Question

Read this information that associates Hemingway with modernism, a literary movement in American literature and answer the question.
Modern literature emerged during the period that encompassed both world wars, partly as a response to the horrors witnessed by society at the time. Many creative thinkers and writers, known as The Lost Generation, left the United States for Europe. Hemingway was among them. His writing style consisted of “ … extremely spare, blunt, simple sentences and emotions that play out right on the surface of things. There is an irony to this bluntness, however, as his characters often have hidden agendas, hidden sometimes even from themselves, which serve to guide their actions.”

According to this information, which characteristic of modernism is MOST evident in “Hills Like White Elephants”?

characters who hide secret intentions from one another

dialog that subtly suggests communication conflicts

imagery that highlights the importance of the setting

metaphors that reveal significant plot developments

Answer 1

dialog that subtly suggests communication conflicts This is the correct option.

The charters in the story ,“Hills Like White Elephants”, talk about "it" all the time. The reader has to infer that what the man and the woman are talking about is an abortion. However, they seem to have difficulties to speak openly about it and they do not have it clear what they will decide. There are communication conflicts. The man thinks he knows what will be best for the woman but she does not sound so assertive. Their dialogue is fragmented. There is not a "history" line through it. The reader has to assume how it is they got together and she became pregnant. Yet, the couple are faced with a difficulty they find it hard to talk about.

These options are not right:

-characters who hide secret intentions from one another ( In this case, the woman is not hiding her pregnancy, for example. The man is not hiding his intentions , either. They cannot talk freely and openly about their problem: the woman 's pregnancy).

-imagery that highlights the importance of the setting. ( The imagery is used metaphorically to ,probably, represent the characters' emotions and moods).

-metaphors that reveal significant plot developments. ( Heminway tends to use simple language to get closer to the reader. Therefore, he will not oversuse sophisticated language).