Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Between 1914 and 1918, many of the world powers were engaged in fighting the Great War, later called World War I (WWI). Reflect upon the causes and effects of WWI in participating countries. How did WWI shape future generations, particularly those individuals who fought in the war?

Teaching Suggestion: This Short Answer question orients students with the historical context of the novel: the British Empire in the post-WWI era. Caused by rising tensions related to imperialism, economics, and politics in the European region, WWI eventually extended to the surrounding continents, as the imperialism of European countries resulted in the involvement of colonies in battles. Woolf’s novel is placed five years after the war, when the general population is still reeling from the effects of the war. Individuals who fought in the war were significantly affected physically and mentally. Woolf explores the latter through her character Septimus, a war veteran who struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); in fact, Woolf’s narrative is considered one of the first pieces of literature to explore the trauma of war on veterans’ mental health.