'La lengua de las Mariposas'

la Falange española ( "blueshirts")/ falangistas

Those who supported Franco in the military would wear blue shirts

Colors of the Republican flag (1931-36)

Red, Purple, Yellow

Proboscis (Espiritrompa) & bower bird (Tilonorrinco)

References to nature shouted by Moncho at the end of the film - these are Galician words too, showing that gallego was still used as a regional language before Franco came to power

Himno de Riego (Riego's Hymn)

anthem of the Segunda República, played in the film at the celebration 'El día de la República' - ironic as soon it would be dangerous to play the anthem in public due to the rise of Franco

Verbena de San Juan

very popular summer festival, which is depicted halfway through the film to project a comparatively happy and carefree rural society before the outbreak of the Civil War

Antonio Machado

Spanish poet born in Seville - his poem, about school, is read out by a student in class in the film. He was also a school teacher, and a strong supporter of the Spanish Republic, like Don Gregorio. Unlike the Don Gregorio in the film, Machado fled Spain when the Republic collapsed in early 1939, but he died soon afterward in exile.

Where does the action of the film take place? When?

Takes place in the summer of 1936 in rural Galicia during the Second Republic, but ends just as the Spanish Civil War broke out in late July 1936

What is Moncho's reason for not wanting to attend school? Is it validated by Don Gregorio´s pedagogical methods and moral values?

Moncho does not want to go to school because he is scared that he will be hit by the teacher. When he goes to school, Don Gregorio is very caring and takes action to make sure Moncho feels welcomed.

Why does Don Gregorio go to Moncho's house?

He goes to his house because he wants to apologize to Moncho for allowing the other children to laugh at Moncho when he was shy on his first day, and to make sure he will come back to school.

Why is Don Avelino's son so reluctant to work hard at school?

His father gives him a lot of confidence and gives him the impression that he will be an important person locally ('un cacique')

How does Ramón feel about religion and how does this fit in with what most people in his village think?

Moncho's father, Ramón, is an atheist. This is not generally supported in the quite traditional village so the mother, Rosa, works very hard to make sure no-one finds out.

Comment on the scene between Don Gregorio and the local priest in the presence of Moncho with the latin references.

It shows the importance of the church as part of the right-wing establishment in Spanish society, and how since Moncho has started school there has not been as much interest in religious studies happening. This is due to the secularisation of the education system under the reforms of the Second Republic.

Don Gregorio receives two gifts in the movie. What is his initial reaction to each one? Why? Which one does he end up accepting?

At the beginning of the movie he receives chickens from Don Avelino. He does not accept them because they were a gift just showing Don Avelino's wealth and as a sort of bribe to get Don Gregorio to do what he wanted. Then he receives a suit from Moncho's father. He accepts this because it is a gift of gratitude from a friend, and Don Gregorio and Ramón also share the same republican views.

How different are Don Gregorio's and Rosa's reactions to Moncho's asthma episode? What does that say about their particular characterizations in the movie?

Don Gregorio was very calm and just did what he needed to do to make sure Moncho was ok. Rosa was very dramatic and stated that the Holy water was what cured him, and when he was dunked in the water by Gregorio it was just like when the holy water cured him. This shows that Rosa, despite being younger than Don Gregorio, is more reliant on tradition and superstition.

How is the outbreak of violence immediately prior to the Civil War conveyed in the film?

It is heard on the radio first, then Moncho sees violent action in the street through the window. It happens very suddenly and initially is under cover of darkness at night, all of which underline the secret and sinister nature of the military uprising. The next day all the people in the village go to see the falangistas take the prisoners away to be shot. At this point the lighting is bright and harsh.

Don Gregorio

teacher, very caring and has a close relationship with Moncho. When he retires he speaks out against the church and ends up getting himself in trouble

Moncho

timid little boy, scared to go to school, growing up throughout the movie

Rosa

Moncho's mother, very worried about the family's safety, willing to sacrifice her political morals to save the family. In any case leans more towards conservative/ right-wing politics and is very religious

Ramón

father, is an atheist, compelled by Rosa to betray Don Gregorio at the end of the film in order to protect their family.

Don Avelino

Important local figure ('un cacique') in the village. Conservative, wealthy, supporter of the Nationalists. Walks out during Don Gregorio's retirement speech because it is so obviously in favour of republican politics and educational reform.

José María

Son of wealthy local 'cacique' Don Avelino. Arrogant and unkind to Roque and Moncho, giving us a microcosm of the entitled and aggressive behavour of his father towards others in the community with differing (political) points of view.

Andrés

Moncho's brother, in love with the unnamed Chinese girl married to Don Boal

Carmiña

Daughter of Ramón by a previous relationship, grown-up half-sister of Moncho and Andrés. Despute fulfilling some more traditionally 'feminine' roles, such as caring for her sick mother and having to depend on her father to pay for the funeral, she is a symbol of feminine sexual freedom in the film as a result of her passionate love affair with O'Lis. This shows how the Republic was starting to embrace a society of greater gender equality where women had more freedom to be independent.

O'Lis

Carmiña's lover, an outspoken republican. He kills Carmiña's dog in a fit of drunken rage, symbolising the self-destructive act of civil war that Spain is soon to undergo. He is taken away with the other republicans at the end of the film, much to Carmiña's distress, highlighting the trauma the war caused to ordinary civilians.

Don Boal

Married to the Chinese girl who Andrés fall in love with. An important man in his own town ('un cacique'), who also seems harsh ame unpleasant.

Roque

Schoolfriend of Moncho's, brother of Aurora. Their father is a republican and is taken away to be shot by the falangistas at the end of the film.

Aurora

Sister of Roque, and Moncho's crush. Aurora and Moncho dance together and have an innocent kiss at the Verbena festival. Moncho plays with Aurora and her friends in the river and, in a sweet and touching moment, gives her a flower to show that he likes her.

Describe the school system and techniques used in 1930´s Spain. How do they differ from today and what do they tell you about that historical period?

Everyone in the class was different ages. During their time outside they were always being watched. Going to school was very important and they needed to know the material being taught

The film exemplifies the pre-Civil War moral and political debate between oppositional forces on different issues like family life, sexuality, education and freedom. Find particular instances for each of them in the film.

a. Family life -->conservative attitude for education, and then the ideas that the education system could affect the education of the church

b. Sexuality-->

c. Education-->

d. Freedom-->

Comment on the biblical references and motives present in the movie.

a. Moncho has an asthma attack and his mum believes that he was so excited about making his first communion, and the holy water is what cured him

b. Mother explains hell, and why God doesn't just kill Satan. Don Gregorio says that hell does not exist, but instead is here on earth

Animals are constantly mentioned or visualized in the movie, often in an analogous relationship with humans; to what effect? How could we interpret parts of 'La lengua de las mariposas'as a fable on the Spanish Civil War?

a. Tarzán, Carmiña's dog, could be said to represent the freedom of the Second Republic, values, and thus the killing of Tarzán by O'Lis could foreshadow the violent end of the republic.

b. butterflies - the children can watch them but they can not look at them close up until they have the microscope

c. wolf bit the Chinese girl, and now she has never spoken again

d. sparrows, Moncho is going and exploring throughout the movie like an innocent wild bird his nickname is 'sparrow' / 'Gorrión'

Comment on the film's climactic scene and its dramatic value at the end of the screening. Notice the use of a freeze frame as the movie's last shot.

a. Shows how innocent Moncho is. As soon as he is told how bad Don Gregorio is by other because he speaks out against the church he believes it and changes his feeling - or so it seems initially. There is slow-motion, fade to black, freeze screen close up of Moncho to show his inner conflict between simultaneously pleasing his family and being loyal to Don Gregorio. Music heightens the emotion of the scene.