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Hemingway WebQuest 1—becoming Ernest “Every man's life ends the same way. It is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another.” Ernest Hemingway was an interesting man. He was an author and a storyteller. Hemingway always had people around him who wanted to listen to his sorties about war, traveling, finishing, boxing, bull fighting, writing, drinking, hunting, and loving. Imagine that you are one of the people seated around Hemingway, listening to the stories he tells. Use the Internet to be your virtual Hemingway, your storyteller. Follow the links below to answer the questions about the author’s life. What will you find out about his life?

1899

Go to: http://www.lostgeneration.com/childhood.htm. Use the information on the site to find answers. Ernest ____________________ Hemingway was born in ______________________________ in the year____________. Name some of Hemingway’s family members. Who are they?

How did Hemingway refer to Oak Park? Come back to this later, What do you think made him think about Oak Park like that?

What did young Hemingway do when in Michigan? What did he discover about the forests and streams?

What did Grace teach Ernest?

1917

What extracurricular activites did Ernest participate in when he was at Oak Park High School? Which do you think influenced him the most and why?

After graduation, what did Hemingway do? GO to the next section, read the first paragraph. Note what Hemingway did in World War I. Then, read about the influence that Kansas City Star had on him as a writer.

“In the short time that… ”

1918

Hemingway was seriously wounded during an attack. It seemed to be sort of a big deal—he even got a medal for what he’s done. Summarize it here:

What inspired “Soldier’s Home”?

1920

Who was Agnes von Kurowsky? What effect did the war have on Hemingway?

How and where did Hemingway meet Hadley Richardson? Who was she?

1921

Paris. “If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.” -Ernest Hemingway Why did the Hemingways move to Paris? What was Paris for writers in the 1920s? Stop right there!  Open up a new tab, and go here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Generation. There seem to be two definitions for “the lost generation”. Hint: one has to do with literature (Hemingway and Stein), and the other with the post-war society. 1. 2.

1922

What did Hemingway write about in Paris?

1923

Go back to the first tab. Hemingway made some famous and artistic friends in Paris. Do you recognize any of their names?

Hemingway and his wife moved to Canada where Hadley gave birth to their first son, John. Soon after, the family returned to Paris.

"...He's an experienced journalist. He writes very good verse and he's the finest prose stylist in the world." Ezra Pound on Hemingway

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Hemingway WebQuest 2—an unparalleled creative flurry 1924

Go to http://www.lostgeneration.com/paris.htm and begin reading from “an unparalleled creative flurry”. Bibliography—read and fill in the blanks

“From 1925 to 1929 Hemingway produced some of the most important works of 20th century fiction, including the landmark short story collection ____________________ (1925) which contained "The Big Two-Hearted River." In 1926 he came out with his first true novel, _________________________ (after publishing Torrents of Spring, a comic novel parodying Sherwood Anderson in 1925). In 1929 he published ____________________, arguably the finest novel to emerge from World War I. In four short years he went from being an unknown writer to being the most important writer of his generation, and perhaps the 20th century.” Look at the picture to the right. Think about what the structure is. Think about what you see, what you don’t see, and what you’re not supposed to see (although it’s always there). Now read the quote in the box under. In your own words, how does the iceberg theory work?

1925

If you’re still having some problems with the iceberg, go to this website: http://mcdonnellwrite.blogspot.com/2010/01/hemingway-and-iceberg-principle.html In Our Time

In 1923, Hemingway conceived of the idea of a new theory of writing after finishing his short story "Out of Season". In A Moveable Feast, his posthumously published memoirs about his years as a young writer in Paris, he explains: "I omitted the real end [of "Out of Season"] which was that the old man hanged himself. This was omitted on my new theory that you could omit anything ... and the omitted part would strengthen the story." In the opening chapter of Death in the Afternoon he compares his theory about writing to an iceberg.

“The first version of in our time (characterized by the lowercase letters in the title) was published in 1924 and illustrated Hemingway’s new theories on literature. It contained only the vignettes that would later appear as interchapters in the American version published in 1925. This small 32 page book, of which only 170 copies were printed, contained the essence of Hemingway’s aesthetic theory which stated that omitting the right thing from a story could actually strengthen it. Hemingway felt a story could be constructed the same way and this theory shows up even in these early vignettes. A year after the small printing of in our time came out, Boni & Liveright published the American version, which contains ten short stories along with the vignettes. The collection of stories is amazing, including the much anthologized "Soldier’s Home," as well as "Indian Camp," "A Very Short Story," "My Old Man" and the classic "Big TwoHearted River" parts one and two. "Big Two Hearted River" was a eureka story for Hemingway, who realized that his theory of omission really could work in the story form.”

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Hemingway WebQuest 3—new wives, new lives, & Africa

1932 1935

Any man’s life, told truly, is a novel—E. Hemingway

1927 & 1928: What happened to Ernest and Hadley? Who was Pauline Pfeiffer? And what happened to Clarence Hemmingway?

The “new” Hemingways moved to Key West, Florida in To be a successful father... there's one 1928. That same year, Pauline gave birth to Patrick. absolute rule: when you have a kid, don't look 1929, A Farewell to Arms at it for the first two years. In 1931, Pauline gave birth to Gregory, Ernest’s last child. 1932, Death in the Afternoon NOW READ AND ANNOTATE, BUT NO NEED TO RESEARCH ON THE SITE

“Though a non-fiction book, Death in the Afternoon does codify one of Hemingway’s literary concepts of the stoical hero facing deadly opposition while still performing his duties with professionalism and skill, or "grace under pressure," as Hemingway described it. Many critics took issue with an apparent change in Hemingway from detracted artist to actual character in one of his own works. They disliked a blustery tone Hemingway drifted into, particularly when discussing writers, writing and art in general. It was the genesis of the public "Papa" image that would grow over the remaining 30 years of his life, at times almost obscuring the serious artist within.”

James Joyce, one of Hemingway’s friends from his early Paris days, wrote glowingly of "A Clean, Well Lighted Place" as follows: "He has reduced the veil between literature and life, which is what every writer strives to do. Have you read ‘A Clean, Well Lighted Place’?...It is masterly. Indeed, it is one of the best stories ever written..."

“In 1933, Hemingway travelled to Africa for a safari. In 1935 he published Green Hills of Africa, a pseudo non-fiction account of his safari. While the book contained some decent writing about Africa and its animals it was overshadowed by Hemingway’s again digression into the blustery tone of his alter ego. In the book, Hemingway harshly criticizes his supposed friends, making the reader cringe at his insensitivity. He portrays himself as courageous, skillful and cool while depicting others, including his friend Charles Thompson, as mean-spirited and selfish. In a telling review the prominent literary critic Edmund Wilson poked at Hemingway, saying, "he has produced what must be the only book ever written which makes Africa and its animals seem dull." “Oddly though, from the same safari Hemingway gathered the material for two of his finest short stories, "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" and "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber." In both stories, the protagonist shows a weakness that is contrary to what the typical Hemingway hero exhibits. Harry, the dying writer in "The Snows of Kilimanjaro," laments his wasted talent, a talent diminished by drink, women, wealth and laziness. Macomber in "The Short Happy Life..." shows cowardice under pressure and just as he redeems himself his wife shoots him.”

QUESTION: Think about what you’ve found out about Hemingway’s writing thus far. Read the quote to the left. Think about what it says about Hemingway’s heroes. Do you think all of his protagonists are versions of himself? Why the sudden shift in the way the hero is portrayed?

When you want to find the truth about Hemingway’s life, look first to his fiction.

1929

1927

Visit http://www.lostgeneration.com/paris.htm. You will find this familiar. Back to Hemingway’s personal life.

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sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.

Keep in mind who Hemingway’s heroes are as you read and think about this: “Often in Hemingway’s non-fiction work the truth is obscured by Hemingway’s need to promote his public personality, his need to portray himself as above fear, above pettiness, above any negative quality that would tarnish that image. In his fiction though, certain negative qualities, whatever they might be, are in the characters as flaws that often lead to their destruction. Beyond that, in a biographical context, the actual events of Hemingway’s life end up in his fiction rather than in his nonfiction. For example: Hemingway’s World War I injuries more closely resemble those of Frederic Henry in A Farewell To Arms than the accounts you see repeated in old biographical blurbs which tell of how he fought with the elite Italian forces, how after being hit by a mortar he carried a wounded soldier through machine gun fire to the field hospital, and how he refused medical treatment until others were treated before him.” Thoughts:

1940

1937

Biographical information continues: Hemingway travels to Spain to cover the Spanish Civil War. Hemingway sides with the communist forces in Spain and later Cuba. The truth about Hemingway’s affair with journalist Martha Gellhorn comes out. The two meet in 1936 in Florida, and fall in love as they travel together and compete for stories. Pauline and Ernest divorce. Ernest and Martha marry in 1940. 1940, For Whom the Bell Tolls 1940s, Hemingway works on Islands In The Stream and The The book [For Whom the Bell Tolls] was a huge success, both Garden Of Eden. critically and commercially, prompting Sinclair Lewis to write that it was "the American book published during the three years 1944, Hemingway goes to London to follow soldiers fighting past which was most likely to survive, to be know fifty years in WWII. He covers stories on the front, and gets seriously from now, or possibly a hundred...it might just possibly be a injured. Martha visits him in the hospital and minimizes his masterpiece, a classic..." Oddly, the book was unanimously voted injuries. Martha’s inconsiderate reaction triggers the the best novel of the year by the Pulitzer Prize committee, but beginning of the end of their marriage. While in London, was vetoed for political reason by the conservative president of Hemingway meets Mary Welsh, the antithesis of Martha. Columbia University; no prize was awarded that year. Mary is caring, adoring, and complimentary while Martha lost any admiration for her man and is often insulting to him. For Hemingway it is an easy choice between the two and like in other wars, he falls in love with the new woman. Mary would be the last Mrs. Hemingway.

When you want to find the truth about Hemingway’s life, look first to his fiction.

1936: World War II erupts when Poland is attacked by Nazis

Hemmingway WebQuest 4—All you have to do is write one true

Hemingway WebQuest 5—the beginning of the end 1946

You’re back in the saddle! You can use the back for extra room. Go to http://www.lostgeneration.com/wwtwo.htm and start reading from “Hemingway returned to America in March of 1946…” What was the title of the book Hemingway wrote? Give a brief summary. Make the connection between fact and fiction (that is, Hemingway’s own life and his stories, and keep in mind what we learned about Hemingway’s heroes).

1952

What was the problem with this book? What effect did this problem have on Hemingway?

What was Hemingway’s plan of action to “regain his former stature as the world’s preeminent novelist?”

1953/4

In your opinion, was the plan successful? Why?

Hemingway often described competition among writers in boxing terms. He felt he’d been suckerpunched and knocked to the canvas by the critics on Across the River and Into the Trees, but as if he’d been saving it for just such an occasion, he believed the fish story would allow him to regain his position as "champion."

What prizes did Hemingway win for The Old Man and the Sea? 1. 2.

1960

What happened to Hemingway in 1954? What effect did that incident have on him? (This was a double whammy: effects on physical health and on mental health/writing) *You have to think about this one, the answer is beyond what is written on the site.

Read the last three paragraphs on the site. Describe Hemingway’s treatment. What effects could that treatment have had on him as a human being? As a writer? Do you think that he was still the same man he was when he wrote In Our Time and For Whom the Bell Tolls? Explain.

Died July 2, 1961

1964, A Movable Feast

There is no lonelier man in death, except the suicide, than that man who has lived many years with a good wife and then outlived her. If two people love each other there can be no happy end to it. —E. Hemingway

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