Question

For us lads of eighteen they ought to have been mediators and guides to the world of maturity, the world of work, of duty, of culture, of progress—to the future. We often made fun of them and played jokes on them, but in our hearts we trusted them. The idea of authority, which they represented, was associated in our minds with a greater insight and a more humane wisdom. But the first death we saw shattered this belief. We had to recognise that our generation was more to be trusted than theirs. . . . The first bombardment showed us our mistake, and under it the world as they had taught it to us broke in pieces.

While they continued to write and talk, we saw the wounded and dying. While they taught that duty to one's country is the greatest thing, we already knew that death-throes are stronger. But for all that we were no mutineers, no deserters, no cowards--they were very free with all these expressions. We loved our country as much as they; we went courageously into every action; but also we distinguished the false from true, we had suddenly learned to see. And we saw that there was nothing of their world left. We were all at once terribly alone; and alone we must see it through.

Part A
In a few sentences, summarize the author’s main point about the relationship between the generations.

Answer 1

The author expresses disenchantment with the elder generation in this paragraph, especially with those in positions of authority who were meant to teach and shepherd the younger generation into a world of maturity and responsibility.

The author's early faith in the knowledge and discernment of the elder generation was destroyed by the experience of war and seeing death and misery. In the face of the brutal realities of war, the author claims that the younger generation ultimately proven to be more trustworthy and insightful, despite being made fun of for their seeming lack of understanding.

A sense of loneliness and the realization that the world as the elder generation taught it has collapsed in the face of the harsh realities of war follow from this disappointment.