Hemingway's Hills Like White Elephants and the Midterm

Above is a picture of the Ebro River Valley, the setting of Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants."  Below is a picture of a couple from the 1920s: the actors Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks.

Today we went over some of the short answer questions.  Friday we will look at more specific questions information for the fill-in-the-blanks and multiple choices.

In the meantime, here are a few questions for "Hills Like White Elephants."

-- Discuss the balance of power in this story.  Where does it fall by the end of the story?

-- Are Jig and the American round or flat characters?  Justify your answer.

-- Compare Jig and the American to another couple we've encountered so far this semester.  What does this comparison tell you about the theme of men vs. women?  Or about the theme of relationships?

-- What is your stance on abortion?  How does this affect your reading of "Hills Like White Elephants"?

-- Does the narrator in "Hills Like White Elephants" seem to judge his characters?  Why?  Why not?

-- Do you want the narrator to take sides in a story?  Why?  Why not?

-- Did Jig have an abortion or not?  Justify your reasoning.

-- Did Jig and the American stay together?  Justify your reasoning.


Let's look at a few more general questions for the short answers.  Try to add more specific information, too.

-- Compare stories in first person narration ("The Red Convertible" and "Everyday Use") to stories in third person (the folktales, "The Necklace," "Love in LA," and "Hills Like White Elephants").  Which type of narration seems more effective?  Why?

-- What role does symbolism play in plays and stories?

-- What role does foreshadowing play in plays and stories?

-- Discuss the endings of three stories and/or plays.  Why do they satisfy you?  Why do they not satisfy you?

-- Discuss the beginnings of three stories and/or plays.  Why do they intrigue you?  How do they prepare you for the rest of the story or play?  How do they not prepare you?

These questions will prepare you for the extra credit.

-- List five things you learned from keeping a journal this semester.  Why did you choose these things?

-- Learn five things you learned from class lecture and discussion.  Why did you choose these things?

-- List five characteristics of literature.  Why did you choose them?