Chapter 5 - 1

Chapter 5

Vocabulary Questions

01 Literature

Ernest Hemingway, 1899-1961

Ernest Hemingway was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954.

His simple, terse language had a significant effect on 20th-century British and American fiction.

His topics, which included hunting, fishing, bull fighting, war, and the lonely lives of the elderly, often reflected his own personal experiences.

Together, the style and subjects of his works formed a very distinctive voice that is immediately identifiable to readers.

Hemingway’s unique style of prose contributed to his reputation as a great writer.

Through his writing, his main goal was to present an account as objectively as he could.

He felt that the most effective way to realize this goal was through the use of straight forward language.

His style was free of any embellishment and wordiness.

His style is best reflected through his response to criticism from William Faulkner.

Referring to his writing style, he wrote: “Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?”

Hemingway’s style consisted of simple nouns and verbs with little reliance upon modifiers Hemingway’s mastery of this style resulted in prose that was simple, yet deeply emotional, supplemented with uncomplicated, natural dialogue. Hemingway’s topics included the many struggles that humans often experience.

For Hemingway, the world was defined by strife: full of chaos, moral decisions and ambiguous moral boundaries, and inevitable pain.

Yet Hemingway’s writing was hopeful rather than depressing, and he believed that any situation could be endured if one had courage, perseverance, honor, and dignity.

These came to be known as “the Hemingway code” and were prevalent themes through his work.

This is best shown in The Old Man and the Sea, in which Santiago, a fisherman, catches a fish he had long been struggling to catch.

However, on his way back home, his fish is suddenly eaten by sharks.

Even though Santiago suffers terribly, his courage and bravery allow him to endure.

Hemingway explores many similar themes in another of his popular topics: the lives of the elderly.

To Hemingway, the elderly symbolized uncertainty and loneliness.

“A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” is a simple short story about an old man who seeks refuge in a cafe until the late hours of the night.

An observant waiter spots the man and speculates that the old man comes to the cafe for the light and the cleanness.

These can be understood as metaphors: the old man wants happiness and order in life.

Then, through a short monologue by the waiter, Hemingway shows that the waiter feels the same feeling as the old man: he too is reluctant to leave a place of happiness and to disappear into the night.

In its simplicity, the story touches upon very deep human emotions and allows the reader to connect with unique, deep characters.