Ernest Miller HemingwayErnest Miller Hemingway

BirthBirth July 21, 1899July 21, 1899DeathDeath July 2, 1961July 2, 1961Place of BirthPlace of Birth Oak Park, IllinoisOak Park, Illinois

"A man can be destroyed but not defeated." The Old Man and the Sea, (1952)

BiographyBiography

Hemingway was born in Oak Park, Illinois. After Hemingway was born in Oak Park, Illinois. After graduating from high school, he worked briefly graduating from high school, he worked briefly as a newspaper reporter, before volunteering as as a newspaper reporter, before volunteering as an ambulance driver in Italy during World War I. an ambulance driver in Italy during World War I.

He later was severely wounded in this war after He later was severely wounded in this war after he transferred to the infantry. he transferred to the infantry.

After the war, he moved to Paris and was After the war, he moved to Paris and was influenced by Ezra Pound and Gertrude Stein. influenced by Ezra Pound and Gertrude Stein.

The Sun Also RisesThe Sun Also Rises(1926) was Hemingway's (1926) was Hemingway's first critically acclaimed novel. first critically acclaimed novel.

BiographyBiography

In it, he details members of In it, he details members of the "Lost the "Lost Generation",Generation", young disillusioned men of the post young disillusioned men of the post World War I era. World War I era.

A Farewell to ArmsA Farewell to Arms(1929) is regarded as (1929) is regarded as Hemingway's next important work. Hemingway's next important work.

For Whom the Bell TollsFor Whom the Bell Tolls(1940) chronicles the (1940) chronicles the loss of freedom in the Spanish Civil War. loss of freedom in the Spanish Civil War.

The Old Man and the SeaThe Old Man and the Sea(1953) is the famous (1953) is the famous short novel about a Cuban fisherman and his short novel about a Cuban fisherman and his quest to finally capture a huge fish. quest to finally capture a huge fish.

BiographyBiography

Hemingway spent time in Key West, Florida, Hemingway spent time in Key West, Florida, Spain, and Africa after 1927. Spain, and Africa after 1927.

He was a war correspondent from 1936-1939 He was a war correspondent from 1936-1939 during the Spanish Civil War. during the Spanish Civil War.

After the war, Hemingway moved to Havana, After the war, Hemingway moved to Havana, Cuba, and in 1958 moved to Idaho. Cuba, and in 1958 moved to Idaho.

His death was thought to be a suicide. His death was thought to be a suicide. Hemingway believed that to write well, you Hemingway believed that to write well, you

should experience first hand the subject should experience first hand the subject about which you write. about which you write.

BiographyBiography

Although his prose seems a bit simple Although his prose seems a bit simple to the uninitiated, it is actually a direct to the uninitiated, it is actually a direct way of telling a complex story. way of telling a complex story.

Hemingway is regarded as one of the Hemingway is regarded as one of the finest American authors.finest American authors.

He won a Pulitzer Prize in 1953(for He won a Pulitzer Prize in 1953(for Old Old Man and the SeaMan and the Sea) and the Nobel Prize for ) and the Nobel Prize for literature in 1954. literature in 1954.

A WRITER OF THE LOST A WRITER OF THE LOST GENERATIONGENERATION    

One of the foremost authors of the era between One of the foremost authors of the era between the two world wars, Hemingway in his early the two world wars, Hemingway in his early works depicted the lives of two types of people. works depicted the lives of two types of people.

One type consisted of men and women One type consisted of men and women deprived, by World War I, of faith in the moral deprived, by World War I, of faith in the moral values in which they had believed, and who lived values in which they had believed, and who lived with cynical disregard for anything but their own with cynical disregard for anything but their own emotional needs. emotional needs.

The other type were men of simple character The other type were men of simple character and primitive emotions, such as prizefighters and primitive emotions, such as prizefighters and bullfighters. and bullfighters.

A WRITER OF THE LOST A WRITER OF THE LOST GENERATION  GENERATION  

Hemingway wrote of their courageous and Hemingway wrote of their courageous and usually futile battles against circumstances. usually futile battles against circumstances.

His earliest works include the collections of short His earliest works include the collections of short stories stories Three Stories and Ten PoemsThree Stories and Ten Poems (1923), his (1923), his first work; first work; In Our TimeIn Our Time (1924), tales reflecting his (1924), tales reflecting his experiences as a youth in the northern Michigan experiences as a youth in the northern Michigan woods; woods; Men Without WomenMen Without Women (1927), a volume (1927), a volume that included “The Killers,” remarkable for its that included “The Killers,” remarkable for its description of impending doom; and description of impending doom; and Winner Winner Take NothingTake Nothing (1933), stories characterizing (1933), stories characterizing people in unfortunate circumstances in Europe. people in unfortunate circumstances in Europe.

A WRITER OF THE LOST A WRITER OF THE LOST GENERATION  GENERATION  

The novel that established Hemingway's reputation, The novel that established Hemingway's reputation, The The Sun Also RisesSun Also Rises (1926), is the story of a group of morally (1926), is the story of a group of morally irresponsible Americans and Britons living in France and irresponsible Americans and Britons living in France and Spain, members of the so-called lost generation of the Spain, members of the so-called lost generation of the post-World War I period. post-World War I period.

Hemingway's second important novel, Hemingway's second important novel, A Farewell to A Farewell to ArmsArms (1929), is the story of a deeply moving love affair in (1929), is the story of a deeply moving love affair in wartime Italy between an American officer in the Italian wartime Italy between an American officer in the Italian ambulance service and a British nurse. ambulance service and a British nurse.

The novel was followed by two nonfiction works, The novel was followed by two nonfiction works, Death Death in the Afternoonin the Afternoon (1932), prose pieces mainly about (1932), prose pieces mainly about bullfighting; and bullfighting; and Green Hills of AfricaGreen Hills of Africa (1935), accounts of (1935), accounts of big-game hunting.big-game hunting.

"All thinking men are atheists." "All thinking men are atheists." Page 8Page 8

War is one of the major themes examined in War is one of the major themes examined in A Farewell to ArmsA Farewell to Arms, as , as is religion. is religion.

In this scene, early in the novel, Frederic Henry is in the mess when In this scene, early in the novel, Frederic Henry is in the mess when some of the officers begin teasing the priest. some of the officers begin teasing the priest.

The major announces he is an atheist, and the priest tells Henry not The major announces he is an atheist, and the priest tells Henry not to read a certain book. to read a certain book.

The major says then that "all thinking men are atheists," illustrating The major says then that "all thinking men are atheists," illustrating the novel's interpretation of God and religion, and the larger view of the novel's interpretation of God and religion, and the larger view of the world in general.the world in general.

For Hemingway, God did not exist, and the universe For Hemingway, God did not exist, and the universe is indifferent. The resulting world is hostile and is indifferent. The resulting world is hostile and muddled, and without God and faith, moral values muddled, and without God and faith, moral values are also meaningless. The war is an example of this. are also meaningless. The war is an example of this.

WRITING STYLE  WRITING STYLE   Hemingway's economical writing style often seems Hemingway's economical writing style often seems

simple and almost childlikesimple and almost childlike, but his method is , but his method is calculated and used to calculated and used to complex effectcomplex effect. .

In his writing Hemingway provided detached descriptions In his writing Hemingway provided detached descriptions of action, using simple nouns and verbs to capture of action, using simple nouns and verbs to capture scenes precisely. scenes precisely.

By doing so he avoided describing his characters' By doing so he avoided describing his characters' emotions and thoughts directly. emotions and thoughts directly.

Instead, in providing the reader with the raw material of Instead, in providing the reader with the raw material of an experience and eliminating the authorial viewpoint, an experience and eliminating the authorial viewpoint, Hemingway made the reading of a text approximate the Hemingway made the reading of a text approximate the actual experience as closely as possible. actual experience as closely as possible.

WRITING STYLE  WRITING STYLE   Hemingway was also deeply concerned with Hemingway was also deeply concerned with

authenticity in writing. authenticity in writing. He believed that a writer could treat a subject honestly He believed that a writer could treat a subject honestly

only if the writer had participated in or observed the only if the writer had participated in or observed the subject closely. Without such knowledge the writer's subject closely. Without such knowledge the writer's work would be flawed because the reader would sense work would be flawed because the reader would sense the author's lack of expertise. the author's lack of expertise.

In addition, Hemingway believed that an author writing In addition, Hemingway believed that an author writing about a familiar subject is able to write sparingly and about a familiar subject is able to write sparingly and eliminate a great deal of superfluous detail from the eliminate a great deal of superfluous detail from the piece without sacrificing the voice of authority. piece without sacrificing the voice of authority.

WRITING STYLE  WRITING STYLE  

Hemingway's stylistic influence on American Hemingway's stylistic influence on American writers has been enormous. writers has been enormous.

The success of his plain styleThe success of his plain style in expressing in expressing basic, yet deeply felt, emotions contributed to basic, yet deeply felt, emotions contributed to the decline of the elaborate Victorian-era prose the decline of the elaborate Victorian-era prose that characterized a great deal of American that characterized a great deal of American writing in the early 20th century. writing in the early 20th century.

Legions of American writers have cited Legions of American writers have cited Hemingway as an influence on their own work.Hemingway as an influence on their own work.

Ernest Hemingway QuotesErnest Hemingway Quotes "I'm not going to get into the ring with "I'm not going to get into the ring with Tolstoy." - ." -

Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961)Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) Ernest Hemingway, when asked what was the Ernest Hemingway, when asked what was the

most frightening thing he ever encountered, most frightening thing he ever encountered, answered: "A blank sheet of paper."answered: "A blank sheet of paper."

There are some things which cannot be There are some things which cannot be learned quickly, and time, which is all we learned quickly, and time, which is all we have, must be paid heavily for their have, must be paid heavily for their acquiring. They are the very simplest things, acquiring. They are the very simplest things, and because it takes a man's life to know and because it takes a man's life to know them the little new that each man gets from them the little new that each man gets from life is very costly and the only heritage he life is very costly and the only heritage he has to leave.has to leave. -- Ernest Hemingway -- Ernest Hemingway

I am glad we do not have to try to kill the stars. Imagine if I am glad we do not have to try to kill the stars. Imagine if each day a man must try to kill the moon. The moon runs each day a man must try to kill the moon. The moon runs away. But imagine if a man each day should have to try away. But imagine if a man each day should have to try to kill the sun? We are born lucky. Yes, we are born to kill the sun? We are born lucky. Yes, we are born lucky. lucky.

-- The Old Man and the Sea-- The Old Man and the Sea You expected to be sad in the fall. You expected to be sad in the fall. Part of you died Part of you died

each year when the leaves fell from the trees and each year when the leaves fell from the trees and their branches were bare against the wind and the their branches were bare against the wind and the cold, wintry light.cold, wintry light. But you knew there would always be But you knew there would always be the spring, as you knew the river would flow again after it the spring, as you knew the river would flow again after it was frozen. When the cold rains kept on and killed the was frozen. When the cold rains kept on and killed the spring, it was as though a young person had died for no spring, it was as though a young person had died for no reason.reason.-- A Moveable Feast-- A Moveable Feast

Our nada who art in nada, nada be thy Our nada who art in nada, nada be thy name thy kingdom nada thy will be name thy kingdom nada thy will be nada as it is in nada. Give us this nada nada as it is in nada. Give us this nada our daily nada and nada us our nada as our daily nada and nada us our nada as we nada our nadas and nada us not we nada our nadas and nada us not into nada but deliver us from nada; into nada but deliver us from nada; pues nada. Hail nothing full of nothing, pues nada. Hail nothing full of nothing, nothing is with the.nothing is with the.

-- -- A Clean, Well-Lighted Place

If people bring so much courage to this If people bring so much courage to this world the world has to kill them to break world the world has to kill them to break them, so of course it kills them. The world them, so of course it kills them. The world breaks every one and afterward many are breaks every one and afterward many are strong at the broken places. But those that strong at the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. will not break it kills. It kills the very It kills the very good and the very gentle and the good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially.very brave impartially.-- A Farwell to Arms-- A Farwell to Arms