#1) From what point of view is the story being told? The story is being told by the third person’s point of view. #2) What is the significance of the title? The significance of the title is that the hills represent the shape of the pregnant girl’s body and the white elephants represent the rare creature found which is very precious just like the precious baby that is in her womb. #3) There are a lot of dialogue in the story and little information about the background and appearance of the characters, discuss the implications of such details as are provided.
In the beginning of the story the author explains that “The hills across the valley of the Ebro were long and white. On the side there was no shade and no trees and the station was between two lines of rails in the sun. Close against the side of the station there was the warm shadow of the building and a curtain, made of strings of bamboo beads, hung across the open door into the bar, to keep out flies. ” Although the background outside the building has nice scene with the hills, the appearance of the building and the interior seems to be very old and poor.
While it is evident that mostly all the details are in bits and pieces. There is little information about the characters, about their personality, profession, relation etc. #4) How would you describe the characters? What evidence from the story supports your answer? The American guy seems to be in a favor of abortion but at the same time he doesn’t want to hurt the girl’s feelings. On the other hand, the girl wants to go along her boy friends will.
While both care about each others feelings they are not ready to take the blame of this hard decision. As the American guy says “Well,’ the man said,’ if you don’t want to you don’t have to. I wouldn’t have you do it if you didn’t want to. But I know it’s perfectly simple. ‘” #5) Hemingway once suggested that his purpose in such a story is to tell the reader as little as possible directly yet to reveal characters’ motives and their conflict. How does this principle operate in this story?
Where would you like to have more information (besides “he said” and “she said”)? Hemingway’s principle operates in this story very well since the story has information all over in bits and pieces. Also in the beginning of the story there should be a little insight on their background of work, home, relation etc. I would like to see more data especially at the end when they are preparing to leave the station they should tell about whether the girl gets the abortion done or not.
