1. ¡Ay, Carmela!

3. ¡Ay, Carmela! cuenta la vida de dos artistas de teatro, cuya
única pretensión es sobrevivir en unas circunstancias
especialmente difíciles. La guerra es el contexto determinante.
Los cómicos pasan de representar su espectáculo en la zona
republicana del frente de Aragón, concretamente en Montejo,
a uno ante el ejército nacional que acaba de liberar Belchite.

4. „ La mujer
„ Las relaciones
„ La guerra / la dictadura
„ La libertad
„ La censura
„ La música
„ La política
Lostemasdelapelícula

7. Hints from the exam board
 The essay must reflect the views and opinions of the students and
also have an analytical and an evaluative approach. This means for
example that an essay about a film which just relates the story will
score a low mark. In order to access the higher mark range, purely
factual and descriptive work should be avoided.
 Depth of knowledge will require analysis giving examples, illustration
or reference to the film.
 Students will need to integrate evidence of reading and research into
the essay to show that they have the required knowledge and
understanding of their chosen issue. This could be done with phrases
such as ‘As … said in an interview… ’ in the body of the essay.
 Students will need to adhere to the word limit. For that reason they
should look at the question carefully. Questions in the exam will also
have quite a broad focus, as all candidates will have studied very
varied texts, films etc. Nevertheless students should make sure that
they are not diverted from the requirements of the question.

8. Students are expected to
analyse the research that
they have undertaken,
give their opinions and
justify them.

9. SAMPLE ESSAY QUESTIONS:
Literature and the arts
Take the main character or characters from your chosen book, play or film. How does
this character/these characters develop in the work, do you think?
1. Choose an extract from the book play or film which you have studied. How
important is this extract for the development of the work do you think?
2. What aspects of the book play or film which you have studied did you find
particularly interesting? Why is that the case?
3. What message does your chosen book play or film still have for today’s society?
How important is this message do you think? (June 2011)
4. Discuss one of the most important themes in the book play or film which you have
studied. What does the author/director want to say do you think?
Evalúa las técnicas estilísticas del libro, de la obra de teatro o de la película que has
estudiado. ¿Hasta qué punto contribuyen al éxito de la obra? (June 2010)

11. La música

12. Las tres canciones centrales de la película
1) Ay, Carmela
2) El himno de Riego
3) Mi Jaca
¿Cuándo se oyen?
¿Qué diferencias hay entre los diferentes
usos de las canciones?

13. ¡Ay, Carmela!

17. El himno de Riego

21. Mi Jaca

23. Mi España

29. SAMPLE ESSAY QUESTIONS:
Literature and the arts
1. Take the main character or characters from your chosen book, play or film. How does
this character/these characters develop in the work, do you think?
2. Choose an extract from the book play or film which you have studied. How important
is this extract for the development of the work do you think?
3. What aspects of the book play or film which you have studied did you find particularly
interesting? Why is that the case?
4. What message does your chosen book play or film still have for today’s society? How
important is this message do you think? (June 2011)
5. Discuss one of the most important themes in the book play or film which you have
studied. What does the author/director want to say do you think?
Evalúa las técnicas estilísticas del libro, de la obra de teatro o de la película que has
estudiado. ¿Hasta qué punto contribuyen al éxito de la obra? (June 2010)

30. El simbolismo

31. Students are expected to
analyse the research that
they have undertaken,
give their opinions and
justify them.

34. El simbolismo

36. El concierto
republicano
• Los colores
• La bandera anarquista
• La bandera republicana
• La FAI (Federación
Anarquista Ibérica)
• La composición del
público
• “Para atrás ni para tomar
impulso”
• Una ideología compartida
• El himno de la República
(el himno de Riego)
• El uso de la música
• El número de la bandera

38. El concierto
republicano
• Los colores
• La bandera anarquista
• La bandera republicana
• La FAI (Federación
Anarquista Ibérica)
• La composición del
público
• “Para atrás ni para tomar
impulso”
• Una ideología compartida
• El himno de la República
(el himno de Riego)
• El uso de la música

39. El concierto
nacionalista
• Los colores
• La bandera nacionalista
• Las banderas de los
aliados ( el fascismo
italiano y el nazismo
alemán)
• La composición del
público (soldados y
prisioneros)
• "La República va al Doctor"
• Los uniformes
• La bandera republicana

40. El número de la
bandera
• "La República va al Doctor”
‟ miliciana republicana y
bolchevique
• El uso de la bandera
• Las dolencias de los
actores
• La reacción del público
• La música
• El papel de la mujer

42. “La Repúblicana va al doctor”
En la zona republicana, el tono de la actuación es de
una reverencia irrefutable; por otra parte, en la zona
nacional, el “número de la bandera”, titulado “La
República va al doctor” denigra los ideales de parte
del pueblo español además de incitar el alboroto de
los brigadistas internacionales en el público. Al
protestar la crueldad inherente al número y al
compadecer a los brigadistas, Carmela, embozada de
la bandera tricolor, es asesinada por un nacional. El
simbolismo resulta patente: la violencia y la fuerza
militar puso fin a la República y a la democracia en
España.

43. Los malestares sufridos por los personajes
principales

45. En la película, la mera presencia fascista corroe y
corrompe: la comida, que en el frente de Aragón se
utiliza para informar al espectador de la camaradería
entre los actores, en la zona nacional produce
malestar en vez de alimentar; el gato que come
Paulino creyendo que es conejo, o el vino convertido
en vinagre que encuentra en la casa del alcalde, son
muestras tangibles del proceso de desintegración del
sueño republicano. Esa desintegración se refuerza por
el efecto corruptor de las tropas nacionales en el
pueblo: convierten la escuela en cárcel política y
corrompen la noción de aprendizaje al igualarla con el
más flagrante adoctrinamiento.

47. "Si los fascistas comen así todos los
días,hemos perdido la guerra,
seguro"
Carmela, con arreglo a esta afirmación,
sentencia la victoria del bando nacional,
revelando implícitamente, la superioridad
logística de sus captores. Y su mismo cautiverio
anuncia la victoria del enemigo tras el fatal
desenlace.

48. La música y el simbolismo
Las canciones centrales de la película
1)El himno de Riego (resistencia)
2)Mi Jaca (censura/propaganda)
La batalla de símbolos en el teatro, al
final de la película: los presos polacos
cantan ¡Ay, Carmela! y los soldados
fascista el Cara al sol.

50. En toda la película, Gustavette usa el pizarrón para
hablar desde que era mudo y no podía expresar sus
pensamientos sin éste. Durante la muerte de Carmela
(vestida con la bandera republicana), Gustavette grita
con agonía: “¡Ay Carmela!” y se oye su voz por
primera vez. Como resultado, Gustavette no necesita
más el pizarrón como un apoyo e irónicamente toma
el lugar de la lápida de la tumba de Carmela.

51. SAMPLE ESSAY QUESTIONS:
Literature and the arts
1. Take the main character or characters from your chosen book, play or film. How does
this character/these characters develop in the work, do you think?
2. Choose an extract from the book play or film which you have studied. How important
is this extract for the development of the work do you think?
3. What aspects of the book play or film which you have studied did you find particularly
interesting? Why is that the case?
4. What message does your chosen book play or film still have for today’s society? How
important is this message do you think? (June 2011)
5. Discuss one of the most important themes in the book play or film which you have
studied. What does the author/director want to say do you think?
Evalúa las técnicas estilísticas del libro, de la obra de teatro o de la película que has
estudiado. ¿Hasta qué punto contribuyen al éxito de la obra? (June 2010)

54. Choose an extract from the
book play or film which you
have studied. How important
is this extract for the
development of the work do
you think?
(240-270 words)

56. La mujer
La política

57. Muchas de la películas dirigidas por Saura están
llenas de referencias a la vida política española.
Se ha dicho que Saura prefiere trabajar con
mujeres. Escoge una película dirigida por Saura
con una protagonista feminina fuerte. Describe
el papel de esta mujer y evalúa su importancia.
1
2
¿Cuál es el tema principal de la obra que has
estudiado? ¿Qué relevanica tiene para nosotros
hoy?
3
(240-270 words)

58. Saura nunca quiso poner
la política en el primer
plano de su obra
¿Qué significa …..?

60. Pero nosotros somos artistas nunca hemos
mezclado la política en nuestro espectáculo.

61. Los personajes
Paulino + Carmela: unos perdedores por
partida doble, por artistas de tercera
categoría y por estar en el bando
republicano, aunque sin una conciencia
política clara.
Carmela: una mujer sencilla, sin mucha
cultura, pero con gran corazón, incapaz de
traicionar sus sentimientos.
Paulino: parece tener claro que cualquier
cosa vale para salvar la vida.

63. SAMPLE ESSAY QUESTIONS:
Literature and the arts
1. Take the main character or characters from your chosen book, play or film. How does
this character/these characters develop in the work, do you think?
2. Choose an extract from the book play or film which you have studied. How important
is this extract for the development of the work do you think?
3. What aspects of the book play or film which you have studied did you find particularly
interesting? Why is that the case?
4. What message does your chosen book play or film still have for today’s society? How
important is this message do you think? (June 2011)
5. Discuss one of the most important themes in the book play or film which you have
studied. What does the author/director want to say do you think?
Evalúa las técnicas estilísticas del libro, de la obra de teatro o de la película que has
estudiado. ¿Hasta qué punto contribuyen al éxito de la obra? (June 2010)

65. La mujer

69. En la película poco a poco crece la indignación de Carmela sobre todo
durante el “número de la bandera” que representa una burla de la
bandera republicana y una cruel humillación para los brigadistas.
Carmela se rebela, no por ideas políticas, sino por un impulso de
humanidad hacia los condenados a muerte. Su propio temperamento,
la mujer folklórica, impulsiva e irreflexiva, pero, ante todo, mujer del
pueblo, la lleva a unirse al canto de los milicianos antifascistas y
entonar con ellos la canción popular republicana ¡Ay, Carmela! que
acabará finalmente con su vida.

70. SAMPLE ESSAY QUESTIONS:
Literature and the arts
1. Take the main character or characters from your chosen book, play or film. How does
this character/these characters develop in the work, do you think?
2. Choose an extract from the book play or film which you have studied. How important
is this extract for the development of the work do you think?
3. What aspects of the book play or film which you have studied did you find particularly
interesting? Why is that the case?
4. What message does your chosen book play or film still have for today’s society? How
important is this message do you think? (June 2011)
5. Discuss one of the most important themes in the book play or film which you have
studied. What does the author/director want to say do you think?

71. SAMPLE ESSAY QUESTIONS:
Literature and the arts
1. Take the main character or characters from your chosen book, play or film. How does
this character/these characters develop in the work, do you think?
2. Choose an extract from the book play or film which you have studied. How important
is this extract for the development of the work do you think?
3. What aspects of the book play or film which you have studied did you find particularly
interesting? Why is that the case?
4. What message does your chosen book play or film still have for today’s society? How
important is this message do you think? (June 2011)
5. Discuss one of the most important themes in the book play or film which you have
studied. What does the author/director want to say do you think?

73. La política

74. SAMPLE ESSAY QUESTIONS:
Literature and the arts
1. Take the main character or characters from your chosen book, play or film. How does
this character/these characters develop in the work, do you think?
2. Choose an extract from the book play or film which you have studied. How important
is this extract for the development of the work do you think?
3. What aspects of the book play or film which you have studied did you find particularly
interesting? Why is that the case?
4. What message does your chosen book play or film still have for today’s society? How
important is this message do you think? (June 2011)
5. Discuss one of the most important themes in the book play or film which you have
studied. What does the author/director want to say do you think?

75. SAMPLE ESSAY QUESTIONS:
Literature and the arts
1. Take the main character or characters from your chosen book, play or film. How does
this character/these characters develop in the work, do you think?
2. Choose an extract from the book play or film which you have studied. How important
is this extract for the development of the work do you think?
3. What aspects of the book play or film which you have studied did you find particularly
interesting? Why is that the case?
4. What message does your chosen book play or film still have for today’s society? How
important is this message do you think? (June 2011)
5. Discuss one of the most important themes in the book play or film which you have
studied. What does the author/director want to say do you think?

77. Students are expected to
analyse the research that
they have undertaken,
give their opinions and
justify them.