This research paper will analyze style and theme in two of Ernest Hemingway 's short stories, "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" and "The Big Two-Hearted River," and two novels, The Sun Also Rises and Green Hills of Africa.1
"The Snows of Kilimanjaro" is about an author named Harry, who is lying on the African plain and dying of gangrene. "The Big Two-Hearted River" is about an ex-World War I soldier, Nick, who is trying to put his life back together after the war. Similarly, The Sun Also Rises involves an ex-soldier who is coping with a personal injury and seeks love with a woman named Brett Ashley. Lastly, Green Hills of Africa, is a non-fiction story about Hemingway hunting in Africa. Hemingway visited Africa in 1923. This is the only book that is completely autobiographical. In the four works reviewed, Ernest Hemingway has two themes, one about the self and another about his interpretation of a hero, and uses several techniques such as symbolism, first person narrative, and ambiguity that define his style of writing.
Analysis of all of Hemingway 's prose reveals many themes. Two themes though stand out in the four works reviewed for this paper. One of them is that the main character (usually the hero) must assert the self, has a fear of failure, and attacks those things which threaten the successful assertion of the self. "Assertion of the self in the stories usually takes the form of the assertion of the masculine principle." In Green, Hemingway exerts his masculinity by
"Hills like White Elephants" is not the normal story where you have a beginning, middle and end. Hemingway gave just enough information so that readers could draw their own conclusions. The entire story encompasses a conversation between two lovers and leaves the reader with more questions than answers. Ernest Hemingway was a brilliant writer. People that study Hemingway's works try to gain insight and draw natural conclusions about Hemingway and his life. Hemingway led a difficult life full of martial affairs and misfortune. Some of these experiences have set the foundation for Hemingway's greatest works. This essay will analyze the influence
Benson, Jackson, J. The Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway Critical Essays. Durham: Duke University Press, 1975. Print.
There are several parallels between the protagonist, Harry, from "The Snows of Kilimanjaro” and its author Ernest Hemingway. To begin with, the story takes place during a hunting escapade in the African wilderness, an activity Hemingway himself enjoyed. Additionally, Harry recalls of his numerous accounts of Paris and the time he resided there; Ernest spent a great portion of his life in France and composed many of his most renowned literary works there. Similarly, the main character struggles with infidelity and alcoholism, which affect his ability to write and ultimately hinder him from fulfilling his true purpose in life. These difficulties very tramatically influenced the life and works of Ernest Hemingway; both he and his character realized
Ernest Hemingway’s writing reflects the historical landscape and artistic movements of his time. As the world changed, the flourishing age of Victorian writing transformed into the era of Modernism. One can see this noticeable change through the structure of Hemingway’s signature writing style, as well as his focus on the great internal and external struggles presented at the turn of the century. Hemingway’s In Our Time fits cohesively within the expression of visual art, poetry, and prose--including the artist’s willingness to break out of the typical structure and traditional form of storytelling.
Ernest Hemingway was an intricate and dedicated writer who devoted a significant portion of his life to writing multiple genres of stories. Throughout his stories, the similarities in his style and technique are easily noted and identified. Two of the short stories he wrote contain themes and motifs that specifically explain the plotline. The first story, “The Snows of Kilimanjaro,” sets its scene in the depths of a desolate area in Africa, where the main characters, Harry and his wife, decide to make their home. After living there for a few years, Harry ventures out and falls into a thorn bush, thus infecting his leg with gangrene. A few weeks later, he finds himself on the brink between life and death, unable to treat such a severe
It is my claim that Ernest Hemingway's piece, "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" is most effective at showing how trivial life can be as it regards to what people think is needed to be successful in life for three main reasons. The reasons are that people put too much time into achieving unrealistic goals, people get too involved in obtaining their goals and do not appreciate what they have, and people have the wrong idea about success and can not obtain true success with the wrong vision of what it is. Some people put too much time into achieving their unrealistic goals, and never realize them and then end up wasting most of their life and lively hood in search of their personal success. Those same people also never stop to appreciate what they
Hemingway’s novel The Sun Also Rises has his male characters struggling with what it means to be a man in the post-war world. With this struggle one the major themes in the novel emits, masculine identity. Many of these “Lost Generation” men returned from that war in dissatisfaction with their life, the main characters of Hemingway’s novel are found among them. His main characters find themselves drifting, roaming around France and Spain, at a loss for something meaningful in their lives. The characters relate to each other in completely shallow ways, often ambiguously saying one thing, while meaning another. The Sun Also Rises first person narration offers few clues to the real meaning of his characters’ interactions with each other. The
Ernest Hemingway has a very unique style of writing. He captures the readers’ attention with strong imagery, metaphors, and symbolism. In both the Sun Also Rises and Hills Like White Elephants, Hemingway uses a simple writing style that allows the audience to have a clear image of the main argument. The reader must pay very close attention to the dialogue, as different subliminal messages are exposed throughout the story. Also, in both stories the women protagonist is the main source of the argument.
The story, ‘The Snows of Mount Kilimanjaro,’ by Ernest Hemingway opens up with a description of Mount Kilimanjaro. Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa (Downie 1). The mountain is said to be where God resides, high up on the mountain. Different themes like relationships and death flood the story. It starts with the main character Harry, and his wife stranded on the mountain. Hemmingway utilizes different literary devices to bring out these themes, with the main character facing his last moments alive. The story is full of powerful literary devices. However, it mostly portrays symbolism and flashback.
Earnest Hemingway is one of Americas foremost authors. His many works, their style, themes and parallels to his actual life have been the focus of millions of people as his writing style set him apart from all other authors. Many conclusions and parallels can be derived from Earnest Hemingway's works. In the three stories I review, ?Hills Like White Elephants?, ?Indian Camp? and ?A Clean, Well-lighted Place? we will be covering how Hemingway uses foreigners, the service industry and females as the backbones of these stories. These techniques play such a critical role in the following stories that Hemingway would be unable to move the plot or character development forward without them.
The characters in Hemingway’s stories reveal much about how he feels about men and the role they should play in society. Most of Hemingway’s male characters can be split into one of two groups. The first of which is the “Code” Hero. This is the tough, macho guy who chooses to live his life by following a “code of
One of the most important themes, masculinity, is portrayed directly at the start of Hemingway's short story collection starting with "Indian Camp." In the first short story the reader sees the novels protagonist, Nick Adams', "response to violence and suffering inflicted on others will ultimately define his own sense of masculinity" (Frazier). Witnessing this dramatic event at such a young age will define Nick's life and change the way he views certain aspects of life just from watching a woman give birth. Nick's maturity and responsibility are also themes that are greatly exploited just as well as his masculinity.
The characters in Hemingway’s stories reveal much about how he feels about men and the role they should play in society. Most of Hemingway’s male characters can be split into one of two groups. The first of which is the “Code” Hero. This is the tough, macho guy who chooses to live his life by following a “code of honor,
Many authors, critics, and everyday social readers define Ernest Hemingway as the prime example of 20th century American literature. Hemingway’s works transcend time itself, so that even readers today analyze and criticize his works. His works, of course, have drawn praises and animosity from all corners of the globe. Critics often applause Hemingway on his short simple prose, for which many people recognize him for. His writing builds upon the masterful usage of “short, simple words and short, simple sentences” (Wagner, 3) to create clear and easy to
There is perhaps no greater an example of exemplary Modernist writing than that of Ernest Hemingway. The Modernist movement defined itself with its opposition towards traditional American values. With a tendency to suggest rather than state, show rather than tell, and focus on questions rather than answers, the Modernist movement changed the course of American Literature, and one of the most influential members of that movement was Hemingway. Amongst a sea of notable works, Hemingway's “Snows of Kilimanjaro” serve as a testament to the subtle craft of the Modernist style of writing. The symbolism and dialogue within the “Snows of Kilimanjaro” is superb and helps reinforce the Modernist themes of Hemingway's writing. Hemingway frames Harry's wife in a way that negatively equates her with American wealth. Hemingway then suggests that such wealth ruins the natural gifts of a writer, symbolized through Harry's gangrene. This is further expanded upon with Harry's salvation in realizing that his writing is what was truly important, a salvation symbolized within the snow leopard and the mountains of Kilimanjaro themselves. Hemingway's symbolism is well constructed, and helps to illustrate the theme of the dangers of corrosion under wealth, while expressing salvation in purpose.