Hills Like White Elephants example essay topic

to show time: at length, later immediately thereafter, previously, soon, formerly, next, after a few hours, first, second (etc. ), afterwards, next cues that make the reader stop and compare: but, notwithstanding, although, yet, on the other hand, although this is true, and yet, on the contrary, while this is true, however, after all, conversely, still, for all that, simultaneously, nevertheless, in contrast, meanwhile, nonetheless, at the same time, in the meantime to give examples: for instance, for example, to demonstrate, to illustrate, as an illustration, in any event, that is to emphasize: obviously, in fact, as a matter of fact, indeed, in any case to repeat: in brief, in short, as I have said, as I have noted, in other words to introduce conclusions: hence, therefore, accordingly, consequently, thus, as a result to summarize: in brief, on the whole, summing up, to conclude, in conclusion Margin Notes / Annotation Unless otherwise noted, use the following annotation / margin notes format for your essays and papers. Annotation / margin notes will be more specifically related to the mechanics of your essay than you see in the following example. For example you will talk about your quotes, topic sentence, examples, etc. and explain how they answer the question / prompt. Pay attention to class discussions and ASK QUESTIONS if you are confused. I hope to have a better example from one of your classmates after the first essay has been completed. In the meantime this will do to get you started.

"Hills Like White Elephants" -- Sample Analysis The hills across the valley of the Ebro were long and white. On this 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. The American and the girl with him sat at a table in the shade, outside the building. It was very hot and the express from Barcelona would come in forty minutes. It stopped at this junction for two minutes and went on to Madrid.

Notice the clues to the location of the story: the river Ebro, Barcelona, and Madrid are all in Spain. And the setting is barren, hot, and dry. The only color is the white of the hills. "What should we drink?" the girl asked.

She had taken off her hat and put it on the table. "It's pretty hot", the man said. "Let's drink beer."Dos cervezas", the man said into the curtain. "Big ones?" a woman asked from the doorway. "Yes.

Two big ones". The characters are given no names-they are just an American and a girl, apparently on a trip -- so we anticipate they might be happy. The woman brought two glasses of beer and two felt pads. She put the felt pads and the beer glasses on the table and looked at the man and the girl. The girl was looking off at the line of hills. They were white in the sun and the country was brown and dry".

They look like white elephants", she said. "I've never seen one", the man drank his beer. "No, you wouldn't have."I might have", the man said. "Just because you say I wouldn't have doesn't prove anything".

The girl sees beauty in the dry hills, saying that they resemble white elephants, which he has never seen. However, "white elephant" is also a term with many meanings! The girl looked at the bead curtain. "They " ve painted something on it", she said. "What does it say?"Anis del Toro. It's a drink."Could we try it?" The man called "Listen" through the curtain.

The woman came out from the bar. "Four reales". A Puzzle: Their conversation shows an irritability with one another-but she looks away at the curtain, changing the subject and avoiding confrontation. Why? "We want two Anis del Toro."With water?"Do you want it with water?"I don't know", the girl said. "Is it good with water?"It's all right."You want them with water?" asked the woman".

Yes, with water". Notice they seem to have trouble deciding about a simple thing like whether to have water in the drink. "It tastes like licorice", the girl said and put the glass down". That's the way with everything. "Yes", said the girl. "Everything tastes of licorice.

Especially all the things you " ve waited so long for, like absinthe."Oh, cut it out."You started it", the girl said. "I was being amused. I was... Would you say the girl likes of dislikes the taste of the drink? Is she only talking about the drink?

What might she have "waited for so long" that now tastes bitter to her? Close Reading Answer the following and be prepared to discuss the selection 1. What is the main idea / theme of the selection? 2.

In what ways does the author support his main idea / theme ? 3. Is the support logical and consistent? Find examples. 4.

What words are you unfamiliar with? What do you think they mean from their use in context? Look them up. 5. How are words used denotatively? 6.

What is the author's style? Write a five sentence paragraph imitating this style. 7. Find seven to ten examples of literary / language elements. 8. Write a prompt for this selection.

9. Summarize the selection in no more than five sentences. 10. What other selections (movies, poems, articles, paintings, plays, etc) can you relate this passage to? 11. What allusions are used?

Are they successful? 12. What is the attitude of the author? How is it similar or different from the narrator? How do you know this? 13.

What is the tone of the passage? What words does the author use to help convey this tone?