1. Today’s Agenda  “Hills Like White Elephants” Discussion Groups Presentations  HOMEWORK: Finish “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” and complete study guide by Tomorrow! Quiz tmrw.

2. Group #1 Where does the story take place? What description do we receive of the landscapes on either side of the Zaragosa train station? How could these contrasting landscapes be symbolic of the conflict the American and Jig face?

3. Group #2 A white elephant can symbolize both a blessing and a curse in many cultures (it was considered a blessing because Buddha was born of a white elephant. If given a white elephant, a person could not work the elephant, feed and take care of it; in this case, it was sometimes considered a burden. Considering this information, why is the presence of these mountains significant? Provide a quotation regarding the mountains and scenery that illustrates the couple’s relationship.

5. Group #3 The “Hemingway Hero” is usually seen as a man of action with a code of honor and integrity that shows “grace under pressure.” Evaluate the characterization we receive of the American: does he meet these criteria? Does Jig?

6. Group #4 What have the American and Jig been doing while in Europe? [give specific examples/quotations] Why is this appropriate for a piece of fiction written by a member of “The Lost Generation”?

7. Group #5 Ernest Hemingway once remarked of his writing style: “I always try to write on the principle of the iceberg. There is seven- eighths of it under water for every part that shows.” What do you think he means? Does this story illustrate this theory?

8. Group #6 Identify and explain which elements of the modernist movement are present in the story? Give examples. [consult your notes from last week!]

9. Elements of Modernism in Am. Lit  Emphasis on bold experimentation in style and form.  Rejection of traditional themes and subjects.  Sense of disillusionment and loss of faith in the American Dream. (EXPATRIATES)  Rejection of the ideal of a hero as infallible in favor of a flawed hero who shows “grace under pressure.”  Interest in the inner workings of the human mind (stream of consciousness)