The Family of Pascual Duarte

"La familia de Pascual Duarte"
Spanish C1 writing exercise

Dive into the raw and gripping narrative of 'The Family of Pascual Duarte' by Camilo José Cela.

Pay attention to the hints!

Some vocabulary you may want to look up before or during this exercise: "masterpiece", "raw (uncooked)", "misfortune", "to intertwine", "echo" and "sharp (able to cut or pierce)"

I’ll give you some sentences to translate into Spanish

  • I’ll show you where you make mistakes
  • I’ll keep track of what you need to practise
  • Change my choices if you want
Start the exercise
How the test works

Here's a preview of the text for the writing challenge, when you're ready click the start button above:

The family of Pascual Duarte, Camilo José Cela's masterpiece, immersed me in a whirlwind of emotions. The really raw and uncompromising narrative of Pascual Duarte, marked by violence and misfortune, paints a striking portrait of the human condition. I experienced a mixture of repulsion and compassion for the protagonist, whose shocking actions are intertwined with the harsh reality of rural Spain. As I progressed through the story, the pages of this novel became a brutal mirror of human nature. Pascual, with his inner demons and his tragic destiny, became more than a literary character; he was an echo of the shadows that lurk in the depths of every soul. Cela's prose, sharp as a razor, manages to capture the essence of despair and loneliness, leaving a lasting impression on the fragility of existence and the complexities of family.

Clever stuff happening!