“Hills Like White Elephants”

“Hills Like White Elephants”

Rhetorical/Literary Analysis:Say, Do, Mean

Introduction

1. Hook/Lead(General)
2. Background(Introduce the story, the author, and a short synopsis of the story)
3. Thesis(Specific) Theme+the rhetorical devices(You are proving how your theme gets developed through the author’s use of rhetoric.)

The human experience is sometimes a very complicated and intricate process. Many people are forced with making difficult decisions in life that not only impact them but others as well.  Ernest Hemingway was no stranger to making difficult and complicated decisions; after all, he was entrenched in two world wars and then went on to write about them. Later, he found himself in the battle to stay in love and keep a woman. Some of his most famous works of literature often times reflect the idea of making tough choices and the complexities of human relationships. In his short story, “Hills Like White Elephants”, Hemingway creates a plot where two characters are at odds with one another. They are faced with a horribly difficult decision that will impact both of their lives. While they enjoy the beautiful scenery of Northern Spain, they cannot[unique_solution]

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ignore the “elephant” in the room.  Hemingway allows his readers to think deeply about the choices we make as human beings and how relationships can often be a tangled mess. Hemingway creates these powerful themes through his use of imagery, syntax, and symbolism. These literary techniques allow the reader to become immersed in the story and to reflect upon their own relationships and how we communicate with one another.

Body:Very much like your rhetorical response on the notes

1. Transition(first, to begin, in addition to, moreover, therefore, etc.
2. Topic Sentence(should include the rhetoric and the reasoning of how it develops the theme)
3. Details/Analysis(Analysis = textual evidence and an explanation of how that develops the theme and why it is important):Use examples and direct passages from the text to prove the important themes. Analyze why these examples are important for the theme and to the overall understanding of the story.

Body Example:

In the story, the reader first sees the development of Hemingway’s theme in his use of imagery. In the very beginning of the story, Hemingway uses imagery to describe the setting, “The hills across the valley of Ebro were long and white. On this side there was no shade and no trees and the station was between two lines of rails in the sun”. Hemingway uses imagery to set the tone of the story and to allow the reader to see

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what is taking place. The two main characters are divided in their decision to have a child or to abort it. The two sides of the station and the two lines of rail allow the reader to see the divisiveness in the choice that the couple has to come together to make. By using imagery, the reader is able to see the importance of  communicating to make some of life’s most important decisions. In addition to the imagery that is used to create the setting, Hemingway also uses imagery when the girl is beginning to get frustrated with her companion:

The girl stood up and walked to the end of the station. Across, on the other side were fields of grain and trees along the banks of the Ebro. Far away, beyond the river, were mountains. The shadow of the cloud moved across the field of grain and she saw the river through the trees.

This allows the reader to see the two sides of the decision making process. In the beginning, Hemingway uses imagery to show one side that is not shaded, dry, and somewhat deserted which makes the reader think about the decision to abort the baby. On the other hand, he uses imagery the second time to show the beauty that is just on the other side of the tracks which makes the reader think about the miracle of life and the beautiful process of bringing a child into the world. Hemingway purposely uses the imagery to force the reader to think about the two decisions that the couple is faced with. This allows Hemingway to continue to force his readers to think about the power of communication within a relationship.

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Conclusion:

1. Restate thesis without repeating(Do not start with, In conclusion…)
2. Recap major points of the essay
3. Leave your reader thinking about the importance of the theme:CLINCH!
4. Do not add any new information to the conclusion!!!

Although Hemingway’s own life was tumultuous and complicated, his writing allows us to think deeply about the importance of making decisions and paying close attention to the relationships we keep. “Hills Like White Elephants” is a good example of the intricacies of human relationships and the power of making the right decisions. Although the traveling couple in the story never really resolve things, we are left with the everlasting thought that some of the challenges we face in life do not have easy answers and that in the end, life is truly a beautiful mess.