# How does My Four Weeks in France develop the theme of American Identity Abroad?

> My Four Weeks in France by Ring Lardner

## Answer

My Four Weeks in France by Ring Lardner develops American Identity Abroad across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.

The book explores what it means to be an American in Europe during WWI, contrasting American informality and practicality with European formality and bureaucracy, and noting soldiers' dislike of the nickname 'Sammies.'

The soldiers reject the nickname 'Sammies,' and the narrator writes a poem asserting their right to choose their own name.

The narrator contrasts American and British habits (bridge playing, meal schedules, driving on the right) and feels the monotony of the voyage differently from the British passengers.

## Evidence

- [iv-finally-i-get-to-the-american-camp-what-i-find-there](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/my_four_weeks_in_france_se/chapters/iv-finally-i-get-to-the-american-camp-what-i-find-there.md): The soldiers reject the nickname 'Sammies,' and the narrator writes a poem asserting their right to choose their own name.
- [viii-back-in-old-o-say-i-start-answering-questions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/my_four_weeks_in_france_se/chapters/viii-back-in-old-o-say-i-start-answering-questions.md): The narrator contrasts American and British habits (bridge playing, meal schedules, driving on the right) and feels the monotony of the voyage differently from the British passengers.

## Links

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