A Farewell to Arms as a Classic Literary Work

A Farewell to Arms as a Classic Literary Work

A classic literary work has been defined as a work "that lasts through generations because of its universality of theme, ageless symbolism, word choice and the ordering of detail." A Farewell to Arms, by Ernest Hemingway should be considered a classic literary work due to the universal themes, ageless symbolism, word choice, and story detail.

Although there were several themes in this book, a major theme seemed to dominate the story. This theme is the importance of love and loss in a male emale relationship. These two lovers were so absorbed in each other that they needed no one else in their life.

'Wouldn't you like to go on a trip somewhere by yourself, darling, and be with men and ski?'

'No. Why should I?'

'I should think sometimes you would want to see other people besides me.'

'Do you want to see other people?'

'No.'

'Neither do I' (Hemingway 297).

This conversation shows that Catherine loves him so much that she is willing to be alone just so he can be happy. At the same time, Mr. Henry would probably like to go skiing but would never dream of leaving Catherine alone. Death wins out over love. TO CLARIFY WHO IS SPEAKING, PUT THE QUOTE INTO YOUR PAPER JUST AS IT IS WRITTEN IN THE NOVEL. WHEN THE SPEAKER CHANGES BEGIN A NEW LINE. . THE PUNCTUATION SHOULD APPEAR AFTER THE PARENTHESES ONLY, NOT AFTER THE INSIDE THE QUOTE AND AFTER THE PAGE NUMBER.

'It is very dangerous.' The nurse went into the room and shut the door. I sat outside in the hall.

Everything was gone inside of me. I did not think. I could not think. I knew she was going to

die and I prayed that she would ...

... middle of paper ...

...d dialogue and story line makes this an easy to read and understandable ageless story.

Works Cited and Consulted

Bloom, Harold. Introduction. Ernest Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea, 1987.

Hemingway, Ernest. A Farewell to Arms. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1957.

Lewis, Wyndham. Twentieth Century Interpretations of A Farewell to Arms. Ed. Jay Gellens. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice, 1970. 56-64.

Young, Philip. Ernest Hemingway. New York: Rinehart, 1952.

Internet Sources

Ernest Hemingway in His Time. July, 1999. Universtiy of Delaware Library, Special Collections Department. 29 Dec. 2000

Flashback. July, 1999. The Atlantic Monthly. 29 Dec. 2000

Hemingway Campfire. February, 2000. Hemingway Nantucket Campfire. 5 Jan. 2001 http://hatteraslight.com/navy/Hemingwayhall/cas/448.html.