the first group to attack
Were you in the first wave during the attack on the Anthill?Paths of Glory · 1957 — 第 9 / 17 章 · 2'37" · B2
Ferol Testifies at the Court-Martial, Explained：no-man's-land
A court-martial questions Private Ferol about the failed attack. The prosecutor walks him to a conclusion — "In other words, Private Ferol, you retreated" — while Dax, defending, makes the questioning look absurd by asking whether Ferol should have stormed the Anthill alone.
あらすじ
At the court-martial, the prosecutor questions Private Ferol step by step about the attack on the Anthill. Ferol admits he advanced to the middle of no-man's-land with Private Meyer, then went back. Colonel Dax, defending the men, cross-examines him and asks sarcastically why he did not take the Anthill single-handed.
注目の表現
no-man's-landvisual experiencesin other wordsthe rest of
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このシーンの表現
no-man's-land
ground between enemy lines
Ferol says he got only to the middle of no-man's-land, the open ground between the lines.
They crawled across no-man's-land under cover of dark.
このシーンの他の表現
- visual experiences
a mocking euphemism
- in other words
put another way
- the rest of
the remaining part of
- single-handed
without any help
- you're kidding
you can't be serious
このシーンのメモ一覧
46 行のセリフに 21 件のメモ
ground between enemy lines
Ferol says he got only to the middle of no-man's-land, the open ground between the lines.
To about the middle of no-man's-land, sir.Link middle of, then give no-man's-land three clear beats.
To about the middle of no-man's-land, sir.ground between the lines — Military jargon, also used for any unclaimed zone.
To about the middle of no-man's-land, sir.on every side
There were machine-gun bullets landing all around.give a direct answer
Answer the question. What did you do?not relevant to something
The court has no concern with your... visual experiences.answer something
- My what, sir? - Prisoner will reply to the question.put another way
The prosecutor reframes Ferol's honest answer as a retreat with one phrase.
In other words, Private Ferol, you retreated.if I may: If I may is a polite aside asking permission before you act.
Mr. President, I'd like to question the witness if I may.with no one else present
- were you alone with Private Meyer? - Yes, sir.the remaining part of
Dax asks what happened to the rest of the company, steering toward the casualties.
Well, what happened to the rest of your company?find oneself somewhere: Find oneself plus a place means to realize you are somewhere, often by surprise.
And you found yourself in the middle of no-man's-land alone with Private Meyer.without any help
Dax asks why Ferol did not attack the hill single-handed, an impossibility that makes the point.
Why didn't you attack the Anthill single-handed?Stress kidding and let the line rise in disbelief.
Just me and Meyer? You're kidding, sir.joking — Casual speech for friends; too loose for formal settings.
Just me and Meyer? You're kidding, sir.the purpose of something
I don't see the point of this line of questioning.confess without pressure
The prosecutor frames the forced answer as a free confession.
So you freely admit, Private Ferol, that you retreated.Keep freely light and press down on admit.
So you freely admit, Private Ferol, that you retreated.should have done: Should have plus a past participle marks a missed duty; took here should be taken.
I knew we should've took Anthill, but we came on back.nonstandard for should have taken — Common in speech but nonstandard; write should have taken.
I knew we should've took Anthill, but we came on back.「Ferol Testifies at the Court-Martial」を読み解く
What's really going on
The scene is a lesson in how a court can turn a person's plain truth into a confession. Ferol answers honestly — yes he advanced, no he did not refuse, he reached the middle of no-man's-land, then he went back — and the prosecutor simply renames it: "In other words, Private Ferol, you retreated." Everything human in his answer, the dead friends and the machine-gun fire, is ruled out as visual experiences. Dax's defense is to expose the logic by taking it seriously: if the rest of the company was gone, why did Ferol not storm the Anthill single-handed? Ferol's baffled 'You're kidding, sir' says what the audience thinks, and Dax agrees that yes, he is kidding — that is the point.
Theme
JusticeA show trial converts an honest account of the attack into an admission of cowardice, with the outcome decided in advance.
PowerThe court uses procedure and official language to strip a soldier's own words of their meaning.
このチャプターで学べること
- A private's slow honesty beats a polished charge.
- The retelling of an answer can turn it into a verdict.
- Single-handed questions are meant to prove a thing impossible.
- The wrong verb tense here sounds more real than the right one.
発音のポイント
- middle of no-man's-land — Link middle of, then give no-man's-land three clear beats.
- You're kidding — Stress kidding and let the line rise in disbelief.
- freely admit — Keep freely light and press down on admit.
Just me and Meyer? You're kidding, sir.Ferol's honest disbelief at being asked why two men did not take a fortified position by themselves.
Why didn't you storm the Anthill alone?Dax's cross-examination, turning the prosecution's logic against it by pushing it to an absurd extreme.
In other words, Private Ferol, you retreated.The prosecutor recasting Ferol's account as an admission: the phrase does the work of a verdict.
So you freely admit, Private Ferol, that you retreated.The prosecutor locking in the confession, making Ferol agree to the word 'retreated' in his own voice.
I knew we should've took Anthill, but we came on back.Ferol's plain summary of the retreat: he knows they should have taken the Anthill, but they came back.
このシーンについての質問
What is Ferol on trial for?
For cowardice, after the failed attack on the Anthill. The army wants three soldiers punished as an example, and Ferol is one of the accused.
What does Ferol actually admit on the stand?
That he advanced into no-man's-land with Private Meyer, that the rest of the company was killed or wounded, and that he then went back.
Why does Dax ask if Ferol attacked the Anthill single-handed?
To show how absurd the prosecution's logic is. If retreating proves cowardice, then the only acceptable behavior would have been for two men to take the position alone.
What does "no-man's-land" mean?
The open ground between the two armies' trenches, which neither side controls. Ferol says he got about halfway across it before turning back.
Why does the court ignore what Ferol says he saw?
The president rules that the court has no concern with his visual experiences, so evidence about the machine-gun fire and his dead comrades is kept out.
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次のチャプター · 第 10 章you mean to tell meArnaud Testifies at His Court-Martial
第 1 章out of the questionBroulard Pitches the Anthill Offensive
第 2 章armchair officerBroulard Visits Dax at the Front
第 3 章the last refuge of a scoundrelMireau Orders Dax to Take the Anthill
第 4 章my word against yoursParis Accuses Roget After the Patrol
第 5 章as clear as mudThe Night Before the Attack
第 6 章take responsibility forMireau Orders Fire on His Own Men
第 7 章set an exampleGenerals Choose Three Scapegoats
第 8 章draw lotsDax Prepares the Accused Soldiers
再生中 · 第 9 章no-man's-landFerol Testifies at the Court-Martial
第 10 章you mean to tell meArnaud Testifies at His Court-Martial
第 11 章a stain on somethingDax's Final Plea at the Court-Martial
第 12 章prepare for the worstThe Condemned Men Eat Their Last Meal
第 13 章harden your heartFather Dupree Visits the Condemned
第 14 章nothing to itDax Makes Roget Command the Firing Squad
第 15 章a perfect tonicDax Bargains for the Condemned Men
第 16 章brace yourselfThe Priest Comforts the Condemned Men
第 17 章make me the goatBroulard Makes Mireau the Goat第 9 / 17 章 · 残り約 26 分