ESO IES ROQUETAS

January 2009
3rd
Questionnaire on "Four hearts with brake and reverse gear," a play by Henry Jard
iel Poncela released in 1936. 1. Summarizes the plot of the play as its division
into acts. Each side should take care of some ten to fifteen lines. 2. Explain
what the main theme and how it is. What other side point out issues or reasons?
How are in comedy? 3. Describe the main characters explaining what they do and w
hat are their main problems and motivations. Are the characters flat or round? M
ake a list of secondary characters distinguishing between servants, family and o
thers. 4. He cites several intriguing elements specific to the mystery appear he
re. 5. The book is divided into three acts. What is for that division? What dram
a is part of this text? What main features characterize it? 6. Gives several exa
mples of two different linguistic registers: the restricted code (specific to a
regional dialect or almost vulgar) often used by the servants and the code devel
oped (itself rather a cult level) used by the "gentlemen." 7. Do you think peopl
e would be happier if they got the method to be immortal? Why? Do you agree that
the prospect of certain death makes us live more intensely? 8. Analyze the humo
r of the work along the lines proposed in the activities you'll find at the end
of the book, Section 5 "Humor", paragraphs 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3. It occupies pages 1
4-16 of the appendix. 9. Evaluate the work as shown in the theater of the absurd
. What was this literary trend? When and where did it happen? Who were the promo
ters and what did they want? What elements, in your opinion, are present in the
work and why others seem old-fashioned? 10. Make a general critical and reasoned
opinion on the work, evaluating various aspects such as plot, characters, langu
age and humor. This will be arguing all the claims correctly. References: Jardie
l Poncela, Henry: Four hearts with brake and reverse. Barcelona, 2008. Editorial
Vicens Vives. Introduction and notes by Maria Jose Conde y Miguel Tristán. 119
pp. Notes on the humor given in class. Various reference works such as encyclop
edias, Internet or manuals of literature.
Department of Language and Literature 2008-2009 Castilian
Course