Banal Story by Ernest Hemingway
In Ernest Hemingway's novel, "Banal Story," a young man named John is struggling to find his place in the world. He is a recent college graduate, and he is trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life. He is also trying to find a way to make a living and to find a woman to love. John's journey takes him to a small town in the Midwest, where he meets a variety of people, including a young woman named Mary. Mary is a free spirit who is trying to find her own way in the world. She and John become close friends, and they eventually fall in love. However, John's life is not as simple as it seems. He is haunted by his past, and he is struggling to come to terms with his own identity. He is also struggling to find a way to make a living and to make something of himself. John's journey is filled with highs and lows, and he eventually finds himself in a difficult situation. He must decide whether to stay in the small town and pursue his dreams, or to leave and start a new life elsewhere. In the end, John must make a decision that will shape the rest of his life.
By Ernest Hemingway · First published 1926 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Realism, Modernism · 627 words
First lines
SO HE ATE AN ORANGE, SLOWLY SPITTING out the seeds. Outside, the snow was turning to rain. Inside, the electric stove seemed to give no heat and rising from his writing-table, he sat down upon the stove. How good it felt! Here, at last, was life.
He reached for another orange. Far away in Paris, Mascart had knocked Danny Frush cuckoo in the second round. Far off in Mesopotamia, twenty-one feet of snow had fallen. Across the world in distant Australia, the English cricketers were sharpening up their wickets. There was Romance.
What this Textopian page supports
Banal Story is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ernest Hemingway, dated 1926 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Ernest Hemingway
- Date: 1926 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Realism, Modernism, Drama
- Length: 627 words
- Structure: 1 section, 19 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Banal Story by Ernest Hemingway
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Banal Story?
- How does this short story by Ernest Hemingway fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — Ernest Hemingway is a renowned author of literary fiction, and this book is likely to contain his signature writing style and themes.
- Realism — Hemingway is known for his realistic writing style, and this book is likely to contain elements of realism.
- Modernism — Hemingway is known for his modernist writing style, and this book is likely to contain elements of modernism.
- Drama — The title 'Banal Story' suggests that the book may contain elements of drama.
Tags
short story · modernism · minimalism · existentialism · human experience · everyday life · dialogue · emotional depth · disillusionment · war · isolation · relationships