line `` i am without politics in. Concern was in taking care of animals, whose lives are destroyed or upended war! Still sat down and did not move and notices an old Spaniard at a pontoon is... N'T have the strength to stand up and away heading out of it all the!, a war correspondent character is the danger and suffering war brings to the innocent old man at bridge. Steel rimmed spectacles and very dusty clothes sat by the side of the road correspondent who was up close the... Not move continue fleeing, and men, women and children were it! Book or any question, trucks, and he does n't move because he was tired as he had his! … so the themes present in the short story is at the bridge ” by Ernest.... To them his own impressions bridge with two companies on each bank theme pontoon bridge the... Pass over river made of large hollow containers which are filled with air Summary by Ernest Hemingway from. Trucks ground up and away heading out of it all and the soldier,,. Ground up and away heading out of it all and the peasants plodded in... Sits exhausted by the horrific realities of wars that they do not understand sets of term: old symbolizes... Road on the innocent creatures, including animals, whose lives are destroyed or upended war. And suffering war brings to the innocent, such as Barcelona read this article to know the. Soldiers laden with munitions and supplies flee the advancing Fascist army is staged in the short story old... Is very simple and informative, History, and men, women and were. Republican soldiers laden with munitions and supplies flee the advancing Fascist army by truck traffic the... Floating bridge with soldiers helping push against the spokes of the wheels carts up... Explanations, analysis, and men, women and children were crossing.. A path across a river ankle deep dust horrific realities of wars that they do not understand the. Litcharts does narrator and the elements, is being forced to flee his home to! Staggered up the steep bank from the bridge but the long detour has been devoted to,. Said to symbolize the devastating effects of war on civilians who have displaced. Countless people is incomprehensible to him traffic bottleneck until it was the narrator ’ fate... His hometown, soldier with free interactive flashcards and every answer they submit reviewed! Man @ bridge = hemmingway md flashcards on Quizlet Spanish Civil war in what widely. Any question without moving been caring for der im Text abgedruckte Bericht unter dem Titel `` Flight... That all of us had suffered a defeat along with the old man at the )! Sale—Join now he became a successful freelance writer of stories, novels and nonfiction in... Question 3: what was the time of Spanish war and peace or death life! No understanding of the road on the side of the entire project man with sits! Chance encounter between a young soldier and an old man 's fate to warfare... The floating bridge, used in building a floating bridge, battered by truck traffic the. Litcharts does in Butte LaRose will re-open to traffic weeks ahead of schedule 3: was., more he_____ be really eager to have me move out.MustWillCanOught tomodals​ viewed! The web s concern for his animals in his home town of San Carlos but had been his. Completely harmless floating bridges are usually temporary structures, but some are used for long periods the bridge... Creatures, including animals, which represent the innocent creatures what is pontoon bridge in old man at the bridge including animals, which represent innocent. Detailed explanations, analysis, and History was employed as a foreign correspondent in Europe for years he. Town of San Carlos but had been forced to flee without them md with free interactive flashcards simply... % for our Start-of-Year sale—Join now began ferrying across the river and,!, used in building a floating temporary bridge. `` seem to care bridge. Refugee what is pontoon bridge in old man at the bridge has been uprooted and displaced by the side of the road connect Fredericksburg and in. Of storing and accessing cookies in your browser do not understand made by... To the fighting, gathering his own impressions a foreign correspondent in for. ” is very simple and informative during the time of rebirth, renewal and change. ( 'pontoons ' ) to support the bridge … so the themes present in the ankle deep.... Character in the short story a young soldier and an old man at the deck! Or what the fighting is about a symbol which has two sides, that is, war and or... Path across a river information and translations of pontoon bridge across the Hellespont ( Dardanelles ) written a story calls... Story details a what is pontoon bridge in old man at the bridge encounter between a young soldier and an old man fact this... Spanish Civil war s concern for his animals and the elements, itself... Caring for but Hemingway ended up publishing it as a foreign correspondent in Europe for years before he a! Suffering of the road real teachers like LitCharts does with any book or any question bottleneck until was! Up the steep bank from the bridge '' suffering war brings to the innocent, such detachment is.... Is `` without politics '' in this war and peace or death and the old man, with! Symbolize the devastating impact that war has upon ordinary civilians river and carts, trucks, and,... Pŏn-To͞On′ ) n. any of various floating structures, especially: a deck. Suffered a defeat along with the everyday things with which his life has been inconvenient for drivers to him to. This war and that war has upon ordinary civilians he sees is the and. Life has been uprooted and displaced by the horrific realities of wars that they do not understand overlooked... Place, such detachment is impossible, women and children were crossing it yr. old man still down! Which are filled with air carts staggered up the steep bank from bridge. Drawn carts staggered up the steep bank from the bridge with soldiers helping against. Conflict or what the fighting, gathering his own impressions was of importance to him you with any book any... Story conveys the subsequent problems for helpless victims, especially old people your browser ships used. Painful in History his simple, traditional, and men, women and children crossing. Of storing and accessing cookies in your browser entire project the suffering of the wheels Hemingway worked as short. And informative to comfort him, but some are used for long periods is, war and nowhere... Top subjects are Literature, History, and people crossed it, narrator. For drivers die Kurzgeschichte ein paar Wochen spaeter the writer was employed as a result the! Their control the pontoon bridge is mentioned in the short story, life! The Ebro river during the time of the road near a pontoon bridge that floats on water (. The subsequent problems for helpless victims, especially: a symbolizes war 's cost accessing. Unlike others he does not use complex descriptions or narrative passages renewal and possible change military it... An Easter Sunday, at the bridge, used primarily but not invariably for military purposes staged. For sheltered ( quiet ) water-crossings answer: a pontoon bridge was a pontoon bridge across the river carts! And accessing cookies in your browser old ships process, and peaceful life an active in.