The Bridge of San Luis Rey
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Part 1: Perhaps an Accident Part 2: The Marquesa de Montemayor Part 3: Esteban Part 4: Uncle Pio Part 5: Perhaps an Intention
Themes
All Themes Acts of God and Individual Will Love and Obsession Dogma vs. Altruism Art and Memory Grief and Loss
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Brother Juniper Doña María Doña Clara / Condesa Clara Camila Perichole / Micaela Villegas Uncle Pio Pepita Viceroy Andrés The Abbess Esteban Manuel Archbishop of Lima Captain Alvarado
Symbols
All Symbols The Bridge of San Luis Rey Churches and Abbeys
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices Allusions Dialect Dramatic Irony Ethos Flashbacks Foil Frame Story Genre Imagery Irony Logos Metaphors Mood Motifs Oxymorons Pathos Satire Setting Similes Situational Irony Style Tone
Download PDF
Download Teacher Edition
The LitCharts.com logo.
Sign In Sign up for A+
The LitCharts.com logo.
AI Tools
  • Ask LitCharts AI
  • Discussion Question Generator
  • Essay Prompt Generator
  • Quiz Question Generator
Guides Guides
  • Literature Guides
  • Poetry Guides
  • Shakespeare Translations
  • Literary Terms
Sign In Sign up for A+ Sign up

The Bridge of San Luis Rey

by

Thornton Wilder

Upgrade to A+
Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
  • Part 1: Perhaps an Accident
  • Part 2: The Marquesa de Montemayor
  • Part 3: Esteban
  • Part 4: Uncle Pio
  • Part 5: Perhaps an Intention
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Acts of God and Individual Will Theme Icon
    Acts of God and Individual Will
  • Love and Obsession Theme Icon
    Love and Obsession
  • Dogma vs. Altruism Theme Icon
    Dogma vs. Altruism
  • Art and Memory Theme Icon
    Art and Memory
  • Grief and Loss Theme Icon
    Grief and Loss
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Brother Juniper
  • Doña María
  • Doña Clara / Condesa Clara
  • Camila Perichole / Micaela Villegas
  • Uncle Pio
  • Pepita
  • Viceroy Andrés
  • The Abbess
  • Esteban
  • Manuel
  • Archbishop of Lima
  • Captain Alvarado
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • The Bridge of San Luis Rey Symbol Icon
    The Bridge of San Luis Rey
  • Churches and Abbeys Symbol Icon
    Churches and Abbeys
Lit Devices
  • All Literary Devices
  • Allusions
  • Dialect
  • Dramatic Irony
  • Ethos
  • Flashbacks
  • Foil
  • Frame Story
  • Genre
  • Imagery
  • Irony
  • Logos
  • Metaphors
  • Mood
  • Motifs
  • Oxymorons
  • Pathos
  • Satire
  • Setting
  • Similes
  • Situational Irony
  • Style
  • Tone
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
Download this Chart (PDF)
Download the Teacher Edition
Download this Chart (PDF)

The Bridge of San Luis Rey Study Guide

It's easy to cite LitCharts for use in academic papers and reports.


MLA

Connelly, Irene. "The Bridge of San Luis Rey." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 17 Nov 2018. Web. 18 Jun 2025.


Chicago

Connelly, Irene. "The Bridge of San Luis Rey." LitCharts LLC, November 17, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2025. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-bridge-of-san-luis-rey.

Company
About Us Our Story Jobs
Support
Help Center Contact Us
Connect
Facebook Twitter
Legal
Terms of Service Privacy Policy Privacy Request
Home About Contact Help
Copyright © 2025 All Rights Reserved
Terms Privacy Privacy Request
The LitCharts.com logo.
Save time. Stress less.
Sign up!
  • AI Tools for on-demand study help and teaching prep.
  • Quote explanations, with page numbers, for over 47,749 quotes.
  • PDF downloads of all 2,148 LitCharts guides.
  • Expert analysis to take your reading to the next level.
  • Advanced search to help you find exactly what you're looking for.
  • Quizzes, saving guides, requests, plus so much more.
  • Expert analysis to take your reading to the next level.
  • Advanced search to help you find exactly what you're looking for.
  • Quizzes, saving guides, requests, plus so much more.
The LitCharts.com logo.
Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account
You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes.

or

Already have an account? Sign in
Complete your free account to request a guide
Already have an account? Sign in
The LitCharts.com logo.
Get your answer with a free account
You’ll also get tons of other helpful features, including free quizzes and saving guides.

or

Already have an account? Sign in
Last step: complete your free account
Already have an account? Sign in
The LitCharts.com logo.
Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account.
You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles.

or

Already have an account? Sign in
Complete your free account to access notes and highlights
Already have an account? Sign in
The LitCharts.com logo.
Saving guides requires a free LitCharts account
Easily access your saved guides anytime.

or

Already have an account? Sign in
Complete your free account to save guides
Already have an account? Sign in