64 pages 2 hours read

Ernest Hemingway

A Farewell to Arms

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1929

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book 1, Chapters 4-6

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Book 1, Chapter 4 Summary

Artillery awakens Frederic, even though the spring offensive has not begun yet. He goes to the garage to check on the ambulances. He is somewhat dismayed to realize that everything seems to be taken care of and that “it evidently made no difference whether [he] was there to look after things or not” (14). Everyone is preparing for an offensive which will involve an attack at Plava, a town on the Isonzo river. Frederic must have his cars ready and hidden, close to the river.

When he gets to his room, Rinaldi insists that Frederic accompany him on his date with Miss Barkley. They have drinks before heading out. Frederic ends up talking with Miss Barkley while Rinaldi speaks with her friend, who is also a nurse. Miss Barkley asks him why he is in the Italian army and he responds, “There isn’t always an explanation for everything” (15).

As they continue to talk, Miss Barkley shares that her fiancé was killed the previous year in France after they had been together for eight years. She regrets not marrying him. She asks Frederic if he thinks the war will keep going on, and he says, “It will crack somewhere” (17). They resume conversation with Rinaldi and the nurse, Helen Ferguson.

Related Titles

By Ernest Hemingway

Study Guide

logo

A Clean, Well-Lighted Place

Ernest Hemingway

A Clean, Well-Lighted Place

Ernest Hemingway

Plot Summary

logo

Across the River and into the Trees

Ernest Hemingway

Across the River and into the Trees

Ernest Hemingway

Study Guide

logo

A Day's Wait

Ernest Hemingway

A Day's Wait

Ernest Hemingway

Study Guide

logo

A Moveable Feast

Ernest Hemingway

A Moveable Feast

Ernest Hemingway

Study Guide

logo

A Very Short Story

Ernest Hemingway

A Very Short Story

Ernest Hemingway

Study Guide

logo

Big Two-Hearted River

Ernest Hemingway

Big Two-Hearted River

Ernest Hemingway

Study Guide

logo

Cat in the Rain

Ernest Hemingway

Cat in the Rain

Ernest Hemingway

Study Guide

logo

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Ernest Hemingway

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Ernest Hemingway

Plot Summary

logo

Green Hills of Africa

Ernest Hemingway

Green Hills of Africa

Ernest Hemingway

Study Guide

logo

In Another Country

Ernest Hemingway

In Another Country

Ernest Hemingway

Study Guide

logo

Indian Camp

Ernest Hemingway

Indian Camp

Ernest Hemingway

Plot Summary

logo

In Our Time

Ernest Hemingway

In Our Time

Ernest Hemingway

Study Guide

logo

Old Man at the Bridge

Ernest Hemingway

Old Man at the Bridge

Ernest Hemingway

Study Guide

logo

Soldier's Home

Ernest Hemingway

Soldier's Home

Ernest Hemingway

Plot Summary

logo

Solider's Home

Ernest Hemingway

Solider's Home

Ernest Hemingway

Study Guide

logo

Ten Indians

Ernest Hemingway

Ten Indians

Ernest Hemingway

Study Guide

logo

The Garden of Eden

Ernest Hemingway

The Garden of Eden

Ernest Hemingway

Study Guide

logo

The Killers

Ernest Hemingway

The Killers

Ernest Hemingway

Plot Summary

logo

The Nick Adams Stories

Ernest Hemingway

The Nick Adams Stories

Ernest Hemingway