The Bridge on the River Kwai

Part 2
Chapter 1: The Plastics and Destruction
Co., Ltd.
1. What was another name for the Plastics and Destruction
Co.? Who commanded this operation? What was the
nature of their work?
2. What was the feeling of the Siamese people toward their
Japanese “liberators?” What were they prepared to do
about the situation in their nation?
3. Colonel Green calls in one of his operatives, Major
Shears, for a mission. What is the nature of the
mission?
4. How big of a team do they need for the job? Why is Captain Warden selected to be part
of the team?
5. Of all the possible targets, which one catches the eye of the British “special forces” men?
Why?
6. How will the British commando team get to the target? Why does this present some
difficulty for the soldiers?

Chapter 2: Problems on the Bridge

1. Now that the British are serious about building the bridge, what does Captain Reeves
report to Colonel Nicholson about the progress of the work?
2. What do Reeves and Hughes suggest happen if the bridge situation is to improve?
3. How does Colonel Nicholson sum up the problem? What does he propose to do about it?

Chapter 3: Saito “Loses Face”

1. The British officers have a meeting with their Japanese counterparts about the bridge.
Who appears to be running the meeting? Why do you think this?
2. How does Saito react when presented with Captain Reeves’ technical report?
3. What does Nicholson propose to do with the work quota of the British prisoners?
4. How do the Japanese appear to give up all their authority in the work camp? If you
didn’t know differently, who would you think was in charge? Why does Saito allow this
to happen?
5. Colonel Saito is even convinced that he must use his own Japanese soldiers to do manual
labour alongside the British prisoners. How does he attempt to “save face” after this
humiliation?
6. As they leave the meeting with the Japanese, Clipton says to Nicholson:

“What fools they are, sir!” “To think that without us, they
would have built their bridge in a swamp and it would have
capsized under the weight of their trains loaded with
troops and supplies!”

What do you think Clipton means by this remark? How does Nicholson respond to it?

Chapter 4: “Six Hundred Years!”

1. What are the main differences between the way the Japanese army would build a bridge
and the methods used by Western civilization?
2. Colonel Nicholson tells Captain Reeves that he is relying on him totally. How does
Reeves feel about his new responsibilities?
3. Why is the selection of the wood for the bridge so important?
4. Why does Colonel Nicholson become so excited when they begin to talk about the
London Bridge?