illustration of main character Robert Jordan wearing a fedora, half his face in shadow, and a pair of mountains in the background

For Whom the Bell Tolls

by Ernest Hemingway

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For Whom the Bell Tolls

The title of For Whom the Bell Tolls by Hemingway comes from one of Donne’s meditations. The full line is “Ask not for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee.” In other words, when we find out that...

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For Whom the Bell Tolls

In For Whom the Bell Tolls, Hemingway uses "thee" and "thou" for three reasons: to mimic the Spanish formal and familiar pronouns, to emphasize the camaraderie and equality among the characters, and...

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For Whom the Bell Tolls

Hemingway solidified his code of “grace under pressure” in For Whom the Bell Tolls by creating a protagonist who exemplifies what has become known as the Hemingway Code Hero. The author portrays...

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For Whom the Bell Tolls

A Hemingway hero lives, in Hemingway's words, according to "ideals of honor, courage and endurance." He is a competent man's man who faces his post-World War I disillusion squarely. He enjoys the...

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For Whom the Bell Tolls

Hemingway's attitude towards war, human relations, and courage in For Whom the Bell Tolls is expressed through the theme of duty. He views courage as the willingness to act within one's sense of...

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For Whom the Bell Tolls

Hemingway's attitude toward war in For Whom The Bell Tolls is complex and critical, focusing on the loss of innocence it causes. Characters like Maria, Joaquin, and Robert Jordan experience personal...

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For Whom the Bell Tolls

For Whom the Bell Tolls contains elements of sexism, evident in the objectification of Maria by Robert Jordan and the criticism of Pilar's masculinity. Maria is seen primarily as a sexual object,...

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For Whom the Bell Tolls

Robert Jordan is the Hemingway Hero in For Whom the Bell Tolls. Jordan exemplifies this character type through his alienation, search for a higher purpose, participation in physical conflict,...

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