WLIRP+PeterL

World Literature Independent Reading Project Quarter 1 2009-2010 Note: In order for your book to qualify it must be by an author from a country other than the United States or the United Kingdom OR the primary setting must be outside of the United States or the United Kingdom.

NA How many pages do you need to read per week to be completed by 15 October, 2009? Week 1: 31 August - 4 September:1-67 Week 2: 7-11 September:68-134 Week 3: 14-18 September:135-201 Week 4: 21-25 September:202-268 Week 5: 28 September - 2 October:269-335 Week 6: 5-9 October:336-402 Week 7: 12-15 October:403-469 You must be completed with your book by Thursday, 15 October, 2009.
 * Title: For Whom the Bell Tolls
 * Author: Ernest Hemingway
 * Author’s Nationality: American
 * Setting (only list the primary settings): Spain (Spanish Civil War)
 * Total Pages: 469
 * Original Publication Date: 1940
 * If your book is translated, who is the translator? If not translated write “NA” NA
 * Do you currently have a physical copy of the book? YES
 * If you do not have a physical copy, how soon can you get one? (Write “NA” if you have a copy.)
 * Once your selection has been approved, fill out the following:**

How is your World Lit. reading going? Are you keeping up with your reading plan? What do you think about your book so far? What are the main conflicts? Are there any particularly interesting characters? Why? Have you noticed any major themes developing? Do you see any connections between your World Lit book and anything else you have read recently?
 * Reflection 1**

Unfortunately, I am a little behind my plan. This book started in an unusual fashion; the story began at the peak of the Spanish War. I thought this way of starting a novel was very intriguing because most books I've read so far began peacefully and got deeper into a war or a crisis as the plot progressed. I think the plot itself is advancing in a slow pace, since I was unable to find any turning points or a change in characters' thoughts even though I've been reading for 2-3 weeks.


 * Reflection 2**

I pretty much caught up to my reading plan, wisely using my time during weekends. I'm still feeling the pace of the novel is very slow, because often times monologues take up entire paragraphs and people tell stories that do not advance the plot itself. Pilar, wife of Pablo, seems to be an interesting character since she eyewitnessed the horrors of war at a young age, but is still fighting in a war. I do not see any themes developing yet. I feel like this book is similar to a book I read recently, //The Red Badge of Courage//, since they're both set in a Civil War.


 * Outline**

I. Intro Romeo and Juliet and For Whom the Bell Tolls. Both are renowned works done by perhaps the most famous authors in the history of literature. These two works were written at very different times, in very different styles. Thus, people are prone to thinking that these two works share no similarities at all. However, you’ll be surprised to know how much similarities these two “different” works of literature share!

For Whom the Bell Tolls, one of the best work done by Ernest Hemingway, graphically describes the brutality of civil war. A superior orders an American soldier named Robert Jordan to travel to Spain to oppose the Fascist forces. His mission was to travel behind enemy lines and blow up a bridge with the aid of groups of guerillas who lived in the mountains. Robert Jordan encounters a girl named Maria within the group, and immediately falls in love with her. On the day of the mission, Robert and Anselmo succeed in planting bombs on the bridge, only with many casualties on their side. When Robert Jordan Detonates the bridge, the bridge is successfully destroyed but a shrapnel from the explosion strikes Anselmo and kills him. On their way back, a Fascist bullet hits Robert Jordan’s horse, which tramples and breaks Robert Jordan’s leg. Knowing that he must be left behind, he says farewell to Maria and the novel ends as Robert aims his shot at a fascist Lieutenant, feeling his strong heart beat on the ground.

II. Body

Differences Format Scale Language reasons (motive & nation) minor (time period)

SImiliarities Love Story Tragic end deals w/ a feud that is affected by a greater force involves many death problem preexisted series of events lead to the demise of main character(s)

III. Conclusion

In conclusion, if you decided to read For Whom the Bell Tolls just because you expect it to be a “war” novel full of action, you should select another book to read. Otherwise, I do recommend this book to all of you, and I mean it when I say all. The entire novel only spans for 3 days, so it feels as if the events are actually occuring as one’s reading. Readers can really get in character’s heads, since there are few characters and they often times get in monologues. For Whom the Bell Tolls is worth reading because the reader can get a chance to dive in to the world of words of Hemingway. Simply put, this novel can be described as a love story beautifully interwoven with murders and war that you should defnitely read.

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