Iconographic analysis of the covers of school editions of Don Quijote between the Second Republic and Francoism

Abstract

Don Quixote is the most recognized work of Spanish and universal literature, and teaching adaptations in schools are very important for children to understand their reading. Compulsory reading of the work during the period between the Second Republic and the Franco regime caused many school adaptations to suit their classroom teaching. This study focused on the graphic elements of the work from a communicative and iconographic perspective, allows through content analysis of a cataloged and representative sample of the covers of school adaptations, verify that the hard political interventionism that suffered the work according antagonistic dominant ideologies did not influence their design, because these spaces were not ideologically charged, despite being the first element of commercial persuasion of the book and its role motivate reading. Analytical data along with historical explain the existence of a commercial image of Quixote free of ideological connotations (on the cover), from his iconographic path, which we have not found significant differences from the two dominant ideologies. However, the politicization of the work contributed to Don Quixote became the national hero of children and adults and a universal benchmark of behavior full of great ethical and moral values.