1. Ernest Hemingway

2. Ernest Hemingway-A Brief Biography Ernest Hemingway is one of the most famous American writers of the 20th century. Ernest Hemingway is one of the most famous American writers of the 20th century. He was born in Oak Park, Illinois, the son of a doctor, who gave him an enduring enthusiasm for the outdoor life. As a boy Hemingway spent summer vacation in the woods of northern Michigan, which became the setting for some of his best-known stories. He volunteered for service as an ambulance driver with the Italian Army and was seriously wounded in the fighting on the Austrian front toward the end of the World War I. Recovering from his wounds, he went to Paris as a foreign correspondent for the Toronto Star and there met, among other writers, Ezra Pound and Gertrude Stein. They encouraged him in the invention of his own style, and by twenty-five he was well on his way to master of the craft of fiction. From the publication of his first books he was acclaimed as a spokesman of the Lost Generationthe young who had been disillusioned and cast adrift by the murderous blunders of those who had plunged the world into war. The Hemingway’s hero and his code of conduct-grace under pressure-were as widely emulated and admired as the style of his short stories and novels. He was born in Oak Park, Illinois, the son of a doctor, who gave him an enduring enthusiasm for the outdoor life. As a boy Hemingway spent summer vacation in the woods of northern Michigan, which became the setting for some of his best-known stories. He volunteered for service as an ambulance driver with the Italian Army and was seriously wounded in the fighting on the Austrian front toward the end of the World War I. Recovering from his wounds, he went to Paris as a foreign correspondent for the Toronto Star and there met, among other writers, Ezra Pound and Gertrude Stein. They encouraged him in the invention of his own style, and by twenty-five he was well on his way to master of the craft of fiction. From the publication of his first books he was acclaimed as a spokesman of the “Lost Generation” — the young who had been disillusioned and cast adrift by the murderous blunders of those who had plunged the world into war. The Hemingway’s hero and his code of conduct-grace under pressure-were as widely emulated and admired as the style of his short stories and novels.

3. Ernest Hemingway-A Brief Biography He was enthusiastic and discriminating bullfight fan, big- game hunter, and fisherman, whose personal exploits kept him often in the limelight. During the Spanish Civil War he went to Spain as a war correspondent and wrote one of his best novels, For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940), about that conflict. Later he followed the U.S. Army in Europe as a correspondent before returning to peacetime life at his home in Cuba. At a time when he seemed to be falling out of fashion and his old vigor was waning, he killed himself with a shotgun. He was enthusiastic and discriminating bullfight fan, big- game hunter, and fisherman, whose personal exploits kept him often in the limelight. During the Spanish Civil War he went to Spain as a war correspondent and wrote one of his best novels, For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940), about that conflict. Later he followed the U.S. Army in Europe as a correspondent before returning to peacetime life at his home in Cuba. At a time when he seemed to be falling out of fashion and his old vigor was waning, he killed himself with a shotgun.

4. Ernest Hemingway-A Brief Biography His books include The Sun Also Rises (1926), A Farewell to Arms (1929) and For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940). His short novel The Old Man and the Sea (1952) won the Pulitzer Prize in 1953, and Hemingway was given the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954. His memoir of his early life in Paris, A Moveable Feast, was published posthumously in 1964. His short story collections include In Our Time (1925), Men without Women (1927), and Winner Take Nothing (1933). His books include The Sun Also Rises (1926), A Farewell to Arms (1929) and For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940). His short novel The Old Man and the Sea (1952) won the Pulitzer Prize in 1953, and Hemingway was given the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954. His memoir of his early life in Paris, A Moveable Feast, was published posthumously in 1964. His short story collections include In Our Time (1925), Men without Women (1927), and Winner Take Nothing (1933). Hemingway’s distinctive writing style was characterized by economy and understatement, and had a significant influence on the development of twentieth-century fiction writing. Hemingway’s distinctive writing style was characterized by economy and understatement, and had a significant influence on the development of twentieth-century fiction writing.

5. Brief Introduction to “Indian Camp” “Indian Camp” was originally published in the collection of In Our Time in 1925. The main character Nick follows his father, a doctor, to an Indian village because an Indian woman has been in painful labor for two days. The son watches his father perform an emergency cesarean using no more than a jackknife and a fishing line to deliver a baby. Afterward, he discovers that the woman’s husband, who is in the bunk above hers, has silently cut his throat during the painful ordeal. This incident initiates the boy into the pain and violence of birth and death. “Indian Camp” was originally published in the collection of In Our Time in 1925. The main character Nick follows his father, a doctor, to an Indian village because an Indian woman has been in painful labor for two days. The son watches his father perform an emergency cesarean using no more than a jackknife and a fishing line to deliver a baby. Afterward, he discovers that the woman’s husband, who is in the bunk above hers, has silently cut his throat during the painful ordeal. This incident initiates the boy into the pain and violence of birth and death.

6. Question 1 The story begins in a dark and misty morning. What ’ s significant about this setting? The story begins in a dark and misty morning. What ’ s significant about this setting?

7. Answer 1 Darkness and mist can be seen as a symbol of ignorance. Before being exposed to the true and painful reality of birth and death, Nick lives in innocence and ignorance. Darkness and mist can be seen as a symbol of ignorance. Before being exposed to the true and painful reality of birth and death, Nick lives in innocence and ignorance.

8. Question 2 Do you think Nick’s father is a good doctor? Please explain. Do you think Nick’s father is a good doctor? Please explain.

9. Answer 2 He is an experienced doctor. He washed his hands thoroughly (Para. 21), and the operation was successful. He is an experienced doctor. He washed his hands thoroughly (Para. 21), and the operation was successful. But at the same time he was very indifferent to the suffering of the woman, as he said, “ … her screams are not important. I don ’ t hear them because they are not important.” Because of his indifference, the husband could not bear the scream and killed himself. Obviously Nick ’ s father did not treat the Indian woman humanely. As an Indian, an inferior race, she was merely the object of his operation, and the means to show his medical expertise. But at the same time he was very indifferent to the suffering of the woman, as he said, “ … her screams are not important. I don ’ t hear them because they are not important.” Because of his indifference, the husband could not bear the scream and killed himself. Obviously Nick ’ s father did not treat the Indian woman humanely. As an Indian, an inferior race, she was merely the object of his operation, and the means to show his medical expertise.

10. Question 3 How did Nick react about his father’s operation? Was he interested in what his father was talking about and doing? How did Nick react about his father’s operation? Was he interested in what his father was talking about and doing?

11. Answer 3 Nick said, “All right.” He was looking away so as not to see what his father was doing. (Para. 28) Nick said, “All right.” He was looking away so as not to see what his father was doing. (Para. 28) Nick didn’t look at it. (Para. 30) Nick didn’t look at it. (Para. 30) Nick did not watch. His curiosity had been gone for a long time. (Para. 32) Nick did not watch. His curiosity had been gone for a long time. (Para. 32) From these sentences we can learn Nick was not interested in the operation at all. He felt uncomfortable with the woman’s pain and his father’s callousness to her pain. From these sentences we can learn Nick was not interested in the operation at all. He felt uncomfortable with the woman’s pain and his father’s callousness to her pain.

12. Question 4 This scene in paragraph 44 is horribly vivid. Examine how Hemingway describes it with simple language. This scene in paragraph 44 is horribly vivid. Examine how Hemingway describes it with simple language.

13. Answer 4 Hemingway is famous for his iceberg language, which is laconic, and economical, laded with meanings. Hemingway is famous for his iceberg language, which is laconic, and economical, laded with meanings. In the sentence “(h)is hand came away wet,” the word “wet” indicates both the materiality of the blood and its effect on the hand. In the sentence “(h)is hand came away wet,” the word “wet” indicates both the materiality of the blood and its effect on the hand. “His throat had been cut from ear to ear.” This short sentence, consisting of only nine words, dramatically renders a horrible picture of death. “His throat had been cut from ear to ear.” This short sentence, consisting of only nine words, dramatically renders a horrible picture of death. “The blood had flowed down into a pool where his body sagged the bunk.” The words “pool” and “sag” are dramatically effective in describing the impact of the bloody scene. “The blood had flowed down into a pool where his body sagged the bunk.” The words “pool” and “sag” are dramatically effective in describing the impact of the bloody scene.

14. Question 5 Read the dialogue between father and son. Do you think this talk gives Nick a better understanding of life and death? Read the dialogue between father and son. Do you think this talk gives Nick a better understanding of life and death?

15. Answer 5 The talk does not deal with the most crucial part about life and death. These are superficial questions and answers. Nick is too young to understand the true significance of life and death. The talk does not deal with the most crucial part about life and death. These are superficial questions and answers. Nick is too young to understand the true significance of life and death.

16. Question 6 The story ends when the sun is up over the hill. What is significant about this? The story ends when the sun is up over the hill. What is significant about this?

17. Answer 6 The sunlight can be interpreted as the symbol of enlightenment. The experience in the Indian camp initiates Nick into the adult world. The sunlight can be interpreted as the symbol of enlightenment. The experience in the Indian camp initiates Nick into the adult world.

18. Question 7 Do you like the ending of the story? Please explain. Do you like the ending of the story? Please explain.

19. Answer 7 The ending of the story is quite mysterious. Readers are not prepared for Nick’s belief that he would never die. Shouldn’t he have felt otherwise after witnessing the bloody scene of death? Isn’t it the rule of nature that everybody is to die? The ending of the story is quite mysterious. Readers are not prepared for Nick’s belief that he would never die. Shouldn’t he have felt otherwise after witnessing the bloody scene of death? Isn’t it the rule of nature that everybody is to die? Hemingway makes the theme of death more ambivalent and mysterious by giving Nick an euphoric feeling in the end of the story. The readers don’t trust Nick’s feeling and belief, and what death really is remains totally unknown. Hemingway makes the theme of death more ambivalent and mysterious by giving Nick an euphoric feeling in the end of the story. The readers don’t trust Nick’s feeling and belief, and what death really is remains totally unknown.

20. General Question 1 Hemingway has the husband kill himself while his wife is delivering the baby. Is there anything significant about this arrangement? Hemingway has the husband kill himself while his wife is delivering the baby. Is there anything significant about this arrangement?

21. Answer 1 This plot serves to present life and death in a short story. While the wife gives birth to a baby, the father dies. The irony and absurdity of life is made clear. This plot serves to present life and death in a short story. While the wife gives birth to a baby, the father dies. The irony and absurdity of life is made clear.

22. General Question 2 On the way to the camp in the boat, Nick is sitting in his father’s arms; on the way back, Nick sits on the opposite end of the boat. What does this show about Nick’s change? On the way to the camp in the boat, Nick is sitting in his father’s arms; on the way back, Nick sits on the opposite end of the boat. What does this show about Nick’s change?

23. Answer 2 Before the incident, Nick seems totally close to his father. But afterwards, the readers sense the distance. Though the relationship is still there, some change has taken place. Before the incident, Nick seems totally close to his father. But afterwards, the readers sense the distance. Though the relationship is still there, some change has taken place.

24. General Question 3 This story starts when it is dark, and ends when the day breaks. What’s symbolic about this change? This story starts when it is dark, and ends when the day breaks. What’s symbolic about this change?

25. Answer 3 Darkness is a symbol of ignorance while light is a symbol of knowledge. The trip to the Indian camp initiates Nick into the pain and suffering of life and death. Darkness is a symbol of ignorance while light is a symbol of knowledge. The trip to the Indian camp initiates Nick into the pain and suffering of life and death.

26. A Website of Ernest Hemingway http://www.timelesshemingway.com http://www.timelesshemingway.com