Ernest Hemingway Essay Example
Ernest Miller Hemingway
Ernest Miller Hemingway was considered one of the great American authors of the 20th century. Hemingway's unique style of writing set him apart from other authors of this time and of today. He influenced many generations of authors with his style of using powerful, precise words. He used few adjectives, simple verbs, and short sentences in his works. Hemingway believed that his writing should be based on knowledge that he had acquired on a particular subject through his own personal life. In a passage from Hemingway's Death in the Afternoon, he wrote "If a writer of prose knows enough about what he is writing about he may omit things 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." This is in fact why Hemingway wrote most of his novels and stories in the first person point of view. Hemingway was also known for the dialogue he wrote between his characters. This allowed the reader to see his character's emotions and inner thoughts. Ernest Hemingway's style challenged readers to look below the surface for the meaning of his words. This was known as the "Iceberg Theory" because the tip of an iceberg is the only visible portion above the sea while the largest part is far below the sea. The "Hemingway hero", a male character who faces violence and destruction with courage, and the "Hemingway code", unemotional behavior in difficult and dangerous situations, were also trademarks of Hemingway's style. To better understand Ernest Hemingway as an author, one must first look at Hemingway as a person. Ernest Hemingway was born in 1899 in Illinois. As a young boy, Hemingway enjoyed hunting and fishing at the family cabin in rural Michigan. These outings allowed him to gain appreciation for Mother Nature, and to look for adventure in many parts of the world. This love of the outdoors was reflected in many of his writings, such as The Green Hills
Ernest Miller Hemingway was considered one of the great American authors of the 20th century. Hemingway's unique style of writing set him apart from other authors of this time and of today. He influenced many generations of authors with his style of using powerful, precise words. He used few adjectives, simple verbs, and short sentences in his works. Hemingway believed that his writing should be based on knowledge that he had acquired on a particular subject through his own personal life. In a passage from Hemingway's Death in the Afternoon, he wrote "If a writer of prose knows enough about what he is writing about he may omit things 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." This is in fact why Hemingway wrote most of his novels and stories in the first person point of view. Hemingway was also known for the dialogue he wrote between his characters. This allowed the reader to see his character's emotions and inner thoughts. Ernest Hemingway's style challenged readers to look below the surface for the meaning of his words. This was known as the "Iceberg Theory" because the tip of an iceberg is the only visible portion above the sea while the largest part is far below the sea. The "Hemingway hero", a male character who faces violence and destruction with courage, and the "Hemingway code", unemotional behavior in difficult and dangerous situations, were also trademarks of Hemingway's style. To better understand Ernest Hemingway as an author, one must first look at Hemingway as a person. Ernest Hemingway was born in 1899 in Illinois. As a young boy, Hemingway enjoyed hunting and fishing at the family cabin in rural Michigan. These outings allowed him to gain appreciation for Mother Nature, and to look for adventure in many parts of the world. This love of the outdoors was reflected in many of his writings, such as The Green Hills