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Hills Like White Elephants Chapter 2 Summary

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1. Who is the protagonist of the story? What are the conflicts? Are they physical, intellectual, moral, or emotional? - The protagonist of this story is the American and Jig. The conflict throughout the story is that the American wants Jig to have an operation (abortion) but, Jig doesn’t know if that’s right for her or not. These conflicts are both moral and emotional. 2. Is the ending happy, unhappy, or indeterminate? (Explain) - The ending is indeterminate because it doesn’t tell you whether Jig had the operation or not, it leaves the readers in a cliff hanger wondering what happened with the whole situation. 3. How is suspense created in the story? Is the interest confined to “What happens next?” or are larger concerns involved? Can you find examples of mystery? of dilemma? - The suspense is created in the story at the end because it leaves us with an inconclusive …show more content…

“Hill” is a symbolism for the pregnancy of Jig, the belly and “white elephants” represent the baby that Jig is carrying in her womb which is considered as an unwanted gift. The “Ebro river” symbolizes the life that is being created and the “train” symbolizes that once she makes a wise decision on aborting there is no turning back therefore she needs to take time to decide. 8. Does the story anywhere use irony of situation? dramatic irony? Verbal irony? What function(s) do the ironies serve? - There is irony in this story, for example, “white elephant” because they are considered as something unwanted and it’s not a gift that is expected. This is ironic because the Jig view the pregnancy as special and wants to keep it, not abort it but she’s having trouble figuring that out. These are dramatic irony because it creates the whole conflict in the story as for the American that doesn’t want the baby. 9. What contribution to the story is made by the setting? Is the setting essential, or could the story have happened

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Suspense proves to be an essential aspect

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All the irony gives the piece a vast dynamic in characters and themes. The first irony found in this story is the whole idea of the “Good Man”. The Grandma throughout many different scenarios in the story skewed the definition of a “Good Man” by using it until it became meaningless. She used it to describe Red Sammy after he let two people screw him over by letting them charge their gasoline.

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Finally, the ending provides a feeling of relief and conclusion but also expertly opens up the possibility of a new problem and series of events. The previous reasons earn The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau five out of five

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Careful symbolism is coordinated so that the reader has to form their own conclusions as to the ending of the novel. Gjorg’s point of view

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Even little details that the author writes into the story are integrated into the main idea. McCarthy also includes many clever examples of the literary element irony in this story. The reader notices that Grady seems to have a less than perfect relationship with his father and mother who have divorced. We as readers are also able to understand the humor that is portrayed by the author 's use of verbal irony. Verbal irony is shown through sarcasm by Grady when he tries to laugh about this rough relationship so that it is easier to deal with.

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In “The Pit and the Pendulum”, the author manages to incorporate suspense into several parts of this story. One example is where it states, “I was sick—sick unto death with that long agony; and when they at length unbound me, and I was permitted to sit, I felt that my senses were leaving me. The sentence—the dread sentence of death—was the last of distinct accentuation which reached my ears. After that, the sound of the inquisitorial voices seemed merged in one dreamy indeterminate hum.” This shows how the author created suspense by not telling the reader about why the narrator was receiving a death sentence.

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The setting (7) of the story, the train station, is a symbol for the place where Jig and the American man are at in their relationship and what lies ahead for them. This symbol also portrays the theme (8) of choice and consequences. They are at an impasse due to the pregnancy, and the train tracks are the futures that could happen based on Jig’s decision about the abortion and the baby. For instance, Jig could agree politely to the American man and go ahead

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Symbolism in Hills Like White Elephants In short stories, because of the length of the story, all actions, words, and objects carry more of a meaning. These are referred to as symbols. Symbols represent something important without really saying anything, but more seeing and visualizing something. Symbolism creates a needed depth and allows the reader to think more creatively.

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To summarize, Jig forms her own opinion throughout the story, discovers herself and makes a clear decision. At first she is unsure and observes from the side her companion’s behaviour and her surrounding. Then she looks for answers by questioning her companion and their relationship. Next she reflects by herself and dares to think about the other option of keeping the child. It is then that she expresses more openly her opinion, letting him know how she feels.

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Dramatic irony is usually an over the top, tragic form of irony. Both Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart” and Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” are great examples of an ironic situation. Every expresses the common theme in their own way. Although both of these literally pieces provide us with the theme of irony, Edgar Allen Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" gives the reader a sense of suspense with the irony that proves to be more effective. Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" emphasizes on how a man’s thoughts and perception can affect oneself and other’s lives.

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If analyzed in a more generic view, the short story can be used to show how a male and female stereotypically understand a subject. The American speaks more literal and materialistic as Jig is seen to speak in a more figurative and abstract manner. Ernest Hemingway’s use of symbolism gives the reader a more visual effect to the conflict between the man and the girl as well as the idea of their inner thoughts. The white rounded hills, the beads on the curtain hanging from the bar’s doorframe, and the cool shade and blazing light all represent different aspects of the two choices that the American and the girl have to decide on, just like the railroad tracks on either side of the

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The use of irony portrays how the trip ended up teaching Sylvia, the protagonist of the story, more than she

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I have attended four different high schools in four years. I have always participated in sports throughout high school. Although after school activities have made a huge impact on my high school career, none have been more of an influence than football. I played football alongside numerous teammates and coaches, and was taught valuable life lessons for use on and off of the field.

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Once the reader begins to question the lack of explanation surrounding the event, a suspenseful tone beings to grow. Due to the unexpected

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According to Smiley, “The dialogue contains the essence of the story's power; for to read Jig's and the American conversation is to recognize the powerless frustration of parallel interchanges” (2). The girl's character passes changes throughout the story. It appears that “Hemingway works out the story's conflict, which revolves around the development of his female character” (Renner 28). The girl gains power and frees herself from the following the American man. In the beginning of the story, the girl take the initiative to speak which leads to the discussion: “'what should we drink?'

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