The Sun Also Rises · Chapter
XI explained
Jake and Bill travel by bus from Pamplona to Burguete for a fishing trip, sharing the journey with friendly Basque peasants and enjoying the changing landscape from hot, barren hills to cool, green mountains.
What happens
Jake and Bill travel by bus from Pamplona to Burguete for a fishing trip, sharing the journey with friendly Basque peasants and enjoying the changing landscape from hot, barren hills to cool, green mountains. They stop at a posada for drinks, interact with a Basque who had lived in America, and eventually arrive in Burguete, where they check into an inn and prepare for their fishing excursion.
Themes in this chapter
Nature and Escape
The chapter emphasizes the contrast between the hot, barren plains and the cool, green mountains of Burguete, offering Jake and Bill a retreat from the complexities of Paris and Pamplona.
Expatriation and Alienation
The encounter with the old Basque who lived in America for fifteen years underscores the theme of expatriation, as he returns to Spain but remains connected to his American past.
Characters to notice
- Jake Barnes
Narrates the journey to Burguete, interacts with Basques and other passengers, and arranges lodging at the inn.
- Bill Gorton
Travels with Jake, plays the piano at the inn, and complains about the cold weather in Burguete.
- Robert Cohn
Sees Jake and Bill off at the bus in Pamplona, waving goodbye as they depart.
Key passages
“There's plenty if you can pay for it.”
You can get anything you want in America, as long as you have the money.
Jake responds to the old Basque's comment about wine not being available in America, highlighting the theme of materialism and accessibility.
“It's cold up here.”
The temperature is very low at this altitude.
Bill remarks on the cold weather as they approach Burguete, contrasting with the heat of Pamplona.