For Whom the Bell Tolls Lesson Plan

What makes Robert change his mind about his father? How have the events of the novel led to this decision? How does the decision bolster his commitment to blowing up the bridge?

Up until this point, Robert has held the idea of dying for a cause as an ideal. He’s considered any part of him that wouldn’t be willing to die as a sign of cowardice. But now that he’s nearing the point where he may actually die, he’s realizing that it isn’t just an ideal, that there’s a real cost to his actions. He comes to see that there’s actually meaning in the way you live, and that drives him to continue his mission.

How is Karkov’s decision to help Jordan similar to or different than...