Teaching Creative Writing with the Short Stories Using Writing Exercises

Questions addressed during the six-sessions: Why is Ernest Hemingway a perfect example for teaching creative writing? Who were Hemingway’s mentors? What authors did he learn from? What of his experiences are reflected in his stories? What tools did Hemingway provide for creative writers? Hemingway forever changed the style of American literature. How was this achieved?

A partial list of the work from Hemingway’s early experiences: Northern Michigan short stories, including Nick Adams series. Pamplona, Spain bullfighting, The Sun Also Rises (1926). Ambulance driver in Italy, A Farewell to Arms (1929). 1936 safari in Africa, The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.

From Appendix - Writing Exercise 4 Slide and Handout. In 1921, a letter of presentation, sometimes called a letter of introduction was expected. It was effective and very powerful. It magically opened doors. Write the letter of presentation that you wish Hemingway could write for you. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Writing Exercise 1 Slide. In his short story, The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber, Ernest Hemingway introduces the boy-men concept. This phrase is fairly common today as Jimmy Fallon has used the phrase on The Tonight Show. Write a boy-men piece into your story capturing your definition of the phrase. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Writing Exercise 2 Slide and Handout. As Hemingway matured in his writing style, his stories became more intense. He added symbolism. In his 1936 short story, The Snows of Kilimanjaro, the character Harry, admits he married Helen because of her money. He wants to confess that he never really loved her. Harry knows he is dying and will never live to write more stories. During his final hours he experiences a series of five dreams. Create a series of dreams in your story that move your piece along. Include symbols that help tell your story. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Roman à clef French for novel with a key, a novel about real life overlaid with a façade of fiction. The fictitious names in the novel represent real people, and the “key” is the relationship between the nonfiction and the fiction. The “key” may be produced separately by the author or implied through the use of epigraphs or other literary techniques. Created by Madeleine de Scudery in the 17th century to provide a forum for her thinly veiled fiction featuring political and public figures. The roman à clef has since been used by writer as diverse as Truman Capote, Ernest Hemingway, George Orwell, Victor Hugo and many others.

Example of an epigraph: Kilimanjaro is a snow covered mountain 19,710 feet high and it is said to be the highest mountain in Africa. Its western summit is called the Masai “Ngàje Ngài” the House of God. Close to the western summit there is the dried and frozen carcass of a leopard. No one has explained what the leopard was seeking at that altitude.

Writing Exercise 3 Slide and Handout. Hemingway’s story, Hills Like White Elephants, is told in a pared-down style using mostly dialogue to tell it. The reader just might feel as though he or she has just overheard the conversation while waiting in a train station. After reading the story, write your own story maintaining a pared-down style with dialogue. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Why did Ernest Hemingway win the Nobel Prize in Literature? The Nobel Prize in Literature 1954 was awarded to Ernest Hemingway "for his mastery of the art of narrative, most recently demonstrated in The Old Man and the Sea, and for the influence that he has exerted on contemporary style".

Hemingway’s Iceberg Theory Slide and Handout Hemingway’s Iceberg Theory Slide and Handout. “If a writer of prose knows enough about what he is writing about, he may omit things that he knows and the reader, if the writer is writing truly enough, will have a feeling of those things as strongly as though the writer had stated them. The dignity of movement of an iceberg is due to only one-eighth of it being above water” Ernest Hemingway, Death in the Afternoon

Hemingway Code Hero, Characteristics of Hemingway’s Code Hero · Hemingway defined the Code Hero as “a man who lives correctly, following the ideals of honor, courage and endurance in a world that is sometimes chaotic, often stressful, and always painful.” · The Code Hero measures himself by how well he handles the difficult situations that life throws at him. He faces these experiences of life with grace (“grace under pressure”). In the end the Code Hero will lose because we are all mortal, but the true measure is how a person faces death. He or she may not win the game, but they are going to play it on their own terms. · The Code Hero is stoic (seemingly indifferent to the pleasures and pains of like) in his or her acceptance of the hardships of life. · The Code Hero is typically an individualist and free-willed. Although he believes in the ideals of courage and honor he has his own set of morals and principles based on his beliefs in honor, courage and endurance. A code hero never shows emotions; showing emotions and having a commitment to women shows weakness. Qualities such as bravery, adventurousness and travel also define the Code Hero. · The rite of manhood for the Code Hero is facing death. However, once he faces death bravely and becomes a man he must continue the struggle and constantly prove himself to retain his manhood.

Class should now be able to quickly answer the following questions: Why is Ernest Hemingway a perfect example for teaching creative writing? Who were Hemingway’s mentors? What authors did he learn from? What of his experiences are reflected in his stories? What tools did Hemingway provide for creative writers? Hemingway forever changed the style of American literature. How was this achieved?

Benefits from writing exercises. Ask students to list more: Write with new perspectives and points of view. Use techniques such as Iceberg Theory, Code Hero, Epigraphs, what is left out, and roman à clef. Practice writing skills regularly. They are fun, interesting, inspiring and beneficial. 5. They free a writer to write.