Xinyun Xiao
Professor: Caroline Burke
WRT 102.46
27 February 2014
Analysis About Hemingway’s Writing skills
After reading chapter two-four of the Thoughtful Writing by Dr. Hammond, I can infer three useful and powerful writing skills from the book. These are "telling fact”, “using quality statement” and “making readers draw inferences from words". I may choose this quote, which from Ernest Hemingway on Writing "I am trying to make, before I get through, a picture of the whole world---or as much of it as I have seen. Boiling it down always, rather than spreading it out thin." A powerful picture is more than an image; it can arouse viewer’s interest and make them meditate on it as well. In my opinion, Hemingway did “make a picture of the whole world,” in his novel Big Two-Hearted River, by "telling fact”, “using quality statement” and “making readers draw inferences from his words ", rather than just simply describe what he wants to say.
Hemingway uses “telling fact”, which helps him to make the story clear and vivid for the reader by using details and comparisons. According to what Dr. Hammond mentioned on page twelve Chapter two, “There are three ways to describe a person or a place by giving a detail, by making a comparison, or by stating a quality. Details consistently give a reader something to think about. The second way to describe, offering a comparison, can be helpful.” There are lots of “telling facts” were used in Big Two-Hearted River. In Big Two-Hearted River “The thirteen saloons that had lined the one street of Seney had not left a trace. The stone was chipped and split by the fire. It was all that was left of the town of Seney. Even the surface had been burned off the ground.” (Hemingway, 177) Here, Hemingway us...
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...oppers are black now is they might be adapted to their new, blackened surroundings because of the fire of the war. Also, Nick wondered how long they will stay like that, I may infer that these grasshoppers represent Nick and other soldiers who become hardened by the war experience because they are in a tough environment. No one knows how long they will remain hardened either.
In conclusion, Hemingway uses three writing skills, which are "telling fact”, “using quality statement” and “drawing inferences to readers". They make his story more incisive and vivid. After reading his Big Two-Hearted River, I do have a clear idea about what he was writing about, and when I read the story, what he describes really showed up as some pictures in my brain. What I learned from Hemingway’s novel and Dr. Hammond’s book is to use those three powerful skills into my future writing.
Hemingway presents takes the several literary styles to present this short story. Hemingway’s use of Foreshadowing, Pathos, Imagery and Personification allows the reader to enter the true context of the frustration and struggle that the couples face. Although written in the 1920’s it the presents a modern day conflict of communication that millions of couples face. At first glance the beautiful landscape of the Barcelonian hillside in which Jig refers to frequently throughout the text appears to have taken the form of White Elephants. The Americans’ response to Jigs’ observation was less than enthusiastic as he provides a brief comment and continues on with his cerveza. This was but the first of the many verbal jousts to come between Jig and the American. The metaphorical inferences in those verbal confrontations slowly uncover the couple’s dilemma and why they may be on the waiting for the train to Madrid.
Hemingway’s narrative technique, then, is characterized by a curt style that emphasizes objectivity through highly selected details, flat and neutral diction, and simple declarative sentences capable of ironic understatements; by naturalistic presentation of actions and facts, with no attempt of any kind by the author to influence the reader; by heavy reliance on dramatic dialogue of clipped, scrappy forms for building plot and character; and by a sense of connection between some different stories so that a general understanding of all is indispensable to a better understanding of each. He thus makes the surface details suggest rather than tell everything they have to tell, hence the strength of his “iceberg.” His short stories, accordingly, deserve the reader’s second or even third reading.
Cirino, Mark. “Hemingway’s ‘Big Two-Hearted River’: Nick’s Strategy and the Psychology of Mental Control.” Papers on Language and Literature 47, no. 2 (2011): 115-140. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=60914786&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Meter, M. An Analysis of the Writing Style of Ernest Hemingway. Texas: Texas College of Arts and Industries, 2003.
It was Ernest Hemingway’s belief that “for a true writer each book should be a new beginning where he tries again for something that is beyond attainment” (Nobel Prize Speech). This means that each time someone puts pen to paper, he should strive for such realness that it seems unreal. Rhetoric, or use of language, is the most critical aspect of writing. This is because a skilled use of rhetoric not only allows the writer to convey his ideas to an audience, but also manipulate the way the audience perceives them. Hemingway is extremely well-known for his use of rhetoric, which includes his figurative language, syntax, and other types of literary devices. Hemingway uses syntax, figurative language, and the placement of his stories and chapters
reading Hemingway’s works is to think that because the writing is simple the meaning behind it
“The plain was rich with crops; there were many orchards of fruit trees...but the nights were cool and there was not the feeling of a storm coming.'; The elaboration and choice of diction in this book is extraordinary. Hemingway uses so many words to describe the little things in this book. “There was a great splashing and I saw the starshells go up and burst...biting his arm, the stump of his leg twitching,'; is another great example of how he uses much elaboration in the novel.
Hemingway’s dialogue reveals the difficult nature of a relationship between a man and a woman, as it focusses on incompatibility of their relationship and their different values on abortion. The reader witnesses a deep conflict between them on the issue as the decision will affect both their relationship and the rest of their lives.
Hemingway packed plenty of theme, symbolism, and overall meaning into this short story. However, the story would not have been nearly as meaningful had it been written from another point of view.
When a writer picks up their pen and paper, begins one of the most personal and cathartic experiences in their lives, and forms this creation, this seemingly incoherent sets of words and phrases that, read without any critical thinking, any form of analysis or reflexion, can be easily misconstrued as worthless or empty. When one reads an author’s work, in any shape or form, what floats off of the ink of the paper and implants itself in our minds is the author’s personality, their style. Reading any of the greats, many would be able to spot the minute details that separates each author from another; whether it be their use of dialogue, their complex descriptions, their syntax, or their tone. When reading an excerpt of Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast one could easily dissect the work, pick apart each significant moment from Hemingway’s life and analyze it in order to form their own idea of the author’s voice, of his identity. Ernest Hemingway’s writing immediately comes across as rather familiar in one sense. His vocabulary is not all that complicated, his layout is rather straightforward, and it is presented in a simplistic form. While he may meander into seemingly unnecessary detail, his work can be easily read. It is when one looks deeper into the work, examines the techniques Hemingway uses to create this comfortable aura surrounding his body of work, that one begins to lift much more complex thoughts and ideas. Hemingway’s tone is stark, unsympathetic, his details are precise and explored in depth, and he organizes his thoughts with clarity and focus. All of this is presented in A Moveable Feast with expertise every writer dreams to achieve. While Hemingway’s style may seem simplistic on the surface, what lies below is a layered...
Hemingway, Ernest. “Big Two Hearted River.” In Our Time. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1970.
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.
Hemingway was very good at stating impressive amount of things in a one short sentence. “Hemingway’s mature style of writing short, declarative sentences developed at the Star”(Oliver 3). He acquired this skill from working at a Newspaper company. He uses minimal amount of words to make a powerful point. “Mr. and Mrs. Elliot tried very hard to have a baby” (1). This short sentence itself raises many questions and it states many things; the inability of the Mr. Elliot to satisfy his wife sexually or questioning Mr. Elliot sexual preference and as well as of Mrs. Elliot. “The liquor had all died out of him and left him alone” (171). This short line describes how lonely the character of Nick Adam feels and how sad he feels for the loss of her girl friend Marjorie. “‘Well, Doc,’ he said, ‘that’s a nice lot of timber you’ve stolen’” (7). This particular sentence has so much weight that it shakes th...
Hemingway has a very simple and straightforward writing style however his story lacks emotion. He makes the reader figure out the characters’ feelings by using dialogue. “...
Baker, Sheridan. "Hemingway?s Two-Hearted River." The Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway: Critical Essays. Ed. Jackson, J. Benson. Durham: Duke UP, 1975. 158.