1. The Short happy life of Francis macomber
Ernest Hemmingway

2. About the story
Ernest Hemingway first published the story in the September, 1936, issue of Cosmopolitan magazine.
The story is based upon an actual scandal that had taken place in Kenya involving a wife, a love affair, and something that happened on their hunting trip.
Real events were suppressed in the media and covered up by the British government because they were so scandalous.

3. Ernest Hemmingway
Ernest Hemingway is one of the most famous American writers of the twentieth century.
His rugged lifestyle and penetrating prose have inspired generations of imitators.
As much as for his writing, he is known for his adventurous personality and love of the outdoors.
He was an avid fisherman and hunter, a firsthand witness of many wars, and a bullfighting aficionado.
Born in 1899 in Oak Park, Illinois, where he was raised.
His childhood experiences in the woods of Michigan, where his family owned a summer home, contributed to several of his most famous stories.

4. Continued
Hemingway was an ambulance driver in Italy during World War I and received shrapnel wounds on his legs.
He married for the first time in 1921— the first of four trips to the altar—and returned to Europe to begin his career as a writer of fiction.
Hemingway and his cohorts, F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, James Joyce and Ford Madox are sometimes called the “Lost Generation” because of their cynical view of life forged in the modernist era between the world wars.

5. Continued
Though primarily known as a writer of fiction, he continued throughout his life to function as a journalist, covering several wars.
In 1953 he was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for his novel The Old Man and the Sea.
In 1960, after suffering a mental breakdown, he entered the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, to undergo electro-shock therapy. He committed suicide in 1961 in Ketchum, Idaho.

6. Distrust of Women
Held his mother responsible for the suicide of this father
Also held his mother responsible for withholding the inheritance he felt was his
Hadley, his first wife, lost a suitcase containing all his early short stories

7. Setting up for a literary trial
Your guide to Reading TSHLOFM

8. What is a Literary Trial?
A literary trial is a mock trial with a twist.
We will be investigating a criminal case, but to add depth and evidence to the cases, you will use the literary techniques and character development in the story to argue Hemingway’s purpose in depicting these characters as either innocent or guilty.
Therefore, your evidence in the case will be the events that take place, characterization (building a criminal profile) and the literary devices Hemingway uses to depict their innocence or guilt.
Through this activity, you will be discovering Hemingway’s attitude towards his characters, and in turn, men and women.
Ex: In “who is to blame” for William’s death, Mary Shelley characterizes the monster in a certain way so the readers sympathize with him. Could you prosecute and defend the monster for this act? What would you say on each side?

9. Collecting evidence…

10. While Reading
You need to track evidence while reading. Read between the lines!
Look for:
Direct evidence implicating the accused
STEAL acronym
What your accused says
What your accused thinks (through monologues)
The effect your accused has on others
The actions your accused makes
How your accused looks (if applicable)
The Motive of Your Accused
What causes a person to act in a certain way, do a certain thing, etc. Why did it happen?
Hint: Think about each character’s motive from both sides
Literary Techniques
How Hemingway uses techniques to paint a picture of each character for the readers.
Hand out evidence tracking sheet

11. Complete These Questions
After reading, complete the following questions on a separate sheet of paper:
What tools do the individual characters use to maintain control throughout the story? Who is in control a majority of the time? Why? How?
What is Hemingway’s purpose in including Robert Wilson in the story? What is his role? What does he add to the plot?
Identify the stereotypes of men and women that are defined and how Hemingway works to challenge those stereotypes throughout the story. Discuss how the author uses literary techniques (like dialogue, symbolism, flashbacks, parallelism, implicit writing, and in medias res) to reveal the stereotypes present.
How does the story stand up to gender rules today? Do you believe Hemingway is commenting on gender roles? If so, what is Hemingway trying to say about masculine and feminine power? Discuss the intent of the author in exploring these ideas.
What keeps the Macombers together?
Who is to blame for the affair? In terms of what we have read, discuss why this is important?
Who is to blame for the final event? Look at both characters and all possibilities as you may not know who you will represent in your literary trial.

12. Plot Begins in medias res
Opens with Francis Macomber, his wife, Margaret (known as Margot), and Robert Wilson preparing for lunch at their camp in Africa.
The Macombers are a wealthy and socially prominent American couple during the 1930s in Africa on a safari.
Wilson is a professional hunter, paid to guide their adventures.
The three begin discussing the morning’s hunt. This topic appears to cause them some discomfort, and soon the source of their discomfort is revealed…

13. Historical significance
In the midst of the Great Depression, the fact that the Macombers can afford to take a luxury vacation takes on great significance.
It hints that they are far removed from the realities of their day, which include poverty, economic instability, and general misery.
In a time in which one quarter of all men were unemployed, gender roles took on great significance.
A man without a job often questioned his masculinity, particularly if he was not able to care for his wife and children.
Though the Macombers are childless and need not worry about where their next meal is coming from, this fixation on masculinity is still evident in Macomber's character.

14. Preparing for the trial
Steps While Reading:
Hunt for evidence while reading
Note: You will not know who you are representing or what side you will be representing (prosecution or defense), so you must find evidence for everything!
After Reading:
Form legal teams
Get your assigned case
Get the side you will be representing (prosecution or defense)
Map out your evidence
Take on legal roles
Prepare for trial

15. Good Luck Lawyers!