Why are many people crossing the bridge?in the poem old man at the bridge
Answers
Answer:
An Old man wearing steel rimmed spectacles and with dusty clothes sits exhausted by the pontoon bridge.
The Soldier who's duty is to cross the bridge and check how far the enemies have advanced after completing his duty, he sees less number of trucks , carts people crossing the bridge he sees the Old man unmoved so he comes near the old man and knows that he is from San Carlos he was the last person to leave the town as sadi by the captain because of the artellery fire . he had been living their for many years , taking care of animals.
The narrator gives us idea that he doesn't like a shepherd nor herdsman .
The narrator asks him what animals he had been taking care , The old man replies that he had taking care of two goats , a cat and four fairs of doves.
The narrator asks him to catch up a truck to Barcelona as this place is unsafe. The old man smiles and says Thank you and tells i am worried about my animals , cats can take of themselves , pigeons can fly and goats? , The narrator tells that pigeons can fly if the old man unlocked its cage and advices the old man not to think of goats and urges him to move. The old man walks a little distance and sits down their telling that he is seventy six years old ,walked a 12 kilometers from his hometown and now too tired to walk further . He is destined and much worried about his animals than his own life. The narrator had nothing to do with old man as he is only the animal taker , he thinks that the only of the old man is that cats can look after themselves and reassure him that pigeons fly.
The enemies were unable to lauch their planes on that day as it was overcast and the life of old man extended to a day or more.
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The story tells that how the common people get affected by the war
ANSWER
The story is set during the Spanish Civil war and people are crossing the bridge to protect themselves from the impending attack by the enemy troops.
Hope it helps you.