A good number of candidates attempted this question. However, many of them did not meet the demands of the question. The romantic notion of war is ridiculed in the following ways:
- The so-called war heroes are stripped of all the trappings and nobility associated with war.
- The life-saving attitude of Bluntschli who would rather load his cartridge with chocolates instead of bullets is endorsed.
- Sergius’ inexperience that compromises the lives of his men.
- Bluntschli and the Russian generals’ realisation that there is no true glory or honour in shedding blood.
Candidates’ performance in this question was poor.
