History Literature / ForWhomTheBellTolls

* DoubleMeaning: When Jordan first meets the guerrilla band, he mentions that his father is a Republican, which the latter takes to mean that he comes from a family sympathetic to their cause since their own side is also called "Republicans." Of course, in American politics, Republicans (especially in 1930s) were the anti-communist, pro-business, and isolationist party who were about the most hostile to the left wing Spanish guerrilas. It also implies that Jordan is a sort of RebelPrince from a wealthy family who ran away from his father to find something meaningful.
* DrinkOrder: As you would expect in a Hemingway novel, there is a lot of drink. The band drink wine from a skin but Robert Jordan has a flask of whiskey that he shares on special occasions.

* GreyAndGreyMorality: While the Republicans are generally portrayed more sympathetically, neither side is generally shown in a very positive light, especially when it comes to the leadership. Atrocities are committed by both sides. Some of the individual soldiers in the Nationalist army are shown to be just regular people rather than villainous lackeys, particularly four soldiers casually chatting in a cabin and the Carlist cavalrymen.

* MercyKill: [[spoiler: Augustin offers one to Robert Jordan as he lays dying, he declines]].

* DyingMomentOfAwesome: [[spoiler: El Sordo and his men]].

* TheNeidermeyer: Captain Mora, ''holy shit''. Commanding the Carlist cavalry attacking El Sordo, he launches [[AwesomeButImpractical a spectacular but incredibly costly]] offensive at their hideout to try and wipe them out in one blow, letting Sordo escape with five of his men and their light machine gun. Then against all common sense, Mora gets up to check if they're really dead...''[[ViolationOfCommonSense by standing out in the open and trying to goad them into shooting him.]]'' He's practically begging to get shot, and El Sordo happily obliges him.

* TankGoodness: Only a little one-an Italian Fiat tankette-but it causes a lot of problems for the partisans. Another, much larger tank shows up later and proceeds to [[spoiler: shell the group, killing the gypsy and smashing Robert's leg]].

* TraumaticHaircut: The fascists executed Maria's parents, raped her and shaved her head.

* IShallTauntYou: Tried by one of the officers surrounding El Sordo and his men. [[spoiler: They ignore him until he's convinced they're all dead and stands up. Then they shoot him.]]

* GreyAndGreyMorality: While the Republicans are generally portrayed more sympathetically, neither side is generally shown in a very positive light, especially when it comes to the leadership. Atrocities are committed by both sides. Some of the individual soldiers in the Nationalist army are shown to be just regular people rather than villainous lackeys.
* HeroOfAnotherStory: El Sordo and his band are acknowledged to be very good partisans. [[spoiler: This doesn't save them from the soldiers who come after them, although they do get to make a heroic last stand]].
* HitAndRunTactics: The only way such small bands can operate, producing some hard choices about whether to help other bands.

* PoliticalOfficer: Well General Massart didn't get his job through competency.

* {{Romani}}: A few of the band are Romani and have a few stereotypical traits but generally are well-rounded characters.

* InterplayOfSexAndViolence: Done in the usual Hemingway fashion, ala ''Literature/TheSunAlsoRises''. The simple language and run on sentences used to describe Roberto and Maria's lovemaking is quite similar to how Finito and Andres' bullfighting is described.

** Actually [[AvertedTrope averted]]. Yes, André Marty actually was [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/André_Marty a real person]], and yes, he actually was that paranoid and batshit insane. He was sent by the [[SovietRussiaUkraineAndSoOn Comintern]] to Spain when the war started and was appointed as the political leader of the International Brigades. Supposedly about one tenth of all Republican Brigaders who died during the war were executed by him.

The story, which plays out over four days and three nights, is centered around Robert Jordan - no, not [[Literature/WheelOfTime that]] Robert Jordan - an American member of the [[EagleSquadron International Brigades]] who joined to fight for the Republic. His mission is to blow up a bridge in preparation for an offensive against the Nationalists, and to this purpose he enlists the help of a [[LaResistance small band of partisans]] in the hills nearby. He [[LoveAtFirstSight quickly]] begins an affair and falls in love with a girl called Maria, who has been freed from the captivity of the Fascists a few months prior.

* SayYourPrayers: [[spoiler:Joaquin, one of El Sordo's men starts praying when he sees the planes that are coming to kill them, even though he's a Communist]].

* SuicideMission: Robert Jordan's mission to blow up the bridge is essentially this. Pablo, Pilar, and El Sordo are the only other characters who seem to fully grasp this, and how they deal with it play a big role in the narrative. [[spoiler: Robert Jordan, Pilar and El Sordo are all willing to do it in service to the Republic. Pablo, not so much.]]

* TankGoodness: Only a little one but it causes a lot of problems for the partisans.

* FourthDateMarriage: Robert Jordan plans to marry Maria after only knowing him for a few days.

''For Whom the Bell Tolls'' is a novel by Creator/ErnestHemingway, first published in 1940, and was inspired by [[WriteWhatYouKnow his experience]] as a journalist during the SpanishCivilWar. It is one of his most famous and beloved works, and is generally considered ''the'' book written about that war.

The novel was adapted into a film in 1943, starring Creator/GaryCooper as Robert Jordan and Creator/IngridBergman as Maria. It has a [[Characters/ForWhomTheBellTolls character page]].

* TheConspiracy: Robert Jordan muses on how "the Fascists" have a plan to TakeOverTheWorld, and just [[HeroicSacrifice fighting the war in Spain slows them down for years and does not allow them to attack other countries]]. [[WorldWarII Historical reality had proven a bit different]].

** Actually [[AvertedTrope averted]]. Yes, André Marty actually was [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_Marty a real person]], and yes, he actually was that paranoid and batshit insane. He was sent by the [[SovietRussiaUkraineAndSoOn Comintern]] to Spain when the war started and was appointed as the political leader of the International Brigades. Supposedly about one tenth of all Republican Brigaders who died during the war were executed by him.
** [[VoiceOfTheResistance La Pasionaria]], who was also [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolores_Ib%C3%A1rruri a real person]]. Judging by one of Sordo's guerrillas ridicule of her [[spoiler: when they're digging in for a LastStand on the hill]], it's pretty safe to say that Hemingway himself was not terribly fond of her.

->No man is an ''Iland'', intire of it selfe; every man is a peece of the ''Continent'', a part of the ''maine''; if a ''Clod'' bee washed away by the ''Sea'', ''Europe'' is the lesse, as well as if a ''Promontorie'' were, as well as if a ''Mannor'' of thy ''friends'' or of ''thine'' ''owne '' were; any mans ''death'' diminishes ''me'', because I am involved in ''Mankinde''; And therefore never send to know for whom the ''bell'' tolls; It tolls for ''thee''.
->--'''Creator/JohnDonne''', quoted in the {{epigraph}}

* TakeCareOfTheKids: A variation. [[spoiler: Robert's last request to Agustin is for him to take of Maria for him, turning down Agustin's offer of a MercyKill.]]

* DidTheEarthMoveForYouToo: Trope Coiner and [[TropeCodifier codifier.]]

* DidTheEarthMoveForYouToo: [[CaptainObvious Played straight]] with [[TropeMaker Robert Jordan and Maria.]]

The story, which plays out over four days and three nights, is centered around Robert Jordan - no, not [[WheelOfTime that]] Robert Jordan - an American member of the [[EagleSquadron International Brigades]] who joined to fight for the Republic. His mission is to blow up a bridge in preparation for an offensive against the Nationalists, and to this purpose he enlists the help of a [[LaResistance small band of partisans]] in the hills nearby. He [[LoveAtFirstSight quickly]] begins an affair and falls in love with a girl called Maria, who has been freed from the captivity of the Fascists a few months prior.

* [[spoiler: BolivianArmyEnding]]

** [[VoiceOfTheResistance La Pasionaria]], again [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolores_Ib%C3%A1rruri a real person]] is more of a YMMV. However, judging by one of Sordo's guerrillas ridicule of her [[spoiler: when they're digging in for a LastStand on the hill]], it's pretty safe to say that Hemingway himself was not terribly fond of her.

* RealMenDontCry: Thoroughly averted towards the end. Anselmo cries after killing the sentry on the bridge, although it doesn't stop him from helping Robert rig the explosives. He is rather ashamed of himself for doing so afterwards though. Averted even further at the very end by [[spoiler:Agustin and narrowly played straight by Robert.]]

* TheTalk: Pilar tries this with Robert Jordan, with varying effects.

* SayYourPrayers [[spoiler:Joaquin, one of El Sordo's men starts praying when he sees the planes that are coming to kill them, even though he's a Communist]].

** [[VoiceOfTheResistance La Pasionaria]], again [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolores_Ib%C3%A1rruri]] is more of a YMMV. However, judging by one of Sordo's guerrillas ridicule of her [[spoiler: when they're digging in for a LastStand on the hill]], it's pretty safe to say that Hemingway himself was not terribly fond of her.