The Diary of  A Napoleonic Foot Soldier  - Discussion Questions

1.)  A common saying at the time was "a campaign is always made out to be worse than it was." (pg. 88)  At what point do you think Walter began questioning this statement?  Discuss the necessity of such a phrase.

2.)  When they first started out Walter was sent to find food in the villages.  He treated the villagers very poorly. He threatened, kidnapped, stole horses, lied, to name a few of his actions.   Do you think his attitude towards the villagers changed during the campaign?

3.)  Walter talked about having fun with people, getting the baby drunk, the young maids he would joke with until they left the room, the nun he told he was a Capuchin monk.  Do you think the villagers enjoyed Walter's humour?  

4.) How about his attitude towards fellow soldiers, enemy soldiers, superiors, and the campaign in general?  Did his attitude change during his service in the army? 

5.)  Walter ate some shocking things, co-angulated blood, dough balls made from flour and muddy water, beet juice he found in the bottom of a wooden tub, raw horse meat, grains.  It was surprising how the soldiers were expected to forage for their own food.  Discuss what you would have done as an officer in Napoleon's army to supply food to your soldiers.

6.)   Did you notice that Walter has little emotion for those that he or he sees injured or killed, yet he is overjoyed to see his friends and family?   Discuss his personality and emotions.

7.)  Walter had very limited knowledge of the war he was involved in, he knew little about the strategy, combat was described as chaotic, yet he stayed and kept fighting.  What do you think motivated him?

8.)  Walter abandoned his extra warm clothing in the hot weather, and then suffered in the extreme cold, did he make any other crucial mistakes?  

9.)  At one point he saw a cart of money (pg. 98), but was too tired to stop and pick it up.  What was his  larger objective at the time?