American Literature: For Whom the Bell Tolls Analysis

Vocabulary and character-based flashcards derived from the lecture notes on American Literature focusing on the plot and characters of For Whom the Bell Tolls.

Robert Jordan

The protagonist and American fighter who is tasked with blowing up a bridge and sends a dispatch to cancel the offensive when he realizes the Fascists are aware of the plan.

Maria

A woman at the guerrilla camp who Robert Jordan falls in love with; they share a feeling of being one person and fantasize about a future in Madrid.

El Sordo

The leader of a guerrilla camp located on a hilltop that is assaulted and wiped out by Fascists.

Pilar

A woman in the guerrilla camp who understands that aiding El Sordo would be useless and later assists in the bridge operation.

Pablo

A guerrilla leader who flees the camp with explosives but returns before dawn because he felt great loneliness, bringing five men and horses to help.

General Golz

A Republican leader to whom Robert Jordan sends a dispatch recommending the cancellation of the bridge operation and the larger offensive.

Karkov

A Russian journalist in Madrid and friend of Robert Jordan who uses his influence to free Andrés from arrest.

Andrés

The messenger sent by Robert Jordan to deliver a dispatch to General Golz's headquarters.

André Marty

A politician who suspects Andrés is a Fascist spy and orders his arrest, causing the dispatch to arrive too late.

Anselmo

A man who descends on the bridge with Robert Jordan to shoot Fascist sentries and plant explosives.

Eladio

A fighter who is killed during the operation to blow up the bridge.

Fernando

A fighter who is fatally wounded during the bridge operation and must be left behind.

The Earth Move

A specific physical and emotional sensation felt by Robert Jordan and Maria while they are together in his sleeping bag.

Dispatch

The written message from Robert Jordan to Republican command recommending the offensive be canceled because the Fascists are aware of the plan.