Guy de Maupassant stories

1. English Grade 11 Stories
A presentation by: Birendra Prasad Shrestha
Bhagyodaya Secondary School, Shankharapur-6,
Two Little Soldiers
- Guy de Maupassant

2. Bhagyodaya Secondary School,
Shankharapur-6, Sankhu

3. TWO
LITTLE
SOLDIERS
Bhagyodaya Secondary School, Shankharapur-6,
Sankhu

4. Bhagyodaya Secondary School, Shankharapur-6,
Sankhu

5. The
Characters
1. Jean Kerderen
- shy/ quiet
2. Luc le’
Ganidec –
more open,
more
socializing
3. The Milkmaid –
accommodatin
g and friendly
Bhagyodaya Secondary School, Shankharapur-6,
Sankhu

6. THE CHARACTERS CONTD. …
Bhagyodaya Secondary School, Shankharapur-6,
Sankhu

7. SUMMAR
Y
(Last Updated on May 5, 2015, by eNotes Editorial. Word
Count: 410)
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.
Bhagyodaya Secondary School, Shankharapur-6,
Sankhu

8. Eventually, their ritual comes to
include a bit of innocent
ogling(showing love) of 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.
SUMMARY CONTD. …
Bhagyodaya Secondary School, Shankharapur-6,
Sankhu

9. 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 something to eat,
gives the bonbons to her.
SUMMARY CONTD. …
Bhagyodaya Secondary School, Shankharapur-6,
Sankhu

10. 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 offers no
explanation for his behavior. Jean lends the money.
SUMMARY CONTD. …
Bhagyodaya Secondary School, Shankharapur-6,
Sankhu

11. 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.
SUMMARY CONTD. …
Bhagyodaya Secondary School, Shankharapur-6,
Sankhu

12. 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.
Bhagyodaya Secondary School, Shankharapur-6,
Sankhu
SUMMARY CONTD. …

13. Bhagyodaya Secondary School, Shankharapur-6,
Sankhu

14. Bhagyodaya Secondary School, Shankharapur-6,
Sankhu
The tragedy of the traditional “love triangle”
Conflict between friendship and love

15. REFERENCES (SOURCES)
https://www.enotes.com/topics/two-little-soldiers/in-depth
https://www.wikepedia.com
https://scribd.com
Bhagyodaya Secondary School, Shankharapur-6,
Sankhu

16. Bhagyodaya Secondary School, Shankharapur-6,
Sankhu

17. Bhagyodaya Secondary School, Shankharapur-6,
Sankhu