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Key points about for Whom the Bell Tolls

* For Whom the Bell Tolls, published in 1940, grew out of Hemingway's
personal interest in the Spanish Civil War of the thirties.
F U L L T I T L E For Whom the Bell Tolls
AU T H O R Ernest Hemingway
TY P E O F WO R K Novel
G E N R E Tragedy; historical novel; war novel; love story
L A N G UA G E English sprinkled with Spanish words and phrases. Many
sections, especially dialogue and interior monologue, are written as though
they have been translated word-for-word from Spanish to English and retain
the structure and cadence of the Spanish language.

TI ME A ND PLA CE WRI T TEN March 1 9 3 9 August 1 9 4 0 ; Cuba,


Key West, Wyoming, and Idaho
D AT E OF FI RST PUBLI CATI ON October 2 1 , 1 9 4 0
P U B L I S H E R Scribners N A R R AT O R Anonymous third-person
P O I N T O F V I E W the narrative is written in a detached, journalistic style
that focuses on what the characters can see, hear, or smell. This description
is often restricted to what Robert Jordan can see or hear. On a few
occasions, most notably when introducing Pablo confiding to his horse and
introducing Karkovs rescue of Andrs and Gomez in prison, the narrator
comments on the unfolding action.
TO N E The tone is detached, solemn, and world-weary, especially when
the narrative focuses on the perspective of Robert Jordan. There are
recurring elements of dramatic irony (resulting from a discrepancy between
what the characters know and what we as readers know) as characters
fighting for the Republican side express optimism about the outcome of the
war.
T E N S E Immediate past
S E T T I N G ( T I M E ) Three days during the last week of May 1 9 3 7 , from
Saturday afternoon to Tuesday midday; along with lengthy flashbacks to
earlier episodes in the lives of different characters

S E T T I N G ( P L A C E ) The Guadarrama mountain range in Spain; several


flashbacks are set in a variety of places in Montana and throughout Spain
P R O TA G O N I S T Robert Jordan
M A J O R C O N F L I C T As Robert Jordan and a small band of guerrilla
fighters prepare to blow up a bridge with their limited resources and
manpower, Robert Jordan and Pablo struggle for authority over the small
band of guerrillas. Meanwhile, Robert Jordan and Maria cope with the pitfalls
of falling in love during wartime.
R I S I N G A C T I O N Robert Jordan arrives at Pablos camp, convinces the
band members to help him fulfill his mission, and falls in love with Maria. He
enlists the aid of nearby guerrilla leader El Sordo and clashes with Pablo.
Snow falls. A band of Fascists attacks and slaughters El Sordos men. Robert
Jordan sends a dispatch to General Golz recommending that the Republican
offensive be canceled. Pablo leaves the group and steals some of Robert
Jordans explosives.
C L I M A X Pablo returns. Andrs delivers the dispatch too late, and the
Republican offensive is not canceled. Robert Jordan and the guerrilla band
blow up the bridge.
FA L L I N G A C T IO N Four people, including Robert Jordan, die or are
fatally wounded. Pablo leads the others away, presumably to safety into the
mountains.
T H E M E S The loss of innocence in war; the value of human life; romantic
love as salvation
M O T I F S Rabbits and hares; the forest floor; signs and omens; suicide
S Y M B O L S Planes, tanks, and mortars; absinthe

FO R E S H A D O W I N G Robert Jordans intuition that Pablo will be a danger


to the bridge operation; Pilars consternation at what she reads in Robert
Jordans palm; Agustns warning to Robert Jordan to pay attention to his
packs; Pilars sense of foreboding as she watches Pablo after the men swear
allegiance to her; Robert Jordans worry about the tracks that El Sordo may
have left when the snowstorm stops at night; Pilars lengthy description of
the smell of death.

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