Homage to Catalonia
George Orwell
Contains spoilers for the entire book.
Discussion topics
Topic 01 of 08
Barcelona
What did Orwell find so moving about revolutionary Barcelona when he arrived?
Keep the conversation going
- What did the Italian militiaman mean to him?
- Why does the city look different when he returns?
There is no single right answer. Bring your own reading.
Discussion topics
What did Orwell find so moving about revolutionary Barcelona when he arrived?
Keep the conversation going
- What did the Italian militiaman mean to him?
- Why does the city look different when he returns?
What was life on the Aragon front really like, for Orwell?
Keep the conversation going
- What did you make of the cold, the lice and the boredom?
- Why does he insist on describing them?
What did the POUM militia's equality mean to Orwell?
Keep the conversation going
- How did it differ from an ordinary army?
- Why did it matter to him so much?
How did the street fighting in Barcelona in May 1937 change Orwell's view of the war?
Keep the conversation going
- How did he feel being on the roof of the cinema?
- Who did he blame for the fighting?
How does Orwell describe being shot through the throat?
Keep the conversation going
- What did you make of the calm of his account?
- What did the wound change for him?
How did you respond to the suppression of the POUM and the arrests of his comrades?
Keep the conversation going
- What did you make of Kopp's imprisonment?
- How does Orwell escape?
Why does Orwell warn readers about his own bias and possible mistakes?
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- How does that change how you read the book?
- What does the book say about how wars are reported?
How did you feel about the book's last pages, as Orwell returns to a sleeping England?
Keep the conversation going
- What does he fear England will wake up to?
- What did Spain leave him believing?
There is no single right answer. Bring your own reading.