[2] While there, he became involved in the Greek language dispute, taking the side of the demoticists over the supporters of the katharevousa.

After his graduation in 1908 he worked for some time as a teacher in Burgas, before returning to Greece and teaching in Amaliada and Athens.

It was during his Parisian studies that he became a Marxist and reviewed his ideas on poetry in theory and in practice.

During the German Occupation of Greece, he took part in the resistance movement as a member of the National Liberation Front (EAM).

Varnalis published his first poetic work at the Greek-language Plovdiv newspaper News of Aimos, under the pen name Figeus (Φηγεύς).