Elements of a short story
Abortion is a touchy subject, so why would such a great author like Ernest Hemingway himself write a short story over it? In a short story like this it is crucial to use multiple literary strategies and devices to make it a well-written piece. This story, "Hills Like White Elephants", is about a girl, Jig, and an American man who are both waiting at a train station while trying different beverages. Although not clearly stated, the two are fighting about abortion. The man wants her to have an abortion while the woman wants to marry and settle down. Hemingway uses several dynamic literary devices to make this a great piece of literature. In this story, the two characters are essentially the main subjects. They are not described in great depth, but much can be interpreted about their characteristics through there dialogue. Jig, the girl wants to keep the baby and go on to live a normal life. After the couple speaks about the decision on whether or not to keep the baby the woman skeptically asks if he thinks they will be all right and happy.(Hemingway 2) Through these words the reader can infer that she desires to have the baby. She also worries about the future
This story is based on a dilemma that involves love and the possible loss of a human life or creation of a family. This short story perfectly uses all types of literary elements to make it such an intense story. This is very true and seen throughout because of the way she does what the man wants in hopes that he will love her and start a family together. Conflict also serves as a huge part of this story as with most. On one side of the train station the land is fertile and green. Jig experiences a lack of love for herself while showing a great deal for the man she is will to give up the life of a baby for. (Johnston 1) The story itself does not seem to take more than thirty-five minutes. (1174) This really describes how the woman did expect something pleasant and now she has to decide between two things, neither of which fit her. In this case she is trying to convey what she really means without saying it directly. (Henningfeld 2) She wishes that the American will marry her, they will return home, and they will establish a family. In general, the main factor of the conflict is that the American man wants to end the life of an unborn baby. (1174) An example of the tension between the two is when the couple is talking about elephants and how the man tells jig he has never seen one and she snaps at him by hastily saying that he wouldn't have. (Johnston 3) There are multiple themes in this story but one is slightly more significant than the others.
Common topics in this essay:
Jig Hemingway,
Jig American,
Ernest Hemingway,
American Hemingway1,
Story Abortion,
Kyle Griffey,
train station,
short story,
White Elephants,
risk loss,
surroundings outside,
white elephants,
half story,
henningfeld 2,
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Acceptance Essays
